Sunderland driving test
Sunderland has one car test centre of its own, Sunderland, and one more within a short drive: Gateshead. Together they passed 44.6% of the 19,948 car tests they ran in 2025/26, 5.4 points below the GB average of 50%. Sunderland passed the most at 51.1%, Gateshead the fewest at 37.5%. Our 10 practice routes from these centres average 9.8 km with 5.2 roundabouts each, more than the 4.3 on a typical route elsewhere in Great Britain.
- 51.1%🏆 Sunderland
- 7.1 wks⏱ Gateshead
- 13.6 ptsbest to worst
Driving test centres in and around Sunderland
- 1SunderlandSR5 3JJ51.1%Wait 8.9 wks
- 2GatesheadNE11 9HU37.5%Wait 7.1 wks
Sunderland roads to know before your test
🛣 Riverbank Road
On five practice routes from Sunderland. You join it 10 times across those loops.
🛣 Riverside Way
On four practice routes from Gateshead. You join it 11 times across those loops, 11 times from a roundabout.
🛣 Castletown Way
On four practice routes from Sunderland. You join it 7 times across those loops.
🛣 Wessington Way
On four practice routes from Sunderland. You join it 5 times across those loops, once from a roundabout.
🛣 St Omers Road
On four practice routes from Gateshead. You join it 5 times across those loops.
🛣 Paul Watson Way
On three practice routes from Sunderland. You join it 4 times across those loops, 3 times from a roundabout.
Local tips for a Sunderland test
- Roundabouts come up more here than on most tests: 5.2 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 15% 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 86 to 73 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.
- Pass rates here span 13.6 points. The test is the same at every centre, the roads are not, so drive a centre's routes before you decide where to book.
- Riverbank Road is on more of our Sunderland 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 Sunderland throws at you
Sunderland driving test FAQ
What is the driving test pass rate in Sunderland?
44.6% across the 2 test centres in and around Sunderland in 2025/26, weighted by the number of tests each one conducts. The Great Britain average is 50%.
Which test centre near Sunderland has the highest pass rate?
Sunderland, at 51.1%. The lowest is Gateshead at 37.5%, a gap of 13.6 points.
Which test centre near Sunderland has the shortest wait?
Gateshead. Candidates tested there in August 2026 had booked a median of 7.1 weeks earlier.
Can I practise the Sunderland driving test routes?
Yes. PassRank has 10 practice routes around 2 test centres serving Sunderland 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 Sunderland?
Sunderland (SR5 3JJ) and Gateshead (NE11 9HU). You book through GOV.UK and can choose any centre in Great Britain.
How many roundabouts are on Sunderland driving test routes?
Our 10 practice routes around Sunderland include 52 roundabouts, 5.2 per route on average, and 8 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 Sunderland test centres?
On our practice routes: Riverbank Road (five routes), Riverside Way (four routes) and Castletown Way (four 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.