Birmingham (Shirley)

How To Get There

Located in the Shirley area, around 30 minutes from the centre of Birmingham, Shirley test centre rests near the busy Stratford Road A34—making it an ideal option for learners throughout Shirley and Solihull. To get to the centre hassle-free, use these directions and off you go. Please note that there's public parking available at the DTC service road, available via Union Road.

A Bit More About Shirley

Shirley test centre is located in the midst of various road conditions and types—from busy dual carriageways like the A34 to crossroads to tricky junctions. This variety is exactly what's needed in a driving test to ensure that learners are ready to take to the roads by themselves. For more general information about Shirley, simply check out the resources below. 

• National Rail
• Bus
• Council
• BBC Weather
• More about Shirley

Shirley Test Route

It doesn't matter how hard you look, you won't be able to find an up-to-date Shirley test route. Before you start panicking, relax. If you look at videos of Shirley test routes on YouTube or download our sample Shirley driving test routes, you can get a pretty good idea of what to expect on your practical. Your instructor will be more than familiar with the roads that tend to feature on practical test routes at Shirley. They'll have you learning on these very same roads, building up your skills until you're ready to face Shirley test route. 

Shirley Test Pass Rates

Interestingly, a lot of our students like to read up on driving test statistics—either out of general interest or a desire to measure themselves up against other learners. To sate this curiosity, we’ve compiled a few interesting driving test pass rates of our own. For example, did you know that those of you in the West Midlands have a 45.1% chance of passing (compared to the UK’s 45.9% average)? Check out Shirley test centre’s pass rates below...

In all, Shirley test centre’s pass rates in recent years haven’t been too shabby—at least when you compare them against the average pass rate for the West Midlands. Not convinced? If you’re unsure about a specific area of driving (e.g., dual carriageways), then get your instructor to test you. Practice makes perfect, after all!

What If I Can’t Go To Shirley?

Can’t head to Shirley test centre? Not to worry—it’s not the end of the world! There are a wide variety of test centres in the West Midlands. Your nearest alternatives are Cocks Moors Woods and Kings Heath.

What To Expect On The Day

If you don’t feel like you’ve prepared enough for your practical test, or you need to read up on what’s expected of you on the day, you’re in luck—we’ll explain it all. To start, there are only two key things you need to do before your test: get to Shirley 10 minutes early and bring your provisional. The test will then proceed with: 

• 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:
  • Parallel parking
  • Bay parking
  • Pulling up on the right
• Twenty minutes of independent driving, during which you’ll either follow sat nav directions or sign posts to reach a set destination

After you’ve parked the car and turned off the ignition at Shirley test centre, that will be it—test complete. The examiner will tell you their verdict and walk you through any faults you made by using a feedback sheet. If you're successful, you'll get a test pass certificate and have the chance to send off for your new licence. 

But What If I Fail?

Failing doesn’t have to mean the end of your driving journey. Unfortunately, we don’t always get it right on the first go. The important thing to do is work on your weaknesses. If you’ve got a few areas to work on, then why not take a refresher course? PassMeFast’s 10 hour driving course is ideal for learners who need a bit more practice.

If you’d rather get straight back in the saddle, we can get you booked back in ASAP with a fast-track practical test. Simply call us on 0333 123 4949, or contact us online to get started.

Improve Your Chances With PassMeFast

If you want to avoid any unnecessary fuss and learn to drive quickly, you’ve come to the right place. It can’t get any easier than PassMeFast. We have 9 tailored crash course packages that can be taken as intensively as you’d like—found on our course prices page. With one of our top instructors, you’ll build up vital driving skills and get test-ready in no time. Looking to pass your test between studying? Or are you planning a road trip during the long uni summers? You’re in luck—PassMeFast now offers student discount!

Speed towards that finish line and get booked in with PassMeFast today. You can book a course online or book in with one of our friendly sales team members on 0333 123 4949.