Watford

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Driving Test Centre Watford, CP House Otterspool Way, Watford

Watford, WD25 8HU

Pass Rate
49.4%
Members
2

Test Statistics

Watford passes 49.4% of candidates, in line with the national average of 48.6%. It is one of the busier centres, running about 26 tests a day — 5,668 in the period DVSA reports. The most common reason for failing is observation at junctions, which costs 13.1% of candidates their test. Tests booked on a Saturday between 09:00 and 10:00 do best, passing 54.1%.

Watford driving test pass rate and statistics

Pass Rate
49.4%
National: 48.6%
Total Tests
5,668
~26.4 per day
First Attempt Rate
51.3%
Avg 2.0 attempts
Dangerous Faults
0.08
7.5% of tests have any
Serious Faults
0.86
48.0% of tests have any
Minor Faults
5.31
97.3% of tests have any

Common faults at Watford

Most Common Fail Reasons

Junctions - observation13.1%
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.
Mirrors - change direction6.6%
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.
Response to traffic signs6.0%
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).
Positioning - normal driving5.3%
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.
Response to traffic lights5.0%
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.
Control - steering4.1%
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)3.8%
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.
Judgement - crossing3.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Turning right across the path of an oncoming vehicle, failing to anticipate its speed.
Why More Common Here:
  • Certain right turns on fast roads with poor visibility, requiring expert judgement.
Judgement - meeting3.4%
Common Scenarios:
  • Failing to slow down or adjust your position when approaching an oncoming vehicle on a narrow road.
  • Misjudging the speed of an oncoming vehicle and failing to allow sufficient space for it to pass safely.
  • Continuing towards other vehicles when they have priority.
Why More Common Here:
  • Narrow residential roads, particularly those lined with parked cars.
  • Residential roads with hills and bends, requiring faster reaction time.
Response to road markings3.3%
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.

Most Common Minor Faults

Move off - safely0.40
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 - steering0.36
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)0.34
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.
Progress - undue hesitation0.34
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 - control0.30
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 - observation0.27
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.
Mirrors - signalling0.19
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.
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.
Junctions - approach speed0.16
Common Scenarios:
  • Approaching a junction too quickly, making it difficult to make observations and stop safely if necessary.
  • Braking harshly when needing to stop at give way lines.
Why More Common Here:
  • Roundabouts and other junctions that 'appear out of nowhere' on fast roads, possibly due to inadequate signage.
  • Sharp bends or steep inclines on approach to roundabouts.
  • Sharp exits off fast roads (e.g. t-junctions off dual carriageways).
Vehicle checks0.15
Common Scenarios:
  • Getting either the show me or tell me question wrong (one minor fault).
  • Losing control of the car when answering the show me question.

Manoeuvres tested at Watford

Emergency stopTested 31.0% of the time
Pass Rate
64.2%
Fail Rate
1.1%
Reverse rightTested 26.4% of the time
Pass Rate
48.7%
Fail Rate
7.3%
Reverse bay parkTested 24.9% of the time
Pass Rate
46.1%
Fail Rate
10.4%
Parallel parkTested 24.7% of the time
Pass Rate
51.8%
Fail Rate
11.1%
Forward bay parkTested 23.8% of the time
Pass Rate
51.8%
Fail Rate
4.0%

Best times to book at Watford

Saturday
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
54.1%
~2.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
14:00-15:00
Pass Rate
53.1%
~4.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
53.0%
~1.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
52.0%
~4.9 tests/day
Saturday
07:00-08:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~1.4 tests/day
Saturday
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
50.0%
~2.0 tests/day
Mon-Fri
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
49.9%
~4.9 tests/day
Mon-Fri
13:00-14:00
Pass Rate
49.5%
~3.4 tests/day
Mon-Fri
All times
Pass Rate
49.4%
~35.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
49.1%
~4.8 tests/day
Mon-Fri
08:00-09:00
Pass Rate
48.6%
~4.6 tests/day
Saturday
All times
Pass Rate
48.6%
~9.1 tests/day
Mon-Fri
09:00-10:00
Pass Rate
46.5%
~4.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
16:00-17:00
Pass Rate
45.5%
~0.1 tests/day
Saturday
11:00-12:00
Pass Rate
45.5%
~1.4 tests/day
Saturday
10:00-11:00
Pass Rate
43.9%
~1.9 tests/day
Saturday
12:00-13:00
Pass Rate
43.8%
~0.5 tests/day
Mon-Fri
15:00-16:00
Pass Rate
42.7%
~2.5 tests/day

Community Posts

Loading posts...

Centres you can move a Watford test to

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

Get browser tips, swap updates & news