65.1% is the current pass rate at Kendal — above the UK average of 50.1%. Expect single-carriageway roads and genuinely rural sections on the test — the driving environment is different from a city centre, but the standard examiners hold candidates to is identical everywhere in the UK.
📍 Test Centre Address
Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road
Kendal, LA9 7RL
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Kendal
The pass rate at Kendal is 65.1% — one of the higher figures in the UK. This often reflects quieter roads or a road network where observation faults are less likely to accumulate, not easier examining. The DVSA test standard is the same at every centre in the country.
Among North West test centres, Kendal's 65.1% pass rate places it 2nd out of 35 — above Lancaster (59.2%) and Morecambe (59.1%), and below Barrow In Furness (69.6%). The highest in North West is Barrow In Furness at 69.6%; the lowest is Liverpool Norris Green at 37.8%.
Pass rate sourced from DVSA open data (April 2024–March 2025). DVSA statistics ↗
Pass Rate Comparison — All North West Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in North West, sorted by pass rate. Kendal is highlighted. All figures are sourced from DVSA open data where available.
| Test Centre | Pass Rate | vs UK avg (50.1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow In Furness | 69.6% | +19.5% |
| Kendal ★ | 65.1% | +15% |
| Lancaster | 59.2% | +9.1% |
| Morecambe | 59.1% | +9% |
| Southport | 56.5% | +6.4% |
| Preston | 56.3% | +6.2% |
| Stockport | 56% | +5.9% |
| Warrington | 55.5% | +5.4% |
| Runcorn | 53.1% | +3% |
| Skelmersdale | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Birkenhead | 52.6% | +2.5% |
| Macclesfield | 51.9% | +1.8% |
| Blackpool | 51.8% | +1.7% |
| Bolton | 51.8% | +1.7% |
| Sale | 51.4% | +1.3% |
| Accrington | 50.7% | +0.6% |
| Leigh | 50.4% | +0.3% |
| Hyde | 50.2% | +0.1% |
| Heywood | 48.7% | -1.4% |
| Burnley | 48.3% | -1.8% |
| Rochdale | 48.3% | -1.8% |
| Salford Eccles | 47.8% | -2.3% |
| Wigan | 47.4% | -2.7% |
| Chester | 47.3% | -2.8% |
| Blackburn | 46.6% | -3.5% |
| Bury | 46.3% | -3.8% |
| Ashton-under-Lyne | 45.9% | -4.2% |
| Carlisle | 44.7% | -5.4% |
| Manchester Cheetham Hill | 44.7% | -5.4% |
| Manchester Didsbury | 44.6% | -5.5% |
| Crewe | 43.8% | -6.3% |
| Oldham | 43.7% | -6.4% |
| St Helens | 40.9% | -9.2% |
| Liverpool Speke | 40.5% | -9.6% |
| Liverpool Norris Green | 37.8% | -12.3% |
Test Centres Near Kendal
Before booking at Kendal, it's worth checking how it stacks up against other centres near Kendal — pass rate, route type, and typical wait for a slot can all vary more than you'd expect between centres just a few miles apart.
- Morecambe driving test centre (17 miles — 59.1% pass rate)
- Lancaster driving test centre (20 miles — 59.2% pass rate)
- Barrow In Furness driving test centre (24 miles — 69.6% pass rate)
- Blackpool driving test centre (34 miles — 51.8% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Kendal
North West's road environment is the test at Kendal — a combination of town driving and single-carriageway roads at the national speed limit, sometimes with passing places on the narrower stretches. Judging safe speed and positioning on roads with no lane markings is a skill candidates who've only learned in towns and cities often haven't built yet.
None of that changes the standard, though — the fault categories, pass mark, and examiner criteria at Kendal are identical to any other DVSA centre in the country.
Most Common Fail Reasons at Kendal
DVSA doesn't break fault data down by centre, so the list below is the national picture, weighted for the kind of roads you'll actually face at Kendal and other North West centres.
- Speed management: Carrying too much speed onto single-track roads or failing to reduce speed adequately at passing places and junctions.
- Junctions — observation: Emerging without adequate observation where roads are narrow and visibility limited by terrain.
- Road positioning: Incorrect positioning on roads without lane markings — candidates must demonstrate safe positioning without visual cues.
- Mirrors — change direction: Failing to check mirrors before slowing, stopping, or turning on rural roads.
- Response to signs: Missing or misreading signs for passing places, single-track sections, or speed limit changes.
Full breakdown: The 10 Most Common Driving Test Fails →
Booking Your Test at Kendal
Book your practical driving test at Kendal through the official DVSA service. You will need your provisional driving licence number and a debit or credit card. The current fee is £62 for weekday tests and £75 for evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
Your theory test certificate must be valid when you book — theory passes expire two years from the test date. Check yours before starting a booking.
Slots at Kendal fill quickly during summer and post-lockdown periods. If your preferred date is unavailable, set a DVSA cancellation alert — slots often appear at short notice when candidates cancel.
Find a Driving Instructor Near Kendal
Kendal's 65.1% pass rate is above the national average — but that doesn't mean preparation matters less. Candidates who do well here tend to use an instructor who knows the local routes and can target the specific road types the examiner will test on.
ADIs are thinner on the ground near remote centres like Kendal, so it's often worth the extra travel to find one who genuinely knows the single-track roads and passing places used on the test.
Search for ADIs near Kendal using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "How comfortable are your pupils with single-track roads and passing places by the time they test at Kendal, and do you cover the A-road sections too?" Any instructor worth their fee will give you a specific answer, not a vague one.
Find an Approved Driving Instructor near Kendal →
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