Chatswood Driving Test Centre Guide

Where is the Chatswood driving test centre?

The Chatswood Service Centre is at 313 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, and it offers driving tests by appointment. It's a common test centre for learners from Chatswood, Willoughby, Artarmon, Lane Cove, North Sydney and the Lower North Shore.

Where do you park for the driving test?

Driver test parking is in Blakesley Street, right next to the centre. Use the parking spots marked with yellow paint. The route from the test parking to the entrance is accessible.

What roads will you drive on?

Tests start and finish at the centre, so expect to drive around Chatswood's busy centre and the streets around it. That usually means heavy traffic, lots of pedestrians, bus stops, traffic lights and changing speed limits, with main roads such as the Pacific Highway, Victoria Avenue, Boundary Street and Mowbray Road nearby, and quieter residential streets for manoeuvres. Service NSW doesn't publish test routes, so the best preparation is lessons on the roads around the centre.

What does the NSW Driving Test assess?

The NSW Driving Test is a practical, on-road test that focuses on how well you notice hazards and respond to them. The testing officer also looks at your decision making, your awareness of other road users and how you share the road. Safety systems such as automatic emergency braking stay switched on, but you need to show you can drive safely without relying on them.

Can you book the test yet?

If you're under 25, you need to be at least 17, have held your learner licence for at least 12 months, have passed the Hazard Perception Test and have logged at least 120 hours of supervised driving, including 20 hours at night. If you use the logbook app, submit it at least 48 hours before your test. If you're 25 or older, you need to have passed the Hazard Perception Test, and you don't need a logbook.

What to bring on test day

• Your learner licence (proof of identity)
• A completed Licence Application Form
• Glasses or contact lenses, if you need them to drive
• Payment or a concession card for the licence fee
• Under 25: your completed logbook or app record, with the Declaration of Completion signed by a supervising driver
• A registered, roadworthy car that is clean and in good condition (or hire ours)

How to prepare for a test at Chatswood

• Practise driving through busy town-centre streets with lots of pedestrians and buses.
• Watch for speed limits that change between main roads, shopping strips and school zones.
• Get used to moving off from kerbside parking on a busy street with a good head check.
• Do a warm-up lesson in Chatswood just before your test so the area feels familiar.

Habits that most often cost learners points

• Late or missing head checks — Mirrors aren't enough when changing lanes, merging or pulling out from the kerb. Check over your shoulder every time.
• Rolling through stop signs — Come to a complete stop at the line, then look before moving off.
• Speed in school zones and changing limits — Watch for school zone times and limits that drop as you enter shopping strips or residential streets.
• Poor gap selection — Waiting too long or taking a gap that's too small, especially at roundabouts and when turning right.
• Hesitation on merges — Match the speed of the traffic, signal early and merge smoothly rather than stopping at the end of the lane.
• Kerb contact in manoeuvres — Take reverse parking and three-point turns slowly and keep checking around the car.

Can you use our car for the test?

Yes. Car hire for your test is $170, and we meet you at the Chatswood Service Centre. The Complete Test Package is $250 and adds a one-hour warm-up lesson, pick-up from your address, transport to the centre and drop-off afterwards.

What happens if you don't pass?

If you don't pass, the testing officer gives you general comments on your drive, and someone with a full licence must drive the car away. You need to wait at least 7 days before you can sit the test again. You can view, change or cancel a booking online or by calling 13 22 13, at least 48 hours before your test. If a test is stopped because something you needed was missing, the booking fee isn't refunded.