Which Test Centre Near Wigan Has the Highest Pass Rate?

If you’re learning to drive in Wigan, one of the biggest questions you may have is:

Which driving test centre near Wigan has the highest pass rate?

With several DVSA driving test centres within travelling distance of Wigan, it’s understandable that learners want to compare the statistics before booking their practical test.

We’ve looked at the latest available DVSA driving test statistics for 2025/26 to compare five popular test centres near Wigan: Atherton, St Helens, Chorley, Preston and Bolton.

And the results make interesting reading.

Driving Test Pass Rates Near Wigan

The latest figures cover the 2025/26 financial year, from April 2025 to March 2026.

The statistics are based on DVSA’s published car practical driving-test data.

Which Test Centre Near Wigan Has the Highest & Lowest Pass Rate?

Based on the latest annual figures, Preston Driving Test Centre has the highest pass rate of the five centres compared, at 56.3%.

That means that, during the 2025/26 financial year, approximately 56 out of every 100 car practical tests conducted at Preston resulted in a pass.

Chorley was next at 52.8%, followed by Bolton at 51.8%.

Atherton recorded a pass rate of 44.3%, while St Helens recorded 40.9%.

It’s worth stressing that these are historical statistics. They shouldn’t be interpreted as a guarantee that a learner is more likely to pass at one particular centre.

Preston Driving Test Centre – 56.3%

Preston recorded the highest pass rate among the five centres in this comparison.

During 2025/26:

• 9,194 car practical tests were conducted
• 5,174 candidates passed
• The overall pass rate was 56.3%

The previous year’s pass rate was 53.7%, meaning the 2025/26 figure was higher by 2.6 percentage points.

For learners from Wigan, Preston is further away than Atherton or Chorley, so travelling there purely because of the pass-rate statistic isn’t necessarily the right decision for everyone.

Knowing the roads around your chosen test centre and being properly prepared are important considerations.

Chorley Driving Test Centre – 52.8%

Chorley had the second-highest pass rate in our comparison.

In 2025/26:

• 5,415 car tests were conducted
• 2,861 were passed
• The pass rate was 52.8%

Chorley’s pass rate increased from 48.3% in 2024/25 to 52.8% in 2025/26.

Chorley can therefore be an interesting option for learners around the Wigan area, particularly for those who are comfortable practising regularly in the Chorley area.

Bolton Driving Test Centre – 51.8%

Bolton recorded a 51.8% pass rate in 2025/26.

There were:

• 11,570 car practical tests
• 5,996 passes
• A 51.8% overall pass rate

Bolton’s previous-year pass rate was 56.7%, so its 2025/26 figure represented a decrease of 4.9 percentage points.

Bolton is relatively close to Atherton, making it another test centre that some Wigan learners may consider.

Atherton Driving Test Centre – 44.3%

Atherton is one of the closest practical driving test centres to many learners in Wigan.

However, its latest pass rate was lower than the other four centres in this comparison.

In 2025/26:

• 13,035 car tests were conducted
• 5,779 were passed
• The pass rate was 44.3%

Atherton’s pass rate was almost unchanged from the previous year’s 44.4%.

It’s important not to interpret this figure as meaning that Atherton is necessarily a harder test centre. A pass-rate statistic reflects the candidates taking tests at the centre, as well as the roads and traffic conditions involved.

St Helens Driving Test Centre – 40.9%

St Helens recorded the lowest pass rate of the five centres we compared.

In 2025/26:

• 14,174 tests were conducted
• 5,803 were passed
• The pass rate was 40.9%

The previous year’s figure was 40.2%, so the pass rate increased slightly despite remaining below the other centres in this comparison.

Does a Higher Pass Rate Mean the Test Centre Is Easier?

Not necessarily.

This is one of the most important things to understand when looking at driving test statistics.

The DVSA uses the same national driving-test standards. A centre having a higher historical pass rate doesn’t mean the examiner is more lenient or that the test is officially easier.

Pass rates can be influenced by a range of factors, including:

• The experience of candidates taking tests
• The types of roads around the test centre
• Traffic conditions
• The complexity of junctions and roundabouts
• The number of experienced versus inexperienced candidates
• First-time and repeat candidates
• Changes in the number of tests conducted

For this reason, pass rate should be treated as one piece of information rather than a guarantee of your chances of passing.

Should Wigan Learners Travel to Preston for Their Test?

Not necessarily.

Although Preston recorded the highest pass rate of the five centres in our comparison, it’s also important to consider how well you know the area.

If you’ve completed most of your driving lessons around Wigan and Atherton, suddenly taking your test in Preston could mean you’re less familiar with the local roads.

A good driving instructor should be able to help you decide which test centre makes sense based on your ability and where you’ve been practising.

What About Atherton?

Atherton is particularly relevant to Wigan learners because of its location.

The latest statistics show a 44.3% pass rate, compared with:

56.3% at Preston
52.8% at Chorley
51.8% at Bolton
44.3% at Atherton
40.9% at St Helens

However, don’t let the percentage alone put you off Atherton.

If you’ve spent weeks practising the roads around Atherton, know the local roundabouts and junctions and feel comfortable driving there, that familiarity can be more useful to you than simply choosing a test centre because of its historical pass rate.

What Is the Best Test Centre for a Wigan Learner?

There isn’t one test centre that can be guaranteed to be the best choice for every learner.

The latest statistics show that Preston had the highest pass rate among these five centres, but the right test centre for you will depend on your individual circumstances.

You should consider:

1. How well you know the area

Familiarity with local roads can make a big difference to your confidence.

2. Your instructor’s experience

A local instructor who regularly teaches around a particular test centre can help you understand the types of roads and situations you need to practise.

3. Your driving ability

You should be ready to deal with a range of situations rather than simply memorising a test route.

4. Test availability

A centre with a higher historical pass rate may have a longer wait for an appointment.

5. Your confidence

Being comfortable driving independently is more important than simply picking a centre based on a percentage.

How Fast Pass Driving School Can Help

At Fast Pass Driving School, we help learners from Wigan and surrounding areas prepare for their practical driving test.

Our aim isn’t simply to get you around a test route. We want you to develop the skills and confidence required to drive safely and independently.

Lessons can include practice around:

• Wigan
• Atherton
• Chorley
• Bolton
• Preston
• St Helens

We can also help you identify which test centre is appropriate for your current level of driving and prepare you for the types of roads and situations you may encounter.

The Bottom Line

So, which test centre near Wigan has the highest pass rate?

Based on the latest available 2025/26 DVSA statistics, Preston recorded the highest pass rate among the five centres compared, at 56.3%.

The figures were:

Preston – 56.3%
Chorley – 52.8%
Bolton – 51.8%
Atherton – 44.3%
St Helens – 40.9%

However, pass rates are historical statistics, not predictions of an individual learner’s result.

The best preparation is to become a safe, confident and independent driver and get plenty of experience on the roads around your chosen test centre.

If you’re looking for driving lessons in Wigan, Fast Pass Driving School can help you prepare for your practical driving test and build the confidence you need to drive independently.

Ready to start learning to drive? Contact Fast Pass Driving School today to book your driving lessons in Wigan.