Please be aware that Dereham Test Centre has now closed. Please click here to see other test centres around Norfolk.

Driving Theory Test Centres in Dereham

The civil parish of Dereham sits slap bang in the middle of the county of Norfolk. This makes it a potentially convenient option for those living in the north, south, east and west of the county! To help you make up your mind as to whether this is the test centre for you, PassMeFast has made a useful guide. Inside you can find lots of handy nuggets of information, including directions, wait times, local amenities and more!


Address

Community Action Norfolk (can) Office Ambassador Way, Greens Road Dereham Norfolk NR20 3TL

Phone Number

0333 200 1122 Please note: no direct phone number is available for this theory test centre.

Waiting Times

1-2 weeks Waiting times as recorded at the time of writing. Exact waiting times may vary.

Map

Street View


Arriving at Dereham Theory Test Centre

By public transport

If you select this test centre you’ll be pleased to learn that it is fairly easy to get to via public transport. Those of you planning to take a train, though, may want to prepare for a bit of a trek. You might think that the Mid-Norfolk railway station is your closest choice, but this is actually a museum run by volunteers, so you won’t get very far. In fact, the nearest train station is over in Yaxham, and it’ll take you around 36 minutes to walk from here to the Dereham theory test centre.

Thankfully, there is an easier public transport option—the bus! Get off at the Homebase bus stop and you’re left with a fairly easy 7-minute walk to reach your test.

To learn more about the transport links serving Dereham, head over to the public transport section of the Norfolk County Council website

By car

Arriving by car instead? Those that have this option should take a note of the test centre postcode: NR20 3TL. Enter this into your phone or a sat nav and follow the directions given. The test centre building is located on a main road and is very noticeable thanks to its blue upper storey and a red sign above the entrance.

Parking

Parking, on the other hand, is not so straightforward. You may notice parking spaces around the building, but these are not to be used by visitors. If you want, you could take your chances and grab a spot in the nearby Tesco (NR19 1WB) or Morrisons (NR19 1DF) car parks. These are technically reserved for customers, though, so you are bending the rules. They are both located a 16-minute walk from the test centre.

The closest legitimate option is the Cowper Road car park (NR19 2DA). On the plus side, you can get 2 hours of parking completely free of charge! The downside is that it is a 24-minute walk away from the theory test centre. It might be an idea to get dropped off for your test first and direct the driver on to the car park. 

Pass Rates by Year

Dereham theory test centre hasn’t been up and running for very long, so there are only a few pass rates to check out. The fact that there is quite a gap between each year’s rate reflects the fact that this is more of a part-time test centre. Given the relatively low number of learners taking their test here each year, we wouldn’t give these figures much weight. Focus on what you can do as an individual instead!

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
N/A 41.5% 59.5% 50.0% 43.5%

Guides and Tips

You have ultimate control over how much revision you do for the theory test and this is what really makes the difference between a pass and a fail. Make sure you know exactly what to expect on the day (a guide to which is included in the list below) and revise all of the relevant topics until you can successfully pass mock tests.

Don’t sleep on the hazard perception section, either! You need to be able to spot developing hazards in a number of video clips and click as soon as you see them. There are various apps and study aids available to help you revise for the theory test. Here are a few we recommend:

Ready to Go?

Nearby Theory Test Centres

Norwich
Cropped Google Map with pin over Norwich theory test centre

1st Floor, 11 Prince of Wales Road
Norwich
NR1 1BD

14.9 miles away

By rail: Norwich

2018/19 pass rate: 52.6%

View on Google Maps

Cromer
Cropped Google Map with pin over Cromer theory test centre

Merchants Place
16 Church Street
Cromer
NR27 9ES

22.9 miles away

By rail: Cromer

2018/19 pass rate: 47.4%

View on Google Maps

Hotels

If you’re not local to Dereham but want to take your test here, you could avoid some test day stress by booking into a local hotel the night before your test. We’ve scoured the local area and come up with a few potential options, which we’ve listed below.

The Romany Rye ★★☆☆☆

Looking for a cheap and cheerful place for a short stay? This Wetherspoons pub-slash-hotel could be just the ticket! You can find it a 20-minute walk from the test centre, or a 5 minute drive if you’d prefer to speed things up. The rooms are fairly basic but still possess everything you need for a good night’s sleep. Plus, if you get peckish or thirsty, you can just pop downstairs!

Forge House Yaxham B&B ★★★☆☆

For more of a unique, local experience, take a 5-minute car journey to this charming little bed and breakfast. Being a small place, it only has a few rooms, so you might want to book in advance to ensure you get the one you want. They range from superking to twin, and all come with high quality mattresses and cosy furnishings. Have a wander around the place to discover nice little perks like the private courtyard, honesty bar and open fire.

The Yaxham Mill ★★★☆☆

Another lovely B&B that’s also a 5-minute drive away from the theory test centre is The Yaxham Mill. It boasts 6 ensuite bedrooms and each guest can enjoy free WiFi during their stay. There are lovely views of the surrounding countryside and you might even be able to nab yourself a deal if you book in nice and early!

Places to Celebrate

Done with the theory test? Woohoo! Whether you’re celebrating or commiserating, hitting the streets of Dereham for some food and/or drink could be just what the doctor ordered! We’ve listed some top local haunts below.

Greenstone Norfolk

Around a 7-minute walk from the theory test centre sits this modern, family-friendly pub. When it comes to food, their specialty is the carvery that they put on daily. There are also plenty of other pub favourites to choose from too. You can even get coffee and cake to go if you’re in a rush!

The Bull

Head towards the High Street and about 20 minutes away from the test centre you can find this classic British pub. Take your pick from the dining area, lounge bar, patio room or central bar, and plonk your bum down for a nice rest. As for refreshments, take your pick from their range of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks. You might even want to peruse the food menu, which is full of yummy traditional pub fare.

The Coachmakers Pub and Kitchen

The Coachmakers Pub and Kitchen is the perfect establishment in which to relax and unwind after a busy or stressful day. They cater to a range of tastes, serving up everything from real ales to some pretty impressive cocktails. There’s also a lovely beer garden on site where you can enjoy your drink al fresco—if you’re lucky enough to visit on a day with good weather, that is! This pub is a 14-minute walk from the theory test centre.

What Happens Next?

That’s pretty much everything we need to tell you about the Dereham theory test centre! If it sounds like the right location for you, why not get booked in for a test today? There’s no time like the present! Just be sure to leave yourself enough time to study all of the relevant material.

As you know, the theory test is only the first hurdle you have to clear to earn a driving licence. Once that’s in the bag, it’s time to focus on the practical side of driving. Get yourself a test booked at your local centre nice and early, as there tends to be quite a wait for these appointments. If you’re from Dereham, your nearest option is Norwich (Jupiter Road) practical test centre.

Not everyone manages to pass the theory test on their first attempt. If this is the case for you, try not to let it get you down. Book yourself another test and study up on the sections where you lost vital points. The good news is that it’s usually much easier the second time around, because you know exactly what to expect!

Whether you’re at the beginning of your driving journey, or have already started hitting the road, PassMeFast can take you from learner to qualified driver as quickly as possible. We have a range of courses, each of which can be tailored to your personal needs. So, whether you prefer to learn intensively or semi-intensively, we can get you on the road!

To find out more about our courses and what’s available in your area, give our friendly team a call on 0333 123 4949. The quicker you do, the quicker we can get you driving! Or, if you’d rather skip the chat and get straight down to it, simply click the ‘book now’ button below. The road to driving doesn’t have to be long!

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