Atherton Driving Test Centre

Question 1

Tell me how you'd check that the brakes are working before starting a journey.

Answer

The brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Test them as you set off, and the car should not pull to one side.

Question 2

Tell me where you'd find the recommended tyre pressures for this car and how they should be checked.

Answer

The pressures are in the manufacturer's guide. Use a reliable gauge, check and adjust the tyres when cold, include the spare and refit the valve caps.

Question 3

Tell me how you make sure your head restraint is correctly adjusted to give the best protection in a crash.

Answer

The rigid part of the head restraint should be at least as high as your eyes or the top of your ears, and as close to the back of your head as is comfortable.

Question 4

Tell me how you'd check the tyres have enough tread depth and are in a safe condition.

Answer

Look for cuts and bulges, and check for at least 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tyre, all the way round.

Question 5

Tell me how you'd check that the headlights and tail lights are working.

Answer

Switch the lights on, turning on the ignition if needed, then walk round the car to check each one. You do not need to get out on the test.

Question 6

Tell me how you'd know if there was a problem with the anti lock braking system.

Answer

A warning light on the dashboard comes on if the anti lock braking system has a fault.

Question 7

Tell me how you'd check the direction indicators are working.

Answer

Switch on the hazard warning lights, turning on the ignition if needed, then walk round the car to check every indicator flashes.

Question 8

Tell me how you'd check the brake lights are working on this car.

Answer

Press the brake pedal and check the reflection in a window or garage door, or ask someone to look.

Question 9

Tell me how you'd check the power assisted steering is working before a journey.

Answer

Keep gentle pressure on the steering wheel while starting the engine, and it should move slightly as the system starts. Heavy steering means the system may not be working.

Question 10

Tell me how you'd switch on the rear fog lights and when you'd use them.

Answer

Switch on the dipped headlights, then the rear fog light switch, and check the warning light. Use rear fog lights when visibility drops below 100 metres.

Question 11

Tell me how you switch your headlights from dipped to main beam and how you'd know main beam is on.

Answer

Operate the headlight switch with the dipped lights on, and a blue main beam warning light appears on the dashboard.

Question 12

Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check the engine has enough oil.

Answer

Find the dipstick or the dashboard oil level indicator, and check the oil sits between the minimum and maximum marks.

Question 13

Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check the engine has enough coolant.

Answer

Find the coolant header tank and check the level sits between the high and low marks.

Question 14

Open the bonnet and tell me how you'd check you have a safe level of brake fluid.

Answer

Find the brake fluid reservoir and check the level sits between the high and low marks.

Question 15

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen?

Answer

Operate the control that washes and wipes the rear windscreen.

Question 16

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash and clean the front windscreen?

Answer

Operate the control that washes and wipes the front windscreen.

Question 17

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd switch on your dipped headlights?

Answer

Operate the headlight switch to the dipped setting.

Question 18

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd set the rear demister?

Answer

Press the rear demister switch.

Question 19

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd operate the horn?

Answer

Press the horn control, usually in the middle of the steering wheel.

Question 20

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd demist the front windscreen?

Answer

Set the fan, temperature and air direction to the windscreen, and switch on the heated screen if the car has one.

Question 21

When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd open and close the side window?

Answer

Operate the window control to open the side window and close it again.

Question 22

Where is Atherton driving test centre?

Answer

Atherton driving test centre is on Gibfield Park Avenue, Atherton, Manchester M46 0SU, across from the Guide Dogs training school and close to Atherleigh Way. Atherton handles car tests plus motorcycle, lorry and bus tests and the ADI Part 2 and Part 3 instructor tests.

Question 23

What is the Atherton test centre pass rate?

Answer

DVSA figures put the Atherton test centre pass rate at 44.3% for 2025/26, from 13,035 car tests, the lowest in Greater Manchester and 5.7 points under the 50.0% national average. First time candidates did slightly better, passing at 45.1%.

Question 24

Is Atherton a hard test centre?

Answer

Atherton sits in the bottom 15% of UK car test centres, ranked 275th of 323 in 2024/25, and its pass rate has fallen from 50.3% in 2017/18 to 44.3% in 2025/26. Mini-roundabouts, speed hump estates and busy A roads such as the A577 reward extra local practice.

Question 25

Is there parking at Atherton driving test centre?

Answer

Atherton driving test centre has a small car park, though listings describe the spaces as limited, so arriving in your instructor's car is the easy option. Male, female and disabled toilets are available, and the DVSA lists the centre as wheelchair accessible.

Question 26

What are the Atherton driving test routes?

Answer

Atherton driving test routes are not published, but local guides mention Atherleigh Way, the Leigh Road mini-roundabout, Bolton Road and the speed hump estates around Howe Bridge, plus the A577 and A58. Since November 2025, examiners have had more freedom to include those faster A roads.

Question 27

How long is the wait for a driving test at Atherton?

Answer

Atherton's typical wait was about 10 weeks from booking to test day in September 2026, according to DVSA figures, a little shorter than the 12 weeks at nearby Bolton. Impulse intensive courses include test booking support, with a practical test date in 1 to 8 weeks, or your money back in full.

Question 28

Can I take an automatic driving test at Atherton?

Answer

Yes, but Atherton's automatic candidates passed at only 37.9% in 2025/26, the lowest automatic pass rate of the 9 centres Impulse covers, against 47.1% in manual cars. Book extra practice on the mini-roundabouts if you learn in an automatic, and bear in mind that an automatic pass does not let you drive manual cars.

Question 29

Is Atherton test centre in Wigan?

Answer

Yes. Atherton is a town in the Wigan borough of Greater Manchester, and Atherton driving test centre is the nearest DVSA car test centre for learners in Leigh, Tyldesley and Hindley. Bolton, about 4 miles to the north east, is the next closest option.

Question 30

Can Impulse book my driving test at Atherton for me?

Answer

No. DVSA rules since 2026 let only the learner book or move a driving test, and any single booking can be moved twice at most. Impulse intensive courses include test booking support to help you secure an Atherton date and plan your lessons around it.

Question 31

What happens if I fail my driving test at Atherton?

Answer

The examiner's report shows every fault from a failed Atherton test, and the soonest you can sit another is 10 working days later. Your instructor can then build the next lessons around the faults on that report, so the weak spots get fixed first.

Year	Atherton	National Average	Difference
2019 to 2020	46.5%	45.9%	0.6 points higher
2020 to 2021	50.1%	49.8%	0.3 points higher
2021 to 2022	47.3%	48.9%	1.6 points lower
2022 to 2023	44.5%	48.4%	3.9 points lower
2023 to 2024	44.2%	47.9%	3.7 points lower
2024 to 2025	44.4%	48.7%	4.3 points lower
2017 to 2018	50.3%	46.3%	4.0 points higher
2025 to 2026	44.3%	50.0%	5.7 points lower

Measure	Atherton 2025/26
First attempt	45.1%
Manual tests	47.1%
Automatic tests	37.9%
Male learners	45.7%
Female learners	42.4%
17 year olds	60.4%
Faultless first passes	75

Fact	Details
Address	Gibfield Park Avenue, Atherton, Manchester M46 0SU
Location	Gibfield Park, close to Atherleigh Way
Tests offered	Car, motorcycle, lorry and bus tests, plus ADI Part 2 and Part 3
Parking	A small car park, with limited spaces
Toilets	Male, female and disabled toilets
Wheelchair access	Yes, confirmed by the DVSA
How to book	gov.uk/book-driving-test, by the learner
DVSA phone	0300 200 1122, Monday to Friday
Nearest other Impulse centre	Bolton, about 4 miles away

No.	Road	What It Tests	How to Practise
1	Gibfield Park Avenue	Pulling out from the centre	Check both ways before emerging
2	Atherleigh Way roundabout	A busy roundabout near the centre	Choose your lane on approach
3	Leigh Road mini-roundabout	Giving way to traffic from the right	Slow right down and look right
4	Bolton Road	A drop from 30 to 20 mph	Ease off before the 20 mph sign
5	Howe Bridge estates	Speed humps and parked cars	Ease off before each hump
6	Hag Fold residential streets	Quieter residential roads	Watch for children and parked cars
7	A577	Busy A road traffic	Keep a safe following gap
8	A58	Longer A road sections	Hold your lane and speed

Ready If	Not Yet If
15 or fewer minors	Still need prompts
No serious faults	Serious faults in mocks
Calm at mini-roundabouts	Mini-roundabouts cause hesitation
Manoeuvres right first time	Manoeuvres hit and miss
Smooth over speed humps	Braking hard at humps

Test Centre	Distance	Pass Rate 2025/26	Tests 2025/26
Atherton	This centre	44.3%	13,035
Bolton	About 4 miles	51.8%	11,570
Bury	About 10 miles	46.3%	7,024
Sale	About 11 miles	51.4%	10,921

Atherton Driving Test Centre

Pass Rates, Local Roads and Practical Test Preparation

Pass Rate

National Average

Tests a Year

Automatic Pass Rate