Bristol driving test
Bristol has two car test centres on opposite sides of the city: Kingswood in the east and Avonmouth by the docks in the north-west. They test very different roads. Kingswood means the Avon Ring Road, hills and busy high streets; Avonmouth means the Portway, industrial estates with lorries and the roads around the M5. Both pass more candidates than the GB average.
- 55.5%🏆 Bristol (Avonmouth)
- 5.3 wks⏱ Bristol (Kingswood)
- 3.6 ptsbest to worst
Driving test centres in and around Bristol
- 1Bristol (Avonmouth)Avonmouth, · BS11 8AQ55.5%Wait 8 wks
- 2Bristol (Kingswood)Bristol · BS15 4GQ51.9%Wait 5.3 wks
Bristol roads to know before your test
🛣 A4174 Avon Ring Road
Near Kingswood. Dual carriageway with large roundabouts every mile or so and 50 mph sections.
🛣 A420 through Kingswood
High street traffic, bus stops, crossings and parked cars on both sides.
🛣 A4 Portway
Near Avonmouth. Runs along the Avon Gorge with changing speed limits and few places to stop.
🛣 Avonmouth industrial roads
Lorries turning, wide junctions and roundabouts serving the docks and the M5.
Local tips for a Bristol test
- Bristol's Clean Air Zone covers the city centre. Neither test centre is inside it, so test routes do not cross it.
- Much of the city is 20 mph. Watch the signs as you go between 20, 30 and 40 mph roads; it changes often.
- Kingswood is hilly. Practise hill starts and stopping behind a car on a slope so you leave room if it rolls back.
Practise what Bristol throws at you
Bristol driving test FAQ
What is the driving test pass rate in Bristol?
53.3% across the 2 test centres in and around Bristol in 2025/26, weighted by the number of tests each one conducts. The Great Britain average is 50%.
Which test centre near Bristol has the highest pass rate?
Bristol (Avonmouth), at 55.5%. The lowest is Bristol (Kingswood) at 51.9%, a gap of 3.6 points.
Which test centre near Bristol has the shortest wait?
Bristol (Kingswood). Candidates tested there in August 2026 had booked a median of 5.3 weeks earlier.
Can I practise the Bristol driving test routes?
Yes. PassRank has 10 practice routes around 2 test centres serving Bristol that you can drive in 3D on your phone or computer. They are generated from the roads near each centre, not DVSA's own routes, which DVSA does not publish.
How many driving test centres are in Bristol?
Two: Bristol (Kingswood) and Bristol (Avonmouth). Kingswood is the busier of the two.
Which Bristol test centre is easier?
No centre is easier by rule, but Avonmouth has passed a higher share of candidates than Kingswood in recent figures. The live rates are at the top of this page.
Does the Bristol Clean Air Zone affect my test?
No. The zone is in the city centre and neither centre is inside it.
Get ready for test day
Driving tests in nearby cities
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Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26; waits are for August 2026. Practice routes are generated from the road network around each centre. DVSA does not publish test routes, and your examiner may take a different one.