Swindon

If you’re taking your practical at Swindon, you’ll be able to find the test centre on Fenn Close, just off Peatmoor Way, near Shaw Forest Park. The centre is close to Hillmead Industrial Estate, so you should be prepared to face some traffic during peak business hours. It’s a 15 minute drive from the town centre, so local learners won’t have to travel far. If you’re testing your mettle here, you’ll want to get to know as much about Swindon test centre as possible. There’s no such thing as too much preparation with the driving test! So, read our guide below for directionspass ratestest routes and much more!


Address

1 Fenn Close Peatmoor Swindon Wiltshire SN5 5BL

Tests Offered at Swindon

  • Car
  • Motorcycle module 1
  • Motorcycle module 2
  • ADI part 3

Parking

There are parking spaces at this centre

Toilets

Male and female toilets are available

Disabled Access

Phone Number

01793 876095

Check the book your driving test service for availability.

How To Get There

If you live in the town centre and you’re heading to Swindon test centre, you’ll need to get onto the A4289. Continue driving until you reach the A3102, then the B4553. You’ll then need to carry on driving down Tewkesbury Way and Roughmoor Way, before turning onto Peatmoor Way and, finally, Fenn Close. It might sound complex, but it’s a 15 minute drive at most. Now, if you’re coming in from further afield, make use of local A roads like the A419 and A346, or motorways like the M4. Until you’ve driven to Swindon test centre a few times, use these directions with your sat nav to make sure you don’t get lost.

A Bit More About Swindon

In order to test how ready you are to take to the roads unsupervised, your examiner will try to include some of the most challenging road features in Swindon into your driving test route. As long as you’ve practised in the local area, however, you should be more than prepared. There’s a range of mini- and multi-lane roundabouts in the vicinity of Swindon test centre, so be prepared for at least a few of them to feature on your route. The examiner will likely take you around the town centre and at least one of the nearby A roads. Though the M4 is nearby, it will not feature on your test. (Your instructor should give you some motorway lessons, though!) Pay close attention to your speed when moving along your route—you don’t want to be caught out if the speed limit changes.

If you’re looking to get to know more about Swindon, have a look at the resources listed below…

Swindon Test Route

Before the DVSA stopped publishing test routes in 2010, learners were able to download their routes and memorise them for their tests. Of course, this had a detrimental effect on their driving ability. Instead of adapting their driving to the scenario in front of them, they spent the entirety of their test trying to remember which road was next on the route. By banning routes, the DVSA have made the test much more realistic and reflective of what driving will be like once you pass your test. That’s not to say you can’t get a sneak peek of what’s coming up on your Swindon test route—you can watch videos of Swindon test routes on YouTube, or download our sample Swindon driving test routes.

Swindon Test Pass Rates

Got a fondness for stats? What a coincidence! Us too! That’s why we keep our eyes peeled for the latest statistics from the DVSA. Once we complete a deep dive into the numbers, we then put together the most interesting finds on our blog. From how age affects your chances of passing to the average number of attempts it takes to pass, we cover it all!

If you’ve not got the time to pore over our findings just yet, we’ll cut right to the chase. If you’re a learner in the UK, you have a 45.9% chance of passing. As for those taking the plunge at Swindon test centre, check out the table below for pass rates from the last five years below…

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
56.4% 55.5% 52.8% 50.6% 47.5%

As you can see, Swindon’s pass rates have been well above the national average in the last five years. Before you start cartwheeling, remember that the examiner won’t be looking at these pass rates when they mark your performance. You have to show them that you have the skill to drive unsupervised. So, instead of occupying your time with stats, concentrate on your lessons.

What If I Can’t Go To Swindon?

If you’ve decided that Swindon test centre is no longer an option for you, don’t start panicking! There are plenty of test centres scattered across the county, so you’ve got more than enough to choose from. If you’d prefer to stay close to the Swindon area, your closest test centre options are Chippenham and Trowbridge.

What To Expect On The Day

After spending hours putting your blood, sweat and tears into becoming a safe and confident driver, you’re finally ready to take the driving test. Congratulations! This is the last hurdle you have to overcome before getting your full driving licence! If your nerves are getting the better of you, try to think about how far you’ve come since you first started taking lessons. We’re willing to bet that you’re a far cry from the timid learner you used to be.

On the day of your test, be sure to check that you have your provisional licence with you. The driving examiner will want to look at it before they proceed with the test. You’ll also need to get to Swindon test centre 10 minutes before your test is due to start. Don’t get there any earlier though, otherwise you could get in the way of other learners.

If you’re looking for a more detailed breakdown of the test, check out our guide to what happens in a driving test. Otherwise, this is the basic format that it will follow:

  • 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

As soon as you’ve parked back up at Salisbury test centre and turned off the ignition, you can sit back and relax. Give yourself a big pat on the back! While you’re destressing, the examiner will be finishing off their paperwork. Then, they’ll let you know whether you’ve passed or failed. Regardless of the result, you’ll be able to see which areas you picked up faults in on either a physical feedback sheet, or over email via the driving test app.

But What If I Fail?

Though it might not feel like it at the time, failing the driving test really isn’t the end of the world. As pass rates show, less than half of learners are actually successful on their first attempt. If you do fail, the best thing you can do is figure out where you went wrong. If you struggled with stalling, for example, you know that you need some more work with clutch control and changing gears. It might be a good idea, then, to take a refresher course to iron out any bad habits before attempting the test again.

If you’re ready to take the test, but don’t fancy dealing with long waiting times, why not get PassMeFast to fast-track one for you? To get things started today, give us a ring on 0333 123 4949, or contact us online!

Improve Your Chances With PassMeFast

If you’ve only just passed your theory test, you’re probably completely in the dark when it comes to the different approaches to learning to drive. One option is to take the traditional route, with hour-long lessons once a week. The more popular option nowadays, however, is intensive learning. Instead of spreading your lessons out, you’ll take lessons in 2 to 5 hour blocks. This method of learning enables you to build up your skills quickly, yet efficiently. If you book onto a PassMeFast course, you’ll work with a local instructor to fit your lessons around your schedule. By the time your test date rolls on by, you’ll be familiar with most of the roads around Swindon!

To get a better look at our nine tailored crash course packages, check out our course prices page. For even more information, you can head on over to our driving courses rundown. Once you’re good to go, you can book your course over the phone on 0333 123 4949, or online.

Struggling to pick out a course? Give us a ring and one of our sales advisors will be more than happy to walk you through your options. They’ll be able to use their experience to help you pick the best course option for you. Alternatively, you can try out our handy course recommender!