Mon - Sat 8am - 6pm 0330 223 2127
Practical test centre in Newport (Gwent)
Newport (Gwent) test centre sits on the 5th floor of Clarence House on Clarence Place, close to the city centre and the River Usk. The name distinguishes this centre from the other Newport on the Isle of Wight, since DVSA runs practical tests from both. Learners testing here cover a city road network that includes the Usk crossings, several signalised junctions, and roundabouts on the approach roads into town, giving examiners a good spread of manoeuvres to assess within a standard 40-minute test. LPOD Academy intensive courses prepare candidates for exactly this mix before they ever sit in the car with the examiner, rather than leaving city driving to be figured out on the day.
- 4.9★ Rating (159 Reviews)
- 2,300+ Students Trained
- DVSA-Approved ADI Instructors
- Test Date Support, Not Just Lessons
Practical Test Centre Address
The test centre is on the 5th Floor, Clarence House, Clarence Place, Newport, NP19 7AA. There is no on-site parking, so plan to use one of the city centre car parks nearby and allow extra walking time. Public toilets are available inside the building. The centre provides disabled access. Car tests and motorcycle tests are both conducted here. Because there is nowhere to park directly outside, arrive at least fifteen minutes before your appointment so you are not rushing in after a search for a space. Bring your provisional licence, since the examiner will check it, along with your theory test pass certificate number before the test begins. Once inside, the examiner will run through a vehicle safety question before you set off and another once you are moving, so make sure your instructor has covered both types with you in advance rather than leaving them until the waiting room.
How To Get To Newport (Gwent) Test Centre
Most drivers reach Clarence Place via the M4, following signs for Newport city centre once you leave the motorway. From Cardiff, the drive in is largely dual carriageway before you join the local road network near the river; from Bristol, the approach is similar but from the opposite direction, crossing the Severn before picking up the same signs. Once in the city centre, Clarence Place runs alongside the River Usk, so expect a mix of one-way sections, pedestrian crossings, and traffic signals in the immediate area around the test centre.
Newport’s test routes typically make use of this town centre layout alongside faster stretches on the approach roads, so candidates should be comfortable with roundabouts, lane discipline in traffic, and dealing with pedestrians and cyclists in a built-up area. An LPOD Academy intensive course, such as the Silver 25 or Gold 35 package, spends the final lessons driving these exact conditions so nothing on test day feels unfamiliar. Deposits for these courses start from £180, rising with course length, and are always quoted as a deposit rather than the full price. The independent driving section of the test typically lasts about 20 minutes and may use a sat-nav, road signs, or a mixture of both, so ask your instructor to practise this specifically on roads near Clarence Place before your appointment.
Because an intensive course runs over consecutive days rather than one lesson a week, it also suits candidates travelling in from outside the city, since the whole block of driving, theory revision and mock testing can be scheduled around a single visit to Newport rather than spread across months of separate trips. That matters for a river city like this one, where traffic on the bridges can build quickly at peak times regardless of which direction you are approaching from.
If you are coming from further into Monmouthshire, learners from towns such as Abergavenny and Tutshill and Sedbury regularly travel into Newport for their test, since it is the closest DVSA centre with regular availability. On the day, remember your provisional licence is compulsory: the test cannot go ahead without it. Since 12 May 2026, DVSA has required candidates to manage their own test bookings, amendments and cancellations directly, rather than through an instructor, so keep your login details safe throughout your course. The current weekday practical test fee is £62.
Page reviewed and updated 17 July 2026.
View All Practical Test Centre Pages Here
Why Book With LPOD Academy?
Can LPOD book my practical test at this centre for me?
No. Since 12 May 2026, only you can book, change or manage your DVSA practical test. LPOD provides test date support instead: centre and timing guidance as standard, plus an optional Test Alerts + Booking Strategy add-on (£50) if you’d like us actively watching for earlier dates and helping you plan around them.
Which course should I choose before my test?
It depends on your experience. Complete beginners usually start with a Gold or Platinum course, while learners who have already had lessons or sat a test before often suit a Silver or Bronze course. Try our course recommendation tool for a personal suggestion.
Are LPOD instructors qualified?
Yes. Every LPOD instructor is a DVSA-approved ADI, paid full market rates, so you get a properly qualified instructor rather than the cheapest bidder.