Sunderland

Learner drivers located in and around Sunderland don’t have to worry about heading far for their driving test—Sunderland test centre is only 10 minutes out from the city centre itself, near the Southwick Industrial Estate. If you’ve decided to put your newfound skills to the test here, we’d advise getting to know it better before your big day. You can do this by checking out our guide below for directionspass ratestest routes and much more!


Address

River Bank Road North Hylton Road Industrial Estate Sunderland Tyne and Wear SR5 3JJ

Tests Offered at Sunderland

  • Car
  • ADI part 2
  • ADI part 3

Parking

Car parking spaces are available

Toilets

Male, female and disabled toilets are available

Disabled Access

You can get into the test centre in a wheelchair

Phone Number

0191 5498402

Check the book your driving test service for availability.

How To Get There

If you live in or around the city centre, it couldn’t be much easier to get to Sunderland test centre. Simply follow the A1231 and turn onto Castletown Way. Even if you live elsewhere, the close proximity of roads like the A19 and A1018 make it easy enough to reach Sunderland test centre. If you’re heading there for the first time and don’t fancy getting lost, follow these directions using your sat nav.

A Bit More About South Shields

If you’re taking your practical at Sunderland test centre, you’ll have to test your mettle against a completely mixed bag of road conditions and types. Your test route will start off quietly enough. Once you move away from the industrial estate on Washington Road, it’s mostly residential estates. As the examiner takes you further afield down the A1231, however, you’ll start to encounter heavier traffic. This will undoubtedly increase as you move closer to the centre of Sunderland. With the proximity of Sunderland Royal Hospital and the University of Sunderland City Campus, you’ll want to keep a close eye out for pedestrians and cyclists.

Desperate to know more about Sunderland? Feast your eyes on the resources below…

South Shields Test Route

Planning to memorise the Sunderland test route before your big day? We hate to burst your bubble, but the DVSA doesn’t actually publish its routes. As such, you won’t be able to commit the route to memory. It’s not the end of the world though. If you’ve taken lessons in the Sunderland area, you’ll likely recognise most of your route anyway. Besides, you can still make a few educated guesses as to what might show up by watching videos of Sunderland test routes on YouTube. You can also download our sample Sunderland driving test routes.

South Shields Test Pass Rates

If you’ve been daydreaming about getting your hands on a full driving licence for some time now, you might be wondering how likely it is that you’ll pass on your first attempt. Well, it might interest you to hear that less than half of learners in the UK actually pass first time—more specifically, only 45.9% do. If you’re taking the plunge at Sunderland test centre, your chances are slightly lower…

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
45.5% 44.8% 43.9% 42.9% 44.1%

Though Sunderland’s pass rates certainly aren’t anything to write home about, we wouldn’t waste much time panicking over them. If you’re learning with a local instructor, they’ll make sure you build up your skills on the roads around Sunderland test centre. By the time your test rolls on by, you’ll be ready to face any of the challenges that Sunderland has up its sleeve.

What If I Can’t Go To South Shields?

It’s not the end of the world if you’ve decided you don’t want to go to Sunderland test centre anymore. There are plenty of other test centres scattered across Tyne and Wear. Of course, if you’re looking to stick close to the Sunderland area, your nearest option is South Shields.

What To Expect On The Day

So, your big day has finally arrived. Your lessons are out of the way and you’ve got one obstacle left before you can get your hands on your full driving licence: the dreaded practical test. All jokes aside, of course, if your instructor’s letting you take the test, then you’re more than ready for it.

As eager as you might be to get things underway on the day of your test, don’t forget to make sure you have your provisional before you head out. You’ll also want to get to Sunderland test centre 10 minutes before your practical starts.

Your practical test will then 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 will finally be at an end once you’ve parked back up at Sunderland test centre. You’ll then have to wait a few minutes for the examiner to finish totting up any faults you might have accumulated. They will then tell you your result and let you see the breakdown of your test with a physical feedback sheet. Alternatively, they will send you your feedback by email via the driving test app.

But What If I Fail?

Though it certainly won’t feel like it at the time, failing your driving test isn’t the end of the world. Whilst it’s disappointing, it’s also something that over half of learners go through at least once. If you want to pass on your next attempt, we’d advise you take a refresher course with a local ADI in order to work on the areas you picked up the most driving test faults in.

If you feel like you’re ready to get back behind the wheel, PassMeFast can help speed up the process for you. We can book you a fast-track practical test so that you’re not stuck dealing with long waiting times. If this is something you’d like, give us a ring on 0333 123 4949, or contact us online.

Improve Your Chances With PassMeFast

If weekly lessons aren’t cutting it, why not try something that’s more suited to your needs? Intensive and semi-intensive courses are ideal for helping you get to grips with fundamental driving skills faster. PassMeFast has taken this concept even further by allowing learners to design their driving course according to their availability and preferences. Got a busy work schedule? Take lessons in the evening or at the weekend. Got a clear calendar? Finish your entire course in a week! When it comes to PassMeFast, you’re the one in charge.

Ready to take to the roads in Tyne and Wear? Check out our course prices page to see what’s on offer. Alternatively, get a full description of each course on our driving courses rundown. Once you’re happy to get started, give us a bell on 0333 123 4949, or book online.