Vale of Glamorgan · Wales
Barry driving test centre
57% of car practical tests taken at Barry passed in 2025-26, from 2,244 tests. Pass rates, local road types and how we prepare you for this centre.
Barry pass rates
Pass rate 2025-26
57%
1,280 passes
National average
50%
+7 points here
Tests conducted
2,244
about 187 a month
Best published year
61.8%
2024-25
2,244 car practical tests were taken at Barry in 2025-26. 57% passed, 7 percentage points above the national average of 50%. It is up on 2019-20, when 55.3% passed.
Over the published years the rate has moved between 55.3% in 2019-20 and 61.8% in 2024-25, so a single year's figure is a weak guide on its own. That works out at roughly 187 tests a month, which is what waiting times at Barry depend on more than the pass rate does.
- Barry
- National average
| Year | Tests | Passes | Pass rate | National | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,244 | 1,280 | 57% | 50% | 56.8% | 57.3% |
| 2024-25 | 1,621 | 1,002 | 61.8% | 48.7% | 61.1% | 62.5% |
| 2023-24 | 1,725 | 968 | 56.1% | 47.9% | 57.2% | 55% |
| 2022-23 | 1,359 | 830 | 61.1% | 48.4% | 61.8% | 60.5% |
| 2019-20 | 1,910 | 1,056 | 55.3% | 45.9% | 60.7% | 51.2% |
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 Barry
Instructors who teach out of Barry report the same road mix on most routes: one-way system, a-road dual carriageway and estate roads. Learners who have only driven quiet estate roads tend to find the pace higher than they expect.
Undue hesitancy at busy exits costs more candidates than any single manoeuvre. Manoeuvres are normally set in quieter estates a few minutes from the centre. If your lessons have been in a different part of Vale of Glamorgan, plan at least a couple of sessions on these roads before the test.
Barry takes candidates from across Vale of Glamorgan, so plenty arrive having learned on a different road mix. That usually shows in the first five minutes of the drive.
A marked mock test on these roads is the most useful thing you can do in the week before your slot.
Roads you are likely to meet
One-way system
A-road dual carriageway
Estate roads
- Undue hesitancy at busy exits costs more candidates than any single manoeuvre.
- Manoeuvres are normally set in quieter estates a few minutes from the centre.
- If your lessons have been in a different part of Vale of Glamorgan, 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 Barry
Committing to a lane in good time
Entering a box junction without a clear exit is a fault regardless of how the lights change afterwards.
Slip roads and lane changes
Two things get marked here: arriving at the merge under-speed, and changing lanes on mirrors alone without the blind-spot check.
Meeting traffic and clearance
Whose priority it is, how much room you leave for parked cars, and whether you wait in a safe place — all marked closely on these streets.
How we prepare you for this centre
Local route practice
The last hours of your course are spent on one-way system and a-road dual carriageway near the centre, because that is what the examiner will put you on.
One rehearsal, examiner-style
Marked the way an examiner marks it, on a Barry route, with a written debrief of every fault.
All four manoeuvres
Every manoeuvre practised with traffic present, because that is the version that appears on the day.
Test-day rehearsal
Licence and theory certificate checked, show me / tell me covered, and the sat-nav section practised before the day.
Courses that suit test-centre prep
Barry test centre FAQs
What are the test routes like at Barry?
The DVSA stopped publishing official routes, and examiners vary them. In practice, routes from Barry draw on one-way system, a-road dual carriageway, estate roads, so those are the conditions to rehearse rather than a fixed sequence of streets.
What do learners most often fail on at Barry?
committing to a lane in good time, slip roads and lane changes, meeting traffic and clearance — all of which come directly from the road types on the local network.
Can I take an intensive course and test at Barry?
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 Barry.
How do I book a practical test at Barry?
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 Barry?
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 Barry 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 Barry 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.