Located off Venture Way, Taunton test centre can be found smack dab in the middle of Crown Industrial Estate. Though the estate itself is relatively spacious, it could potentially get congested during rush hour, so bear that in mind when travelling to and from Taunton. The centre itself is a 10-minute drive from the town centre and close to the A358, meaning that both local learners and those coming in from further afield will be able to reach it with little to no effort. Read on for more information!

Address

Unit L2, Acres Hill Business Park
Off Venture Way
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 8RX

Tests Offered at Taunton

– Car
– Motorcycle module 1
– Motorcycle module 2
– ADI part 2
– ADI part 3

How To Get There

If you’re a local learner who lives near the town centre, you’ll need to get onto Tangier Way to start. Your next move will be to turn onto Bridge Street before turning onto Station Road, and then the A3038. Next, you’ll need to switch to the A358, turn onto the A3259 before finally moving onto Venture Way. (Trust us, it’s a lot easier and faster than it sounds.) If you’re coming in from further afield in Somerset, you can make use of nearby A roads like the A359 and A38, not to mention the M5. Of course, if you’re still uncertain, we’d advise you to use a sat nav to find your way.

A Bit More About Taunton

There’s a good reason why we urge learners to take their practical in their local area, and that’s because a knowledge of the roads will mean you’ll be somewhat familiar with your test route. There’s an even mix of busy and quiet roads around Taunton, so you’ll spend a lot of time moving between different roads and traffic systems. (Keep a close eye on your speedometer—you don’t want to go over the limit!) The route will take you along some of the nearby A roads, like the A3259 and A38, which feature a variety of tricky roundabouts, so beware! Though the M5 is close by, motorways do not currently feature on tests, so you’ve not got to worry about it.

At some point, the test route will lead you to a quieter residential estate, such as Galmington or Sherford. Here, you’ll have to show off your ability to manoeuvre around parked vehicles whilst meeting oncoming traffic. You’ll also be asked to demonstrate one of the driving test manoeuvres.

What To Expect On The Day

After hours of driving lessons, your test date is finally upon you. Talk about nerve-wracking. If your confidence isn’t quite where you hoped it would be, we’d advise you to read up on our top six ways to relax before your driving test.

Before you jet out of the front door on your big day, there’s one important question you need to ask yourself: do you have your provisional licence? If the answer’s no, you can wave goodbye to taking your test. You need to have your provisional licence with you to take the driving test, otherwise you will be turned around, so double-check you’ve got it before you leave. Additionally, you’ll want to get to the test centre 10 minutes before your test is due to start.

Your driving test will consist of:

– An eyesight test, where you’ll need to read a number plate from a distance of 20 metres
– Two “show me, tell me” questions covering vehicle safety and maintenance
– Twenty minutes of general driving, where you’ll be guided by the examiner, and will also need to perform one of the following manoeuvres:
– Parallel parking
– Bay parking
– Pulling up on the right
– Twenty minutes of independent driving, during which you’ll either follow sat nav directions or sign posts to reach a set destination

Once you get back to the test centre and park your car, the test will officially end. The examiner will then walk you through the feedback sheet and list any driving test faults, whether they are minors or majors, that you may have accumulated. If you fail, keep hold of this sheet as it can be used to help you figure out which areas you need to improve on for your next test attempt. If you pass, you’ll also be handed a test pass certificate.

But What If I Fail?

Like any other test you take in life, if all doesn’t go according to plan with your driving test and you end up failing, it’s as simple as trying again. Of course, we don’t recommend just heading back in without any preparation. Instead, take some time to improve on the areas in which you picked up the most faults in. The best way to do this is by taking a refresher course with an instructor. They’ll be able to give you pointers to ensure you don’t trip up on them again.