Islay Island Test Centre

    Driving test cancellations, pass rates and key info.

    About Islay Island Test Centre

    The Islay Island Driving Test Centre is situated on the remote yet picturesque Isle of Islay, part of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. This unique location offers a driving test experience distinct from urban centres, with routes likely to include a mix of single-track roads, rural lanes, and potentially some limited stretches of more open roads, depending on the specific route set by the examiner. Candidates should be proficient in navigating varied road surfaces and the hazards often associated with rural driving, such as livestock, passing places, and unpredictable weather conditions. The test centre's environment provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate confident and safe driving in less congested settings. While specific pass rates for individual remote centres like Islay Island are not widely publicised by the DVSA, examiners generally look for consistent safe driving rather than speed, reflecting the more relaxed pace of life on the island.

    Driving Test Cancellations at Islay Island

    Finding driving test cancellations at Islay Island Driving Test Centre can be challenging due to its remote location. The availability of earlier test slots often depends on other candidates rescheduling or cancelling their appointments. Learners in the area should regularly check the DVSA website for new openings. For a more reliable approach, services like Find Me A Driving Test can scan the DVSA website 24/7, significantly increasing your chances of securing an earlier test date at Islay Island by notifying you instantly when a cancellation becomes available.

    Pass rate trend at Islay Island

    Pass rate over time

    Annual pass rate at Islay Island, from 2007-08 to 2022-23 (DVSA data).

    Between 2007-08 and 2022-23, the pass rate at Islay Island has improved, moving from 59.4% to 70% (up 10.6 percentage points). It peaked at 75.5% in 2018-19 and was lowest at 50% in 2009-10, with a long-run average of 67%. Pass rates vary year-to-year due to changes in test demand, examiner availability, candidate readiness and local route difficulty — these figures are taken directly from DVSA's published statistics.

    Year-by-year pass rate

    YearPass rate
    2022-2370%
    2021-2272%
    2019-2074.6%
    2018-1975.5%
    2017-1871.4%
    2015-1662.9%
    2013-1464.9%
    2012-1366.1%
    2011-1269.7%
    2009-1050%
    2008-0967.9%
    2007-0859.4%

    Frequently asked questions

    You can move your test to these test centres

    From 9 June 2026, the DVSA only lets you move a booked test from Islay Island to one of the centres below. These are the official rebooking options for this centre.