Dorchester
Dorchester driving test centre is located at: 66 Peverell Avenue West, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3SU
Tel: 01305 757189
(Please note that telephone numbers are gradually being replaced with digital lines with an 020 prefix. Ordinary landline numbers provided may no longer be in use)
Test Types Available: car, motorcycle mod 2, ADI part 3.
Accessibility: The centre features a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking lot, plus accessible toilets
Toilets: Male and female toilets are available
Parking: Car parking is available
Pass Rate: Dorchester has high pass rate of around 67%
Test Routes
Expect narrow residential roads on Poundbury Core with 20 mph zones requiring high awareness of pedestrians. Higher-speed sections on the A35 bypass and A37, featuring complex roundabouts like Monkey’s Jump. Busy town centre junctions in Dorchester paired with steep rural lanes towards villages like Winterborne St Martin.
In order to book a driving test you need:
- your UK driving licence number
- a credit or debit card for payment
- if you wish to check that your driving instructor is available, you will also need your instructor’s personal reference number
You can click here to find out the current cost of a driving test in your chosen category. In order to take a practical test, you must have lived in England, Wales or Scotland for at least 185 days in the last 12 months before the day you take your test. If you live in Northern Ireland there is a different service through which you can book your test. If you want to look for an earlier test date after booking, you can check for appointments by going to the ‘change driving test‘ page on the Gov.UK website.
What Happens on the Day
On the day of your driving test, make sure that you have your photocard driving licence with you. If you have an old style paper licence, then you must also take a valid passport for photo ID. Without these you will not be able to take your test.
You can take the test in your own car if you wish. Just make sure that it is taxed, insured and everything is in good working order. You must also provide an extra rear-view mirror for the examiner to use. Make sure that your L plates are clean, and correctly positioned clearly in view – NOT in the windows!
Arrive at your test centre in good time, but not so early that you get in the way of other test candidates. About ten minutes before your test time is about right. Just park your car, and make your way to the waiting room with your licence and wait for the examiner to call your name. For full details about what happens during a test, read The Driving Test & How to Pass – it’s written by a driving examiner!