Swap your driving test at Tilbury
Somebody holding a Tilbury 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.
Tilbury sits almost exactly on the national average, with 50.4% of car tests passed against 50% across Great Britain. Within East of England it ranks 14th of 22. It runs roughly 98 car tests a week, so there is a steady population of learners holding a slot here.
Which way the board is moving
Pass rate at Tilbury
About averageWhere a swap could take you
| Centre | Distance | Pass rate vs here |
|---|---|---|
| Basildon | about 13 miles | 49.1% -1.3 |
| Hornchurch | about 14 miles | 46.3% -4.1 |
| Brentwood | about 15 miles | 48.5% -1.9 |
| Southend-on-Sea | about 21 miles | 47% -3.4 |
Slots listed at Tilbury
What is on the board right now. Every one belongs to a real learner.
Centres you can swap with from Tilbury
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 Tilbury's three nearest or if Tilbury 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Basildon | about 13 miles | 0 |
| Hornchurch | about 14 miles | 0 |
| Brentwood | about 15 miles | 0 |
| Southend-on-Sea | about 21 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
Tilbury's own three nearest are Basildon, Hornchurch, Brentwood. The rule works both ways, so Southend-on-Sea also qualifies because Tilbury is among its three nearest.
Same test type
Weekday with weekday; evening and weekend tests only with each other.
Tilbury test routes on video
Examiners at Tilbury 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 Tilbury route videos
Swapping at Tilbury: questions
Can I swap a test at Tilbury 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 Tilbury the full list is Basildon, Hornchurch, Brentwood, Southend-on-Sea. Anywhere else would be refused on the call.
What is the pass rate at Tilbury?
50.4% of car tests at Tilbury ended in a pass between April 2025 and March 2026, from 5,083 tests. The national average over the same period was 50%, so Tilbury is right about average, ranking 199th 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 Tilbury?
It depends on how many learners hold a slot here and whether any want the opposite of what you want. DVSA runs about 98 car tests a week at Tilbury, 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 Tilbury 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 Tilbury 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.