Mon - Sat 8am - 6pm 0330 223 2127
Practical test centre in Nottingham (Colwick)
Colwick sits on the eastern side of Nottingham, hugging the River Trent, and the Nottingham (Colwick) test centre draws learners from Cotgrave, Kirkby in Ashfield and West Bridgford as well as the immediate area. It’s an industrial-estate location rather than a high street one, which means test routes head out quickly onto the A612 and surrounding roads rather than lingering in slow town traffic. That’s worth planning for: a learner used only to quiet residential streets can find the pace here a jump up, which is exactly the gap an intensive course is designed to close.
- 4.9★ Rating (159 Reviews)
- 2,300+ Students Trained
- DVSA-Approved ADI Instructors
- Test Date Support, Not Just Lessons
Address and Facilities
Colwick Industrial Estate, Private Road No 5, Nottingham, NG4 2JU. Parking on site is limited, so allow extra time to find a space if you’re arriving by car. Toilets are available, and the centre has disabled access ramps for step-free entry. Tests conducted here include the standard car test alongside ADI part 2 and part 3 examinations for instructor candidates.
Remember that from 12 May 2026 the DVSA only accepts practical test bookings and changes made by the candidate themselves, so don’t rely on anyone else managing your slot. Booking needs your provisional licence details and a pass in the £23 theory test; the practical test fee is £62 on weekdays. Courses like LPOD Academy’s Gold 35, or the full range of intensive courses, are structured to have a learner ready for a test at a centre like Colwick within a set number of weeks rather than an open-ended run of lessons.
Whichever centre a learner tests at, the format doesn’t change: an eyesight check first, then two vehicle safety questions, around twenty minutes of independent driving, a manoeuvre, and an emergency stop on some tests. Fifteen driving faults is the ceiling for a pass, with any single serious or dangerous fault ending the test regardless of everything else that went well, which is why consistency across a whole route matters more than any one clever bit of driving.
A course built around Colwick spends time specifically on the A612 and the roundabouts near the industrial estate, since that’s where a lot of the route’s demands sit, rather than assuming general town driving covers it. Mock test runs later in the course mirror the real appointment closely, right down to the independent driving section, so nothing on the day feels unfamiliar. Running lessons across consecutive days rather than a single weekly slot also keeps the muscle memory fresh going into the test itself.
How to Reach Nottingham (Colwick) Test Centre
If you’re driving from the north or south, come off the M1 at Junction 26 and follow the signs for the A610, switching onto the A612 as you near Nottingham; that road leads straight into Colwick. Nottingham Racecourse and Colwick Country Park both sit near the test centre and are handy landmarks if you’re checking you’re on the right road.
Trains run into Nottingham station, with Nottingham City Transport buses continuing from there out to Colwick on a regular schedule; taxis and rideshare services are an easy door-to-door option if you’d rather not deal with buses on test morning. Cyclists have a scenic option too, following the paths along the River Trent into the area.
Whichever way you travel, check for roadworks or congestion before you set off, particularly around peak times when the A612 can back up. Learners preparing for this centre benefit from practising the roundabouts near the industrial estate specifically, since that’s where a lot of the route’s manoeuvring happens; our guide to cancellation test slots is also worth reading if you want to test sooner than your original date.
Your provisional licence is non-negotiable on test day; leave it at home and the centre will turn you away regardless of how well-prepared you are. Turning up with a little time in hand, rather than cutting it fine through Colwick’s industrial-estate roads, takes some of the pressure off before you’ve even started.
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.