Ayr

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Ayr MPTC, 40 Boundary Road, Heathfield Industrial Estate, Ayr

Ayr, KA8 9DJ

Pass Rate
55.1%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Ayr passes 55.1% of candidates, a little above the national average of 48.6%. It is a quieter centre, running about 7 tests a day. The most common reason for failing is change direction when using mirrors, which costs 13.8% of candidates their test. Tests booked on weekdays between 09:00 and 10:00 do best, passing 59%.

Ayr driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
55.1%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
1,581
~7.4 per day
First Attempt Rate
49.1%
Avg 1.9 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.03
3.0% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.79
43.8% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.29
98.9% of tests have any

Common faults at Ayr

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction13.8%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to check mirrors when exiting a roundabout.
  • Failing to check mirrors when changing lanes.
Why More Common Here:
  • Complex multi-lane roundabouts and one-way systems.
Junctions - observation10.9%
Common Scenarios:
  • Emerging at a T-junction or roundabout and causing another vehicle to slow down.
  • Emerging from a junction without adequate observations (even if clear).
  • Sailing through a crossroads without stopping and looking.
  • Joining a dual carriageway via a sliproad without sufficient mirror and blind spot checks.
  • Turning right in front of oncoming traffic, causing them to slow down.
Why More Common Here:
  • Junctions onto busy roads with fast flowing traffic, small gaps and the requirement to build speed quickly to avoid slowing others behind.
  • Short, curvy or otherwise awkward sliproads onto dual carriageways.
  • Busy high streets and main roads with poor visibility and bikes overtaking.
Response to traffic signs4.9%
Common Scenarios:
  • Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign.
  • Attempting to drive through a no-entry sign.
  • Attempting to drive through any other sign that restricts access (e.g. buses only).
  • Ignoring a give way sign and assuming priority.
  • Ignoring a keep left sign.
Why More Common Here:
  • Stop signs are rare in the UK, but may show up in this test centre area.
  • Confusing one-way systems.
  • Complex road signs restricting access (e.g. bus-only at certain times).
Response to traffic lights4.7%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving through a red light.
  • Driving through an amber light when you could have stopped safely.
  • Hesitating unnecessarily at a green light, impeding the flow of traffic.
  • Incorrectly stopping at a red light that is meant for other drivers.
  • Ignoring or misinterpreting a green arrow filter light.
  • Not waiting in the middle of a box junction when turning right.
Why More Common Here:
  • High traffic volume in the area can pressure learners to avoid stopping for amber lights.
  • Confusingly located traffic lights.
  • Traffic lights placed on fast sections of road where learners feel pressured to make good progress.
  • Traffic lights placed within roundabouts, where learners are too focused on lane position and observations.
Move off - safely3.7%
Common Scenarios:
  • When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve.
  • Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position.
  • Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes involve stopping on busier roads.
  • Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Move off - control3.6%
Common Scenarios:
  • Stalling from a parked position or in traffic.
  • Rolling back a considerable amount when moving off.
  • Attempting to move off when a gear is not selected.
Why More Common Here:
  • Hilly areas, especially around junctions.
  • Hilly roads with slow stop-start traffic, requiring consecutive hill starts.
Use of speed (too fast)3.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving above the posted speed limit.
  • Failing to reduce speed when approaching a hazard, such as a pedestrian crossing or a bend in the road.
  • Driving too fast on a road with potholes or poor surface condition (regardless of the posted speed limit).
  • Driving too fast on a national speed limit road (60 mph is often too dangerous).
  • Driving at a speed that is unsafe for the weather - rain, fog, or ice.
Why More Common Here:
  • Recently changed speed limits that conflict with old limits displayed on satnav.
  • Sudden speed limit changes, especially on exit sliproads.
  • Inadequate signage, road markings and traffic calming measures.
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads.
  • 20 mph main roads where locals ignore the limit and overtake learners, causing pressure to keep pace.
  • Clearly signed 30/40/50/NSL roads that pressure learners to make progress despite potholes, bends, etc.
Control - steering2.9%
Common Scenarios:
  • Steering too much, too little, too early or too late.
  • Mounting the curb when steering out of a junction.
  • Briefly driving on the wrong side of the road when turning through a junction.
Why More Common Here:
  • Tight junctions and narrow roads.
  • Sharp left or right turns on test routes.
Positioning - normal driving2.8%
Common Scenarios:
  • Not driving in the centre of the lane.
  • Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason.
  • 'Straight-lining' a roundabout.
  • Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.
Why More Common Here:
  • Many timed bus lanes around test centre.
  • Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Clearance / obstructions2.8%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving too close to a vehicle when passing, even though the road allows for more space.
  • Driving too close to parked vehicles or other fixed structures.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow roads with limited space for cars to give way to each other.
  • Awkwardly placed width restrictors.
  • High levels of traffic and/or bus routes on narrow roads.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.41
Common Scenarios:
  • When parked on the road, moving off and causing oncoming traffic to brake or swerve.
  • Not checking mirrors and blindspots when moving off from a parked position.
  • Not completing all 360° observations when continuing after an emergency stop.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes involve stopping on busier roads.
  • Test routes involve stopping on bendy residential roads with restricted visibility.
Progress - undue hesitation0.37
Common Scenarios:
  • Not emerging from a junction when it is safe to do so.
  • Waiting unnecessarily for another road user to pass who has clearly given way to you.
  • Failing to maintain momentum when joining a clear roundabout.
  • Ignoring shields and exit signals on mini-roundabouts and therefore missing many opportunities to proceed.
Why More Common Here:
  • Areas and times with fast, flowing traffic and non-obvious gaps.
  • Busy mini-roundabouts.
  • Test routes with stops along busy main roads.
Move off - control0.36
Common Scenarios:
  • Stalling from a parked position or in traffic.
  • Rolling back a considerable amount when moving off.
  • Attempting to move off when a gear is not selected.
Why More Common Here:
  • Hilly areas, especially around junctions.
  • Hilly roads with slow stop-start traffic, requiring consecutive hill starts.
Control - steering0.32
Common Scenarios:
  • Steering too much, too little, too early or too late.
  • Mounting the curb when steering out of a junction.
  • Briefly driving on the wrong side of the road when turning through a junction.
Why More Common Here:
  • Tight junctions and narrow roads.
  • Sharp left or right turns on test routes.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.31
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving significantly below the speed limit on a clear road without a valid reason (especially if it impacts drivers behind or causes them to overtake).
  • Being hesitant to build speed on a sliproad so as to merge safely.
  • Slowing down excessively for minor hazards, such as slight bends.
  • Losing speed due to improper gear selection on a hill.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads - learners may 'hedge' their bets by driving at 20 until they are sure the limit is 30.
  • Rural national speed limit roads.
  • Fast roads with hills and bends, requiring frequent gear changes to maintain progress.
  • Short sliproads necessitating confident acceleration.
Control - gears0.28
Common Scenarios:
  • Selecting a low gear at high speed, causing a sudden loss of speed and danger for vehicles behind.
  • Selecting a high gear at low speed, and possibly stalling.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes with numerous fast stretches of road, necessitating higher gears and more shifting.
Positioning - normal driving0.26
Common Scenarios:
  • Not driving in the centre of the lane.
  • Driving for too long in the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, for no reason.
  • 'Straight-lining' a roundabout.
  • Not driving in the bus lane when it is allowed at that time.
Why More Common Here:
  • Many timed bus lanes around test centre.
  • Multi-lane roundabouts with worn lane markings.
Junctions - observation0.24
Common Scenarios:
  • Emerging at a T-junction or roundabout and causing another vehicle to slow down.
  • Emerging from a junction without adequate observations (even if clear).
  • Sailing through a crossroads without stopping and looking.
  • Joining a dual carriageway via a sliproad without sufficient mirror and blind spot checks.
  • Turning right in front of oncoming traffic, causing them to slow down.
Why More Common Here:
  • Junctions onto busy roads with fast flowing traffic, small gaps and the requirement to build speed quickly to avoid slowing others behind.
  • Short, curvy or otherwise awkward sliproads onto dual carriageways.
  • Busy high streets and main roads with poor visibility and bikes overtaking.
Signals - correctly0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Signalling left or right, but not turning.
  • Signalling right at a roundabout when you want to go ahead.
  • Signalling left at a roundabout when you are not intending to take the first exit.
  • Failing to cancel a signal after turning.
  • Flashing other road users to give way, contrary to the Highway Code.
Why More Common Here:
  • Main roads with many junctions and driveways with little space between them.
  • Roundabouts with more than four exits and/or confusing signs.
  • Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Use of speed (too fast)0.22
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving above the posted speed limit.
  • Failing to reduce speed when approaching a hazard, such as a pedestrian crossing or a bend in the road.
  • Driving too fast on a road with potholes or poor surface condition (regardless of the posted speed limit).
  • Driving too fast on a national speed limit road (60 mph is often too dangerous).
  • Driving at a speed that is unsafe for the weather - rain, fog, or ice.
Why More Common Here:
  • Recently changed speed limits that conflict with old limits displayed on satnav.
  • Sudden speed limit changes, especially on exit sliproads.
  • Inadequate signage, road markings and traffic calming measures.
  • Test routes that cross both 20 mph residential zones and regular 30 mph roads.
  • 20 mph main roads where locals ignore the limit and overtake learners, causing pressure to keep pace.
  • Clearly signed 30/40/50/NSL roads that pressure learners to make progress despite potholes, bends, etc.

Manoeuvres tested at Ayr

Reverse bay parkTested 29.8% of the time
Pass Rate
55.2%
Fail Rate
6.6%
Emergency stopTested 29.1% of the time
Pass Rate
60.7%
Fail Rate
1.7%
Reverse rightTested 24.6% of the time
Pass Rate
59.6%
Fail Rate
6.7%
Parallel parkTested 24.2% of the time
Pass Rate
52.6%
Fail Rate
17.3%
Forward bay parkTested 20.0% of the time
Pass Rate
56.3%
Fail Rate
2.8%

Best times to book at Ayr

Sunday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
69.2%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
61.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
61.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
61.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
61.2%
~0.8 tests/day
Sunday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
59.0%
~1.3 tests/day
Sunday
All times
Pass Rate
57.7%
~2.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
57.4%
~1.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
57.3%
~1.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
56.4%
~1.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
55.9%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
55.6%
~9.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
54.2%
~1.3 tests/day
Sunday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
53.8%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
48.6%
~0.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
47.9%
~1.2 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
45.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Sunday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
44.4%
~0.3 tests/day
Sunday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
42.9%
~0.2 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
38.6%
~1.9 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
36.4%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
30.8%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
20.0%
~0.2 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
0.0%
~0.1 tests/day

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