Newton Abbot

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Newton Abbot, Vander House, Brunel Rd, Newton Abbot

Newton Abbot, TQ12 4YQ

Pass Rate
52.1%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Newton Abbot passes 52.1% of candidates, a little above the national average of 48.6%. The most common reason for failing is change direction when using mirrors, which costs 11.4% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 07:00 and 08:00 do best, passing 73.5%.

Newton Abbot driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
52.1%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
3,678
~17.1 per day
First Attempt Rate
51.0%
Avg 1.9 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.10
9.2% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.84
45.2% of tests have any
Minor Faults
4.85
97.6% of tests have any

Common faults at Newton Abbot

Most Common Fail Reasons

Mirrors - change direction11.4%
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 - observation8.3%
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 road markings5.0%
Common Scenarios:
  • Driving in an incorrect lane that was clearly marked.
  • Ignoring lane arrows at junctions (e.g. left turn only).
  • Ignoring a give way line and assuming priority.
  • Stopping within a cycle box, not respecting advanced stop lines.
Why More Common Here:
  • Road markings worn away due to infrequent maintenance and/or heavy traffic.
  • Complex or confusing lane restrictions.
  • Road markings can be easily missed in slow moving traffic, especially when other road users may not follow them.
  • Give way lines draw in unusual places.
Move off - safely4.3%
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.
Control - steering4.3%
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.
Response to traffic lights4.1%
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.
Response to traffic signs3.8%
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).
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)3.6%
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.
Positioning - normal driving3.5%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.34
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 - control0.32
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 - steering0.31
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 - undue hesitation0.30
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.
Progress - speed (too slow)0.27
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.
Mirrors - signalling0.26
Common Scenarios:
  • Checking mirrors after or at the same time as signalling.
Why More Common Here:
  • Test routes that involve frequent or rushed lane changes.
Positioning - normal driving0.19
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.
Position - normal stops0.18
Common Scenarios:
  • Stopping in a location that obstructs a driveway, a junction, or a bus stop.
  • Parking with one or more wheels on the pavement.
  • Parking too far from the kerb.
Why More Common Here:
  • Inner city test areas with limited roadside parking.
  • Areas where residents habitually park on the pavement can trick learners into thinking it is acceptable.
Control - gears0.18
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.
Mirrors - change direction0.17
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.

Manoeuvres tested at Newton Abbot

Reverse rightTested 28.6% of the time
Pass Rate
55.7%
Fail Rate
8.9%
Emergency stopTested 26.8% of the time
Pass Rate
59.5%
Fail Rate
0.7%
Reverse bay parkTested 23.9% of the time
Pass Rate
51.3%
Fail Rate
8.5%
Parallel parkTested 23.8% of the time
Pass Rate
46.7%
Fail Rate
18.0%
Forward bay parkTested 22.9% of the time
Pass Rate
56.0%
Fail Rate
5.0%

Best times to book at Newton Abbot

Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
75.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
73.5%
~1.1 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
64.8%
~3.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
63.1%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~2.6 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
59.9%
~9.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
56.3%
~3.1 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
54.5%
~1.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
53.7%
~1.3 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
53.1%
~6.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
51.4%
~22.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
51.4%
~2.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
51.0%
~3.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
46.2%
~2.8 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
45.5%
~0.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
45.2%
~2.9 tests/day
Saturday
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
41.7%
~0.4 tests/day
Saturday
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
33.3%
~0.4 tests/day

Community Posts

Loading posts...

Centres you can move a Newton Abbot test to

DVSA only lets you swap to one of your three nearest test centres. These are the ones that qualify for Newton Abbot.

Get browser tips, swap updates & news