Test Centre Stats

Co. Antrim · DVA driving test centre

Ballymena driving test centre

Figures to June 2026, from Department for Infrastructure statistics published . Pennybridge Ind Estate, Larne Road, Ballycraigy, Ballymena, BT42 3ER.

Car test pass rate, July 2025 to June 2026

49.8%

−1.2 pts on the year before

Northern Ireland

52.5%

All DVA centres, same period

Pass-rate rank

10 of 15

1 = highest

Car tests, last four quarters

3,704

903 in Apr–Jun 2026

From July 2025 to June 2026, 3,704 car tests were taken at Ballymena and 49.8% passed, by the Department for Infrastructure's figures: 2.7 points below the Northern Ireland rate (52.5%). In the four quarters before, the rate was 51.0%, so it has fallen by 1.2 points. It ranks 10th highest of 15 DVA car test centres. In April to June 2026 alone, 903 tests were taken and 53.5% passed.

Pass rate over time

Each point is DfI's pass rate for the four quarters up to that date, which smooths out the ups and downs of a single quarter.

  • Ballymena
  • Northern Ireland
Car test pass rate at Ballymena, four quarters to each dateRolling four-quarter pass rate at Ballymena: 49.8% to June 2026; Northern Ireland 52.5%.020406080Jun 2022Jun 2023Jun 2024Jun 2025Jun 202649.8%Pass rate, %020406080’22’23’24’25’2649.8%Pass rate, %
Show these figures as a table
Car test pass rate at Ballymena, four quarters to each date
PeriodBallymenaNorthern Ireland
Four quarters to June 202649.8%52.5%
Four quarters to March 202648.6%52.3%
Four quarters to December 202550.2%52.9%
Four quarters to September 202550.1%53.6%
Four quarters to June 202551.0%54.9%
Four quarters to March 202552.7%55.8%
Four quarters to December 202452.1%56.2%
Four quarters to September 202453.1%56.0%
Four quarters to June 202453.3%54.7%
Four quarters to March 202453.3%53.7%
Four quarters to December 202353.6%53.2%
Four quarters to September 202354.3%52.9%
Four quarters to June 202356.8%53.3%
Four quarters to March 202358.6%53.7%
Four quarters to December 202260.3%54.5%
Four quarters to September 202260.7%55.5%
Four quarters to June 202262.0%57.0%

Compared with Northern Ireland

  • Ballymena
  • Northern Ireland average
  • All car testsJuly 2025 to June 2026
    49.8%2.7 points below Northern Ireland (52.5%)
  • Men
    48.7%3.4 points below Northern Ireland (52.1%)
  • Women
    51.3%1.6 points below Northern Ireland (52.9%)
  • Latest quarterApril to June 2026
    53.5%about the same as Northern Ireland (54.0%)
Show these figures as a table
Pass rates at Ballymena against Northern Ireland
MeasureBallymenaNorthern Ireland
All car tests49.8%52.5%
Men48.7%52.1%
Women51.3%52.9%
Latest quarter53.5%54.0%

By financial year

Years run April to March. 4 complete years are in the figures we hold.

  • Ballymena
  • Northern Ireland
Car test pass rate by financial year, Ballymena and Northern Ireland2022–23 58.6%, 2023–24 53.3%, 2024–25 52.7%, 2025–26 48.6%020406080100Ballymena, 2022–23: 58.6%59Northern Ireland, 2022–23: 53.7%2022–23Ballymena, 2023–24: 53.3%53Northern Ireland, 2023–24: 53.7%2023–24Ballymena, 2024–25: 52.7%53Northern Ireland, 2024–25: 55.8%2024–25Ballymena, 2025–26: 48.6%49Northern Ireland, 2025–26: 52.3%2025–26Pass rate, %020406080100Ballymena, 2022–23: 58.6%59Northern Ireland, 2022–23: 53.7%’22Ballymena, 2023–24: 53.3%53Northern Ireland, 2023–24: 53.7%’23Ballymena, 2024–25: 52.7%53Northern Ireland, 2024–25: 55.8%’24Ballymena, 2025–26: 48.6%49Northern Ireland, 2025–26: 52.3%’25Pass rate, %
Show these figures as a table
Car test pass rate by financial year, Ballymena and Northern Ireland
YearBallymenaNorthern Ireland
2022–2358.6%53.7%
2023–2453.3%53.7%
2024–2552.7%55.8%
2025–2648.6%52.3%

Years run April to March; ’20 is 2020–21.

Car tests each quarter

April to June 2026: 903 tests. Busiest quarter in the figures: 1,070.

Waiting times and booking

The DVA doesn't publish waiting times for each test centre, so we can't show one here. According to nidirect, car test appointments are released three months ahead, on the first working day of each month, and slots also come back when people cancel or change. If your preferred centre has nothing, nidirect suggests trying another centre.

Book your practical driving test or change, cancel or view a booking on nidirect. Since 1 October 2026 car and motorcycle tests in Northern Ireland need a Northern Ireland provisional licence. New learners also face a six-month minimum learning period: see Northern Ireland's new learner rules.

Nearby DVA centres

Straight-line distance from Ballymena. A higher pass rate elsewhere isn't on its own a reason to travel: knowing the roads where you'll be tested counts for a lot (how to read pass rates).

DVA centres near Ballymena
Centre
Larne16 mi53.2%+3.44,948
Belfast (Balmoral)22 mi48.0%−1.85,734
Lisburn25 mi44.8%−5.03,736
Hydebank25 mi43.0%−6.85,156
Coleraine26 mi49.3%−0.53,440
Cookstown26 mi52.0%+2.25,018
  • This centre
  • Other DVA centres
Larne: 53.2%Belfast (Balmoral): 48.0%Lisburn: 44.8%Hydebank: 43.0%Coleraine: 49.3%Cookstown: 52.0%Ballymena

Reading these figures

  • Pass rates are DfI's rolling four-quarter figures for category B (car) tests conducted at the centre. Tests where the candidate failed to attend aren't counted.
  • A centre's pass rate reflects who tests there as well as its roads: repeat candidates, how ready people are when they book and local traffic all play a part. DfI says the same in its own statistics.
  • The DVA doesn't publish waiting times by test centre, so there are none on this page.
  • The practical test changes from 1 April 2027 (longer independent driving, sat nav, "show me, tell me" questions on the move). Pass rates from before then may not carry over.

We have no link with the DVA or the Department for Infrastructure.

Sources

Department for Infrastructure, Driver, Vehicle, Operator and Enforcement Statistics (DVA Statistics), Section 4 tables 4.6, 4.7 and 4.7b, April to June 2022 to April to June 2026 (latest release). Address and map position from nidirect's driving and vehicle test centres. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.