Atherton Driving Test Centre
Atherton driving test centre had a 44.3% car pass rate in 2025-26: 5,779 of 13,035 practical tests were passed, down 0.1 points on 2024-25 (44.4%) and below the Great Britain average of 50.0%. Atherton had the lowest pass rate of Greater Manchester’s nine test centres in 2025-26.
Atherton test centre is a DVSA practical car test centre in Greater Manchester. Find its exact address, entrance and directions on DVSA’s test centre finder before your test.
- DVSA-approved instructors
- Manual and automatic
- 98% pass rate
- Pick-up from home or work
Atherton Test Centre Pass Rates
- April 2025 to March 2026: 44.3% (5,779 passes from 13,035 tests)
- April 2024 to March 2025: 44.4%
- Great Britain average 2025-26: 50.0%
Source: DVSA car driving test data by test centre, GOV.UK. Compare every centre in our Manchester driving test centres guide.
What to Expect on Your Test at Atherton
- About 40 minutes of driving on a mix of town roads, busy junctions and faster roads near the centre. The examiner picks the route on the day.
- About 20 minutes of independent driving, following a sat nav or road signs.
- One reversing manoeuvre: parallel park, bay park, or pull up on the right and reverse two car lengths.
- Show me, tell me questions about car safety, one before you drive and one while driving.
- You pass with 15 or fewer driving faults and no serious or dangerous faults.
Junction observation is the most common reason learners fail across Great Britain, so we spend extra time on the junctions and roundabouts around the centre.
How Astra Prepares You for Atherton
- Lessons on local roads: your instructor drives the roads around Atherton test centre with you, so nothing on the day is new.
- Mock tests: a full test under exam conditions, marked the way an examiner marks it.
- Car for your test: use your instructor’s dual-control car on test day, with a warm-up lesson before.
- Manual and automatic, same price: £35 an hour in Greater Manchester, 7 days a week from 7am to 11:30pm.
Most of our Atherton learners come from Atherton, Wigan and Walkden.
FAQs: Atherton Driving Test Centre
What is the pass rate at Atherton driving test centre?
44.3% of car practical tests were passed at Atherton between April 2025 and March 2026, according to DVSA figures.
Is Atherton a hard test centre?
Its pass rate is below the Great Britain average of 50.0%. Learners who practise the local junctions and roundabouts and take a mock test first give themselves the best chance.
Can I have lessons near Atherton test centre?
Yes. Call or WhatsApp 07758 837589 or fill in the form below, and we’ll match you with a local instructor.
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