Ullapool
Ullapool Fire Station, Lady Smith Street, Ullapool
Ullapool, IV26 2UW
Pass Rate
66.7%
Members
3
Test Statistics
DVSA recorded only 36 practical tests at Ullapool in this period — too few to draw a meaningful pass rate from.
Ullapool driving test pass rate and statistics
Pass Rate
66.7%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
36
~0.2 per day
First Attempt Rate
75.0%
Avg 1.3 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.00
0.0% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.69
33.3% of tests have any
Minor Faults
3.89
97.2% of tests have any
Common faults at Ullapool
Most Common Fail Reasons
Awareness / planning8.3%
Common Scenarios:
- Not anticipating the actions of other road users and reacting late to hazards or changes in traffic flow.
- Waiting behind parked or broken down vehicles without attempting to overtake.
- Being oblivious or inconsiderate to other drivers when merging in turn.
- Not anticipating that pedestrians are about to cross, or walk upon the road.
Why More Common Here:
- Busy or chaotic high streets and city centres.
- High numbers of cyclists and/or confusing cycle infrastructure.
- Semi- or fully-pedestrianised roads with pedestrians walking freely around.
Progress - speed (too slow)5.6%
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.
Use of speed (too fast)5.6%
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.
Move off - safely5.6%
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.
Junctions - observation2.8%
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.
Parallel park - control2.8%
Common Scenarios:
- Inability to control the vehicle whilst reversing.
- Touching the curb or driving over the pavement.
- Needing to reposition the car and reattempt the maneuvre multiple times.
- Finishing too far from the curb or the car in front.
Why More Common Here:
- Test routes where the parallel park is performed on roads with a steep road camber, an uneven road surface or less space.
Parallel park - observation2.8%
Common Scenarios:
- Not completing 360° observations whilst reversing.
- Staring at mirrors and not periodically observing all around.
- Being unaware of pedestrians and other road users.
- Getting too close to parked cars and other obstacles when maneuvring.
Why More Common Here:
- Test routes where the parallel park is performed on busier roads with more hazards.
Control - steering2.8%
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.
Signals - correctly2.8%
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.
Signals - necessary2.8%
Common Scenarios:
- Not signalling when pulling away from the kerb.
- Not signalling when pulling up at the side of the road.
- Not signalling when turning left or right at a junction.
- Not signalling when changing lanes or overtaking.
- Not signalling when joining or exiting a dual carriageway.
Why More Common Here:
- Complex road layouts with frequent lane changes may overwhelm some learners.
- Unclear road markings and signs might lead to last minute rushed lane changes.
Most Common Minor Faults
Control - steering0.53
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.
Control - gears0.44
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.
Progress - undue hesitation0.33
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 - control0.25
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.
Junctions - observation0.22
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.
Junctions - turning right0.22
Common Scenarios:
- Incorrect positioning when turning right at junctions.
- Not positioning to the right of the road when turning right.
- Turning right at a roundabout using the incorrect lane.
- Not using the waiting area in the middle of the road when waiting to turn right, therefore blocking traffic behind.
Why More Common Here:
- Confusing road layouts, worn road markings and circuitous test routes involving waiting area for right turns.
- Roundabouts with many exits making lane choice less obvious.
- Roundabouts whose signs contradict the actual road geometry, making the 12 o'clock rule difficult to follow.
Mirrors - change speed0.19
Common Scenarios:
- Failing to check mirrors when slowing down.
- Failing to check mirrors when speeding up, creating danger for anyone overtaking.
- Accidentally slowing due to improper gear selection.
Why More Common Here:
- Roads with harsh speed limit changes.
- Fast hilly roads where learners may forget to downshift as needed, causing accidental slow-downs.
Move off - safely0.19
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 - speed (too slow)0.17
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.
Use of speed (too fast)0.17
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 Ullapool
Emergency stopTested 33.3% of the time
Pass Rate
58.3%
Fail Rate
0.0%
Reverse rightTested 30.6% of the time
Pass Rate
54.5%
Fail Rate
9.1%
Parallel parkTested 27.8% of the time
Pass Rate
60.0%
Fail Rate
20.0%
Reverse bay parkTested 22.2% of the time
Pass Rate
87.5%
Fail Rate
0.0%
Forward bay parkTested 19.4% of the time
Pass Rate
71.4%
Fail Rate
0.0%
Best times to book at Ullapool
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
100.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
83.3%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
66.7%
~0.2 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
60.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
57.1%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
57.1%
~0.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~0.0 tests/day
Community Posts
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Centres you can move a Ullapool test to
DVSA only lets you swap to one of your three nearest test centres. These are the ones that qualify for Ullapool.