As with many test centres in the UK, Chippenham can be found near a local business park. During peak business hours, it can therefore get a bit hectic on the roads. The test centre is on Bumpers Way, close to the A350. If you’re a local, you’ll be pleased to find that it’s only a 5-minute drive from the town centre. If you’re preparing to take your test here, there’s one thing you can do to get ahead of the curve—familiarise yourself with Chippenham test centre. Read on for more information!
Address
Unit 11, Cavalier Court
Bumpers Farm
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN14 6LH
Tests Offered at Chippenham
– Car
– ADI part 2
– ADI part 3
How To Get There
If you’re heading to Chippenham test centre from the city centre, start off by getting onto Marshfield Road. You’ll then need to continue onto the A420, move onto Bumpers Way and then continue down until you reach Chippenham test centre at the end. If you’re located further away in Wiltshire, don’t worry too much. The centre is easily accessible due to the proximity of A roads like the A350 and A4, not to mention motorways like the M4. Of course, if you’re still uncertain, we’d advise you to use a sat nav to find your way.
A Bit More About Chippenham
Once your driving test rolls on by, it’s time for you to whip out your newfound skills and impress the examiner. They will use all of the challenging road types and areas around Chippenham in order to test how ready you are to drive unsupervised. For starters, if you’re a bit iffy with roundabouts, you’ll want to do some practising with your instructor—you’ll encounter plenty during your route, especially on the A350. You’ll also want to be comfortable with facing heavy traffic, as the examiner will take you around the centre of Chippenham itself. (Clutch control is a must when it comes to start-stop traffic!) Things will eventually calm down as the examiner takes you along residential roads, potentially around Frogwell, which are perfect for 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.