East Midlands's mix of town junctions, roundabouts, and faster A-road sections is the test at Retford, which currently records a pass rate of 58.3% — above the UK national average of 50.1%. Most minor faults show up right at the transitions between them.
📍 Test Centre Address
Grove Street
Retford, DN22 6JL
Official DVSA booking — opens in a new tab
Pass Rate at Retford
The pass rate at Retford is 58.3% — 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 East Midlands test centres, Retford's 58.3% pass rate places it 9th out of 30 — above Grantham (57.9%) and Alfreton (57.3%), and below Wellingborough (60%) and Market Harborough (59.1%). The highest in East Midlands is Melton Mowbray at 69.7%; the lowest is Loughborough at 42.3%.
DVSA does not publish data for this specific test centre in our current dataset — this figure is a regional estimate based on nearby centres of similar size, not an official DVSA statistic.
Pass Rate Comparison — All East Midlands Test Centres
The table below shows every driving test centre in East Midlands, sorted by pass rate. Retford 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 Retford
The nearest test centre to you in Retford 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 Retford.
- Lincoln driving test centre (16 miles — 52.1% pass rate)
- Mansfield driving test centre (16 miles — 48.3% pass rate)
- Doncaster driving test centre (16 miles — 53.2% pass rate)
- Sheffield driving test centre (18 miles — 48.7% pass rate)
What to Expect on Test Routes from Retford
Expect town centre streets and the faster A-road sections around Retford in roughly equal measure on routes from Retford — 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 Retford
There's no per-centre fault breakdown published by the DVSA — what follows is the national data, adjusted for the road types typical of Retford 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 Retford
Book your practical driving test at Retford 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 Retford 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 Retford
Retford's 58.3% 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.
An instructor who regularly teaches at Retford 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 Retford using the official tool below, then ask this directly: "Roughly how many of your pupils test at Retford, 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 Retford →
Just Passed at Retford?
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