East Midlands's mix of town junctions, roundabouts, and faster A-road sections is the test at Northampton, which currently records a pass rate of 52.1% — above the UK national average of 50.1%. Most minor faults show up right at the transitions between them.
📍 Test Centre Address
Gladstone Business Centre, Gladstone Road
Northampton, NN5 7QA
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Northampton
The pass rate at Northampton is 52.1%, above the UK national average of 50.1%. A higher pass rate typically reflects a road network where candidates can demonstrate skills clearly — but the DVSA standard is identical everywhere. Do not mistake the pass rate for a measure of examiner leniency.
Among East Midlands test centres, Northampton's 52.1% pass rate places it 20th out of 30 — above Derby (51.8%) and Leicester Beaumont (51.2%), and below Nottingham (Watnall) (52.8%) and Peterborough (52.8%). The highest in East Midlands is Melton Mowbray at 69.7%; the lowest is Loughborough at 42.3%.
Pass rate sourced from DVSA open data (April 2024–March 2025). DVSA statistics ↗
Pass Rate Comparison — All East Midlands Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in East Midlands, sorted by pass rate. Northampton is highlighted. All figures are sourced from DVSA open data where available.
| Test Centre | Pass Rate | vs UK avg (50.1%) |
|---|---|---|
| Melton Mowbray | 69.7% | +19.6% |
| Bingham | 63.8% | +13.7% |
| Spalding | 62.7% | +12.6% |
| Ashby-de-la-Zouch | 61.3% | +11.2% |
| Matlock | 61.2% | +11.1% |
| Daventry | 60.4% | +10.3% |
| Wellingborough | 60% | +9.9% |
| Market Harborough | 59.1% | +9% |
| Retford | 58.3% | +8.2% |
| Grantham | 57.9% | +7.8% |
| Alfreton | 57.3% | +7.2% |
| Chesterfield | 56.2% | +6.1% |
| Coalville | 55.8% | +5.7% |
| Hucknall | 55.3% | +5.2% |
| Burton Upon Trent | 54.7% | +4.6% |
| Long Eaton | 53.8% | +3.7% |
| Ilkeston | 52.9% | +2.8% |
| Nottingham (Watnall) | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Peterborough | 52.8% | +2.7% |
| Lincoln | 52.1% | +2% |
| Northampton ★ | 52.1% | +2% |
| Derby | 51.8% | +1.7% |
| Leicester Beaumont | 51.2% | +1.1% |
| Kettering | 49.1% | -1% |
| Mansfield | 48.3% | -1.8% |
| Corby | 46.4% | -3.7% |
| Hinckley | 46.4% | -3.7% |
| Nottingham Colwick | 46.4% | -3.7% |
| Leicester (Hinckley Rd) | 44.9% | -5.2% |
| Loughborough | 42.3% | -7.8% |
Test Centres Near Northampton
The nearest test centre to you in Northampton isn't automatically the best choice. Pass rates, road types, and appointment availability all differ enough between nearby centres that it's worth a quick comparison before booking at Northampton.
- Wellingborough driving test centre (9 miles — 60% pass rate)
- Daventry driving test centre (10 miles — 60.4% pass rate)
- Kettering driving test centre (12 miles — 49.1% pass rate)
- Market Harborough driving test centre (15 miles — 59.1% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Northampton
Expect town centre streets and the faster A-road sections around Northampton in roughly equal measure on routes from Northampton — multi-lane roundabouts, traffic-light junctions, 20mph residential zones. The speed limit transitions, particularly 30mph to national speed limit, are where most minor faults accumulate.
Pedestrian crossings come up regularly, and a late response — or creeping forward while someone's still in the road — gets marked as serious, not minor, so early, decisive reactions matter here.
Most Common Fail Reasons at Northampton
There's no per-centre fault breakdown published by the DVSA — what follows is the national data, adjusted for the road types typical of Northampton and East Midlands more broadly.
- Junctions — observation: Not looking properly before emerging at T-junctions and roundabouts. The most common serious fault across all test centres.
- Mirrors — change direction: Failing to check mirrors visibly before turning, changing lane, or moving away from stationary.
- Junctions — turning right: Cutting the corner, not waiting for a safe gap, or failing to observe cyclists and pedestrians in the junction.
- Control — steering: Coarse or inconsistent steering causing the vehicle to drift or weave through bends and residential streets.
- Response to traffic lights: Proceeding on amber when stopping was possible, or stopping beyond the stop line.
Full breakdown: The 10 Most Common Driving Test Fails →
Booking Your Test at Northampton
Book your practical driving test at Northampton 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.
If Northampton has no availability on your target date, the DVSA booking tool lets you search other test centres nearby — useful if you are flexible on location.
Find a Driving Instructor Near Northampton
Choosing an instructor familiar with Northampton's test routes is one of the most effective things you can do before test day. Local route knowledge means your final lessons can focus on the exact junctions and manoeuvres you'll face — not generic practice.
An instructor who regularly teaches at Northampton will know which roundabouts, junctions, and road types come up most often on the test — and will have routes ready that reflect that.
Search for ADIs near Northampton using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Roughly how many of your pupils test at Northampton, and which parts of the route do they usually find hardest?" Any instructor worth their fee will give you a specific answer, not a vague one.
Find an Approved Driving Instructor near Northampton →
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