Angus · Scotland
Arbroath driving test centre
69.2% of car practical tests taken at Arbroath passed in 2023-24, from 598 tests. Pass rates, local road types and how we prepare you for this centre.
Arbroath pass rates
Pass rate 2023-24
69.2%
414 passes
National average
47.9%
+21.3 points here
Tests conducted
598
about 50 a month
Best published year
69.4%
2019-20
598 car practical tests were taken at Arbroath in 2023-24. 69.2% passed, 21.3 percentage points above the national average of 47.9%. That is broadly where it stood in 2019-20 (69.4%).
Over the published years the rate has moved between 57.7% in 2021-22 and 69.4% in 2019-20, so a single year's figure is a weak guide on its own. In 2023-24 the rate was 75.4% for male candidates and 64.6% for female candidates. That works out at roughly 50 tests a month, which is what waiting times at Arbroath depend on more than the pass rate does.
- Arbroath
- National average
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | National | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 598 | 414 | 69.2% | 47.9% | 75.4% | 64.6% |
| 2021-22 | 907 | 523 | 57.7% | 48.9% | 57.1% | 58.5% |
| 2019-20 | 648 | 450 | 69.4% | 45.9% | 67.5% | 71.1% |
Source: DVSA table DRT122A, car practical driving test pass rates by test centre, published on GOV.UK. Figures are financial years running April to March.
Driving out of Arbroath
Routes out of Arbroath use the roads around the centre: hedge-lined lanes with limited sightlines, humpback bridges and small-town roundabouts. Each of them is marked differently, which is why the last few hours of tuition are worked around the centre.
Sharp, poorly signed junctions mean planning has to start well before the give-way line. Blind bends and hidden entrances mean the drive is about reading the road ahead. If your lessons have been in a different part of Angus, plan at least a couple of sessions on these roads before the test.
Arbroath takes candidates from across Angus, so plenty arrive having learned on a different road mix. That usually shows in the first five minutes of the drive.
Most learners who retake at Arbroath say the driving was fine and the pressure was not.
Roads you are likely to meet
Hedge-lined lanes with limited sightlines
Humpback bridges
Small-town roundabouts
- Sharp, poorly signed junctions mean planning has to start well before the give-way line.
- Blind bends and hidden entrances mean the drive is about reading the road ahead.
- If your lessons have been in a different part of Angus, plan at least a couple of sessions on these roads before the test.
Test routes are no longer published by the DVSA, and examiners vary them. Treat this as a guide to the local road types rather than a route list. Book your test and check availability on GOV.UK.
Where marks are lost at Arbroath
Reading roundabouts early
Examiners watch the approach more than the exit. Speed reduced in good time, correct lane held throughout, signal timed to the exit before yours.
How we prepare you for this centre
Time on the real roads
We plan the final sessions around Arbroath itself, so the hedge-lined lanes with limited sightlines you meet on test day are ones you have already driven.
A full mock test
A full-length mock from the Arbroath area, scored on the DVSA sheet so you see exactly where the marks went.
Manoeuvres in real locations
All four test manoeuvres, practised in the kind of streets examiners around Arbroath actually use.
The paperwork and the routine
We walk the whole sequence — arrival, documents, eyesight check, independent drive — so nothing on the day is new.
Courses that suit test-centre prep
Arbroath test centre FAQs
What are the test routes like at Arbroath?
The DVSA stopped publishing official routes, and examiners vary them. In practice, routes from Arbroath draw on hedge-lined lanes with limited sightlines, humpback bridges, small-town roundabouts, so those are the conditions to rehearse rather than a fixed sequence of streets.
What do learners most often fail on at Arbroath?
reading roundabouts early — all of which come directly from the road types on the local network.
Can I take an intensive course and test at Arbroath?
Yes. We match you with a DVSA approved instructor who teaches on these roads day to day, and we look for the earliest practical slot at Arbroath.
How do I book a practical test at Arbroath?
Practical tests are booked through GOV.UK with your provisional licence and theory certificate numbers. We can check cancellations for you once your course dates are set.
What do I need to bring to Arbroath?
Aim to be there ten minutes before your slot with your provisional licence. Your instructor will normally use the half hour beforehand for a warm-up drive on nearby roads rather than sitting in the car park.
Does Arbroath have a good pass rate?
Travelling for a higher published pass rate usually backfires: you arrive tired, on roads you have never driven. Preparing properly for Arbroath is the better use of the same hours.
Not sure how many hours you need?
Answer four quick questions and we will recommend a course based on your experience, not a sales target.