DVSA driving test centre

Paisley

Find driving instructors near the Paisley test centre in Paisley. Browse local instructors, view test centre statistics, and prepare for your driving test with local instructors who know the area.

The Paisley driving test centre has a 48.62% pass rate across 7,912 tests (DVSA figures, 2025-26). The median wait between booking and taking a test here is 13.7 weeks as of August 2026.

Official DVSA figures

48.62%

Pass rate

DVSA figures, 2025-26

13.7 weeks

Average wait

DVSA figures for August 2026

7,912

Tests

Conducted over the period reported

3,847

Passes

Candidates who passed here

#222 of 316 in Britain

Local instructors

Paisley Driving Instructors

Find driving instructors within 10 miles of the Paisley test centre. Working with a local instructor who knows the test routes and area can significantly improve your preparation and confidence.

KR
Kerr Raeburn
No reviews yet

Renfrewshire · 1 mile
4475 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 20 to 40 lessons to pass
3+ years experience
Manual
£45.00 - £67.50 per lesson
No block bookings
Mock tests available

JC
John Canning
No reviews yet

Renfrewshire · 2 miles
4477 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 45 to 55 lessons to pass
23+ years experience
Automatic
£45.00 - £50.00 per lesson
No block bookings
No mock tests

SV
Steven Vickers
No reviews yet

Renfrewshire · 3 miles
4475 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 16 to 24 lessons to pass
5+ years experience
Manual
£40.00 - £80.00 per lesson
Block bookings available
Mock tests available

WS
William Struth
No reviews yet

Renfrewshire · 4 miles
4477 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 20 to 40 lessons to pass
20+ years experience
Automatic
£45.00 - £45.00 per lesson
Block bookings available
Mock tests available

GD
George Daly
No reviews yet

Renfrewshire · 4 miles
4479 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 25 to 40 lessons to pass
20+ years experience
Manual
£40.00 - £50.00 per lesson
Block bookings available
Mock tests available

CR
Colin Reynolds
No reviews yet

East Renfrewshire · 5 miles
4478 •••
Male
English
On Avg. 30 to 40 lessons to pass
2+ years experience
Automatic
£0.00 - £70.00 per lesson
No block bookings
No mock tests

About Paisley

The Paisley test centre serves the Paisley area as a key location for practical driving tests. With a pass rate of 48.62% based on 7,912 tests conducted, this test centre provides valuable insights for learner drivers preparing for their practical examination. Understanding the local area and practicing with an instructor familiar with the test centre can make a significant difference in your preparation and confidence on test day.

Success at any test centre comes down to thorough preparation. Working with a local driving instructor who knows the Paisley area means you'll practice on roads similar to those used during your test, become familiar with local traffic patterns, and build the skills and confidence needed to pass. We've listed instructors near this test centre to help you prepare effectively.

Location & Directions

Address

1 West Avenue, Linwood Industrial Estate
Paisley
PA1 2FB

View on Google Maps

Book Your Test

Visit gov.uk/book-driving-test to book your driving test.

Waiting times

How long is the wait at Paisley?

Official DVSA figures for August 2026

Average wait for a test

13.7 weeks

The median time between booking a test here and taking it.

Until appointments free up

24 weeks

How far ahead you have to look before this centre has a reasonable choice of slots.

Tests DVSA cancelled here

374

Over 2025-26, mostly examiner medical absence. These are cancellations by DVSA - examiner absence, weather, industrial action - not by candidates. A cancelled test is rebooked at no charge.

See how Paisley compares: waiting times at every UK test centre

The numbers

Test Centre Statistics

Official DVSA figures from April 2025 to March 2026 (2025-26)

Overall Pass Rate

48.62%

222 of 316 centres in Britain

Best Performing Month

March 2026

52.98% pass rate (427 passes)

Average Monthly Tests

659

Conducted per month on average

Total Passes

3,847

Successful candidates over 12 months

Trends

Pass Rate Trends & Analysis

Pass rates at Paisley move month to month, influenced by weather, time of year and how well prepared candidates are. While March 2026 showed the highest pass rate at 52.98%, your result depends far more on your own preparation than on the month you book. An instructor who knows the local roads and traffic patterns is one of the most effective ways to improve your chances.

Pass Rate Trend

Monthly pass rates at Paisley (April 2025 - March 2026)

Overall Pass Rate

April 2025 - March 2026

3,847 passes from 7,912 tests
Source: DVSA, 2025-26 release
The breakdown

Who passes at Paisley

The headline rate mixes first tests with retakes. DVSA break it down further (2025-26).

First-time candidates

47.10%

Across 3,960 first attempts, of which 31 passed with no faults at all. If this is your first test, this is the closer comparison.

Automatic car tests

44.05%

Across 1,857 automatic tests. An automatic licence only lets you drive automatics.

Pass rate by age

Younger candidates tend to pass more often - worth knowing before comparing yourself to the headline number. The number on the right is how many tests that age group took.

Age 17
60.85%1,065
Age 18
53.33%1,050
Age 19
52.89%537
Age 20
52.37%359
Age 21
52.54%276
Age 22
54.17%240
Age 23
50.81%246
Age 24
47.79%249
Age 25
47.2%286
Since 2007

Pass rate year by year

Every year DVSA have published for Paisley, from 2007-08 to 2025-26

2007-082008-092009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26

Financial years 2007-08 to 2025-26, ranging between 37.88% and 57.06%

Pass rate at Paisley by financial year
Financial yearPass rateTests conducted
2007-0840.84%6,986
2008-0942.5%6,456
2009-1042.17%6,670
2010-1139.36%6,972
2011-1237.88%6,574
2012-1342.26%5,407
2013-1441.4%5,503
2014-1544.72%5,512
2015-1644.01%6,022
2016-1743.79%6,737
2017-1846.07%6,438
2018-1946.27%5,744
2019-2045.36%5,661
2020-2157.06%1,183
2021-2254.73%4,654
2022-2349.31%5,305
2023-2449.09%6,164
2024-2546.6%5,777
2025-2648.62%7,912
Becoming an instructor

ADI qualifying tests at Paisley

Trainee driving instructors sit their qualifying tests at ordinary test centres - these are the figures for this one.

ADI Part 3 pass rate (2025-26)

20.41%

The instructional-ability test - nationally the hardest step. Every centre's Part 3 rate

From the archive

Paisley driving test routes (2008–2010)

These are the official DSA route documents, last reviewed 2008–2010. DVSA stopped publishing test routes in October 2010 when independent driving was introduced; today's routes are different and unpublished, and the test centre itself may have moved site since these were written. Use these to get familiar with the general area - not to memorise a route.

Source: Driving Standards Agency, via The National Archives (OGL v3.0).

On the day

Test Centre Facilities & Services

Important information about the Paisley test centre

Available Test Types

This test centre provides these types of tests: car, ADI3/SC.

Accessibility Information

You can access this test centre if you use a wheelchair.

What to Expect on Test Day

Your driving test at Paisley will follow the standard DVSA practical test format. Plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes before your scheduled time to allow for check-in procedures.

  • Bring your provisional driving licence and theory test pass certificate
  • Your test will begin with an eyesight check (reading a number plate)
  • You'll be asked two vehicle safety questions ('show me, tell me')
  • The driving portion lasts approximately 40 minutes
  • You'll be asked to perform one manoeuvre and may be required to follow sat-nav directions
Preparation

Preparing for Your Driving Test at Paisley

Expert advice to help you succeed on test day

Preparing for your driving test requires more than just learning to drive - it's about building confidence, understanding the local area, and practicing under test-like conditions. At the Paisley test centre, success starts with thorough preparation and the right support.

Work With a Local Instructor

One of the most valuable investments you can make is working with a driving instructor who knows the Paisley area well. Local instructors understand the roads commonly used for tests from Paisley, know the local traffic patterns, and can provide targeted practice on manoeuvres and situations you're likely to encounter. They can also offer mock tests that simulate the real experience, helping you build confidence and identify areas that need more work.

Practice in the Local Area

Familiarity with the roads around Paisley can make a significant difference on test day. Spend time practicing in the area with your instructor, paying attention to speed limits, road layouts, and common hazards. This local knowledge helps reduce anxiety and allows you to focus on demonstrating your driving skills rather than trying to navigate unfamiliar roads.

Understand the Statistics

The 48.62% pass rate at Paisley provides context but shouldn't define your expectations. Every candidate's journey is different, and with proper preparation, you can exceed these statistics. Focus on mastering the skills, building your confidence, and taking your test only when you and your instructor agree you're ready.

FAQ

Common Questions About Paisley

Find answers to frequently asked questions about this test centre, pass rates, and preparing for your driving test.

47.10% of candidates taking their first driving test at Paisley passed it, across 3,960 first attempts in 2025-26. 31 of those passed with no driving faults at all. The centre's overall pass rate of 48.62% includes retakes, so first-time candidates should compare against this figure instead.

44.05% of automatic car tests taken at Paisley were passed, across 1,857 tests in 2025-26. Passing in an automatic gives you an automatic-only licence.

According to DVSA figures for August 2026, the average (median) wait between booking a test at Paisley and taking it is 13.7 weeks. Appointments generally start to free up around 24 weeks ahead. Waiting times change every month, and this page updates when DVSA publish new figures. For pass rates it ranks 222 of 316 centres in Britain.

Based on recent data, the Paisley test centre has a pass rate of 48.62%. This is considered average compared to the national average. Out of 7,912 tests conducted, 3,847 candidates passed their driving test.

This test centre provides these types of tests: car, ADI3/SC.

You can access this test centre if you use a wheelchair.

To prepare for your driving test at the Paisley test centre, we recommend: practicing in the local area with a local instructor (see our instructors below), getting additional practice with family members between lessons (ensuring they're over 21 and have held a full UK licence for at least 3 years), watching instructional YouTube videos for tips and techniques, and completing mock tests. Consider the centre's 48.62% pass rate when planning your preparation timeline.

According to recent data, March 2026 had the highest pass rate at the Paisley test centre with 52.98% (427 passes from 806 tests). However, the best time to take your test is when you feel fully prepared and confident in your driving abilities.

The Paisley test centre is located at 1 West Avenue, Linwood Industrial Estate, Paisley, PA1 2FB. You can find detailed directions using the Google Maps link on this page.

On your test day at the Paisley test centre, arrive at least 10-15 minutes early with your provisional licence and theory test certificate. Your examiner will ask you to read a number plate, perform 'show me, tell me' questions, and then conduct a driving test lasting approximately 40 minutes. Based on recent data, 48.62% of candidates pass at this test centre. Remember to stay calm and drive as you've been taught.

Officially no - DVSA stopped publishing test routes in October 2010 when independent driving was introduced, and today's routes are unpublished. However, the official DSA route documents used at Paisley until then are preserved by The National Archives, and you can view them on this page. Use them to get familiar with the roads around the test centre rather than to memorise a route.

We've listed driving instructors within 10 miles of the Paisley test centre at the top of this page. Working with a local instructor who knows the area and test routes can significantly improve your chances of passing. You can also search by your own postcode to see instructors who cover exactly where you live.