Swap your driving test at Barrow In Furness
Somebody holding a Barrow In Furness slot wants a date they can't get. Somebody else wants theirs. DVSA will swap the two of you over the phone. They just won't introduce you.
Barrow In Furness has one of the highest car pass rates in Great Britain: 69.6%, 13th out of 314 centres. That is the highest of the 34 centres in North-west England. It runs roughly 33 car tests a week, so there is a steady population of learners holding a slot here. The rate has moved noticeably too: up 7.7 points on the year before (61.9%).
Which way the board is moving
Pass rate at Barrow In Furness
Above averageWhere a swap could take you
| Centre | Distance | Pass rate vs here |
|---|---|---|
| Kendal (Oxenholme Road) | about 33 miles | 65.1% -4.5 |
| Heysham | about 49 miles | 59.2% -10.4 |
| Workington | about 54 miles | 61.9% -7.7 |
Slots listed at Barrow In Furness
What is on the board right now. Every one belongs to a real learner.
Centres you can swap with from Barrow In Furness
DVSA only allows a swap where both tests are at the same centre, or within each other's three nearest. That last word matters: a centre counts if it is one of Barrow In Furness's three nearest or if Barrow In Furness is one of its three. Everywhere not on this list is off the table however keen you both are. The list and distances below are DVSA's own published ones (driving distance, avoiding motorways).
| Centre | Distance | On the board |
|---|---|---|
| Kendal (Oxenholme Road) | about 33 miles | 0 |
| Heysham | about 49 miles | 0 |
| Workington | about 54 miles | 0 |
The four rules, applied here
You both need a change left
Two changes per car test, and a swap spends one of them.
10 working days' notice
To whichever of the two tests is first. Sundays and bank holidays do not count.
Centres near each other
Barrow In Furness's own three nearest are Kendal (Oxenholme Road), Heysham, Workington.
Same test type
Weekday with weekday; evening and weekend tests only with each other.
Barrow In Furness test routes on video
Examiners at Barrow In Furness work from a set of local routes, and instructors film them. Watching the junctions and roundabouts before test day is the cheapest practice there is, whether you end up swapping or not.
Find Barrow In Furness route videos
Swapping at Barrow In Furness: questions
Can I swap a test at Barrow In Furness for one at another centre?
Only if the other centre is the same one, or within each other's three nearest. That works in both directions. From Barrow In Furness the full list is Kendal (Oxenholme Road), Heysham, Workington. Anywhere else would be refused on the call.
What is the pass rate at Barrow In Furness?
69.6% of car tests at Barrow In Furness ended in a pass between April 2025 and March 2026, from 1,699 tests. The national average over the same period was 50%, so Barrow In Furness is 19.6 points above it, ranking 13th of 314 centres in Great Britain. These are DVSA's own published figures and they describe the centre, not you.
How long does it take to find a swap at Barrow In Furness?
It depends on how many learners hold a slot here and whether any want the opposite of what you want. DVSA runs about 33 car tests a week at Barrow In Furness, so the pool of people holding a slot is reasonable. The live count is at the top of this page, and a three-way chain often resolves it faster than waiting for a perfect pair.
Does swapping at Barrow In Furness cost anything?
No. You exchange slots rather than rebooking, so you keep your original booking reference and payment. Matching here is free, and DVSA does the swap on the phone at no charge.
How much notice do I need?
At least 10 working days before whichever of the two tests comes first. Sundays and bank holidays do not count towards that, so the real deadline is earlier than the calendar suggests.
Can my instructor arrange it for me?
No. Since 12 May 2026 only the learner taking the test can book or manage it, and it is against the law for anyone to book a car test for someone else. Your instructor can sit with you while you call.
Your Barrow In Furness date is somebody's dream date
Somewhere there is a learner holding the slot you want, who wants the one you are stuck with. Put yours on the board and we will find them, then email you the moment they appear. Free, no card, no fee if it works.