Durham

Located next to Durham City Golf Club, on St John’s Road just off Browney Lane, Durham test centre isn’t far out from the city centre itself. Though it might not seem all that impressive at first glance, Durham test centre oversees hundreds of driving tests every year. If you’re one of the many learners heading here, give yourself an edge in your practical by familiarising yourself with Durham properly. Get directionspass ratestest routes and much more below!


Address

1st Floor Enna House Whitfield Court Industrial Estate, St Johns Rd Meadowfield County Durham DH7 8XL

Tests Offered at Durham

  • Car
  • ADI part 2
  • ADI part 3

Parking

Toilets

Male and female toilets are available

Disabled Access

Phone Number

0191 3782860

Check the book your driving test service for availability.

How To Get There

Heading towards the test centre from Durham? All you’ve got to do is follow the A690 and local road signs to get to Browney Lane. If you live slightly further afield, simply get onto the A167 and you’ll be able to find Durham test centre with little to no fuss. If you’re checking things out for the first time, we’d recommend using these directions with your sat nav. Trust us: it’ll make things a whole lot easier for you!

A Bit More About Durham

If you’re taking your test at Durham, you’ll want to make sure your observations are up to snuff—the industrial estate is compact and can get quite busy if there’s a slight increase in road traffic. Durham University is in close proximity to the test centre as well, so keep an eye out for pedestrians and cyclists. The driving examiner will attempt to take you around an even mix of busy A roads like the A690 and A167, in addition to quieter residential estates—try to keep an eye on your speed, as you don’t want to get caught going over the limit! If you’ve previously encountered a tricky road feature in the local area, e.g., a particularly challenging junction, it’s safe to assume it could crop up on your test.

More interested in getting up to speed on the Durham area? Check out these resources:

Durham Test Route

Once you’re a qualified driver, you’ll be taking to the roads around Durham unsupervised. In order to make sure you’re not simply memorising, and that you’re actually ready to be alone in the car, the DVSA doesn’t publish its test routes. So, no matter how hard you look, you won’t be able to get your hands on a Durham test route. What you can do, however, is get an idea of what might feature on your route by watching videos of Durham test routes on YouTube or by downloading our sample Durham driving test routes.

Durham Test Pass Rates

If you’ve spoken to any drivers amongst friends or family, you’ll have likely heard differing accounts as to how difficult the test is and how many attempts it should take to pass. With that in mind, you might be curious as to what your chances are on your big day. On a general scale, you’ve got a 45.9% chance of passing your test first time. Of course, this pass rate can vary depending on where you take your test. So, let’s look at how learners at Durham test centre have fared during the last five years…

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
60.5% 60.0% 59.6% 60.0% 56.9%

Learners heading to Durham test centre certainly can’t complain! Its pass rates have been well above the average in the last five years. Of course, whilst this is interesting, it’s vital that you don’t get carried away. Even if Durham had pass rates of up to 90%, it’s still not a guaranteed pass. You’ve got to put in the effort to get the result you want.

What If I Can’t Go To Durham?

Got your eye on a particular time or date for your practical test? One of the best ways to make sure you get the test date you want is to cast your net wider when it comes to test centres. The closest alternatives to Durham include Hartlepool in County Durham and Sunderland in Tyne and Wear.

What To Expect On The Day

The day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. It’s now time for you to put your driving skills to the test and see whether you’re truly ready to take to the roads unsupervised. No pressure!

If you don’t fancy having your test cancelled, without the chance of a refund, we’d advise that you triple-check that you’ve got your provisional to hand before you head out. You’ll also need to get to Durham test centre 10 minutes before your test is due to start. (Avoid getting there any earlier, otherwise you’ll get in the way of other candidates taking their test.)

Your driving test will consist of:

  • An eyesight test, where you’ll need to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres
  • Two “show me, tell me” questions covering vehicle safety and maintenance
  • Twenty minutes of general driving, where you’ll be guided by the examiner, and will also need to perform one of the following manoeuvres:
  • Twenty minutes of independent driving, during which you’ll either follow sat nav directions or sign posts to reach a set destination

Your test route will eventually bring you back to Durham test centre. Your driving examiner will ask you to park up and stop the car. They will then take a few minutes to finish filling out their notes and adding up how many faults you might have accumulated throughout the practical. Once they’re done, they’ll tell you whether you’ve passed or failed. You’ll be able to see a full breakdown of your faults on a physical feedback sheet, or by email via the driving test app.

But What If I Fail?

We won’t sugarcoat it for you. Failing your driving test can be a pretty disheartening experience. Whether it’s due to nerves or a bad habit you can’t shake, failing can lead to many learners giving up on driving altogether. Instead of giving into this temptation, however, you should get back behind the wheel and give it another try. Trust us, you’ll get there eventually!

If you’re having a problem with a particular skill, a refresher course will help you get up to speed before going in for another attempt. If you’re looking to get another test ASAP, PassMeFast can fast-track one for you. To get started, simply give us a call on 0333 123 4949, or contact us online.

Improve Your Chances With PassMeFast

Tired of taking hourly lessons every other week? Desperate to become a fully qualified driver? PassMeFast’s intensive and semi-intensive courses might be the perfect solution for you! Available throughout County Durham, our courses can be taken at a pace suited to you. Whether you’re looking to spend only a couple of hours in the car at a time, or amp it all the way up to 4 to 5 hours, we can cater to your every need. We’ll even throw in a fast-track practical test!

Ready to get started with PassMeFast today? To see what’s on offer, head on over to our course prices page. Alternatively, read up on our driving courses rundown. Once you know which course you’d like, book online or give us a ring on 0333 123 4949.