Northampton driving test
Northampton has one car test centre of its own, Northampton, and one more within a short drive: Wellingborough. Together they passed 52.8% of the 14,989 car tests they ran in 2025/26, 2.8 points above the GB average of 50%. Wellingborough passed the most at 60%, Northampton the fewest at 52.1%. Our 10 practice routes from these centres average 11.1 km with 5.5 roundabouts each, more than the 4.3 on a typical route elsewhere in Great Britain.
- 60%🏆 Wellingborough
- 7.9 wks⏱ Northampton
- 7.9 ptsbest to worst
Driving test centres in and around Northampton
- 1WellingboroughNN8 3RU60.0%Wait 21.4 wks
- 2NorthamptonNN5 7QA52.1%Wait 7.9 wks
Northampton roads to know before your test
🛣 Sywell Road
On five practice routes from Wellingborough. You join it 16 times across those loops, 13 times from a roundabout.
🛣 Park Farm Way
On five practice routes from Wellingborough. You join it 15 times across those loops, 15 times from a roundabout.
🛣 Shelley Road
On five practice routes from Wellingborough. You join it 6 times across those loops.
🛣 Burns Road
On five practice routes from Wellingborough. You join it 6 times across those loops.
🛣 Spencer Bridge Road
On four practice routes from Northampton. You join it 7 times across those loops.
🛣 Harlestone Road
On four practice routes from Northampton. You join it 7 times across those loops, once from a roundabout.
Local tips for a Northampton test
- Roundabouts come up more here than on most tests: 5.5 per route against 4.3 nationally. Lane choice and signalling on exit should feel automatic before test day.
- Most roundabout exits here are the first or second; only 18% are the third or later. Signal left on approach for the first exit, give no signal for straight ahead, and signal left after the exit before yours (Highway Code rule 186).
- Right turns outnumber left turns 96 to 74 on these routes. Hold your position just left of the centre line and only go when you are sure of the gap; cutting the corner and hesitating are both marked.
- If you need a date soon, Northampton had the shortest wait in August 2026: 7.9 weeks against a median of 14.7 across these centres. You can book any centre, not only your nearest.
- Sywell Road is on more of our Northampton routes than any other road. Drive it before test day, in both directions if you can, so its junctions and limits are familiar.
Practise what Northampton throws at you
Northampton driving test FAQ
What is the driving test pass rate in Northampton?
52.8% across the 2 test centres in and around Northampton in 2025/26, weighted by the number of tests each one conducts. The Great Britain average is 50%.
Which test centre near Northampton has the highest pass rate?
Wellingborough, at 60%. The lowest is Northampton at 52.1%, a gap of 7.9 points.
Which test centre near Northampton has the shortest wait?
Northampton. Candidates tested there in August 2026 had booked a median of 7.9 weeks earlier.
Can I practise the Northampton driving test routes?
Yes. PassRank has 10 practice routes around 2 test centres serving Northampton 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.
Where can I take my driving test near Northampton?
Wellingborough (NN8 3RU) and Northampton (NN5 7QA). You book through GOV.UK and can choose any centre in Great Britain.
How many roundabouts are on Northampton driving test routes?
Our 10 practice routes around Northampton include 55 roundabouts, 5.5 per route on average, and 10 of them ask for the third exit or later. DVSA does not publish its own routes, so treat these as the kind of roads you will meet rather than the exact test.
Which roads come up most around Northampton test centres?
On our practice routes: Sywell Road (five routes), Park Farm Way (five routes) and Shelley Road (five routes). They are generated from the road network around each centre.
Get ready for test day
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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.