If you’re a local to Peterborough, don’t be too surprised if you haven’t seen Peterborough test centre before. It’s a relatively small test centre, so you’ve likely breezed past it on numerous occasions. You’ll find Peterborough test centre on Second Drove, just off Fengate. Around 10 minutes from the city centre, Peterborough is nestled next to a local business estate and Peterborough RUFC. If you want to familiarise yourself with your chosen test centre, read our guide below.

Address

Second Drove
Fengate
Peterborough
Cambridgeshire
PE1 5XA

Tests Offered at Peterborough

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

How To Get There

It couldn’t be easier to get to Peterborough test centre from the city centre. All you need to do is get onto Bishop’s Road, continue onto Fengate and then turn onto Second Drove. Piece of cake! If you’re coming from further afield in Cambridgeshire, you’ll be able to make use of the wide assortment of nearby A roads to get there, including the A1, A47 and A15. Of course, if you’re still uncertain, we’d advise you to use a sat nav to find your way.

A Bit More About Peterborough

No matter which test centre you head to for your practical, the format will remain largely the same. The only real difference is the exact roads that the examiner will use in the route. For the most part, they’re just looking to test your skills and confidence when you’re pitted against different speed and traffic systems, road features like roundabouts, and the dreaded manoeuvres. It might sound intimidating, but it’s not much different from your driving lessons.

With Peterborough’s vicinity to the local industrial estate, you can expect a bit of congestion during rush hour. Your clutch control will need to be on point here when facing start-stop traffic. There are also a lot of local schools nearby, like City of Peterborough Academy Special School, so keep your eyes peeled for any changes in speed limits. The examiner will likely guide you towards the city centre, which can get hectic, before switching to a quieter area for you 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.