1.1 By car

Leave the M6 at Junction 4, take the A45 toward Birmingham, then follow signs for Garretts Green. Turn onto Sheldon Hall Avenue and right into Granby Avenue; the DVSA sign appears beside Airparks. Arrive no more than 10 minutes early—HGVs share the estate road.

1.2 By public transport

• Bus – Routes 97 / 97A (Birmingham ↔ Chelmsley Wood) stop on Bordesley Green East / Meadway, a five‑minute walk via Garretts Green Lane.
• Train – Stechford (West Coast Main Line) is 1.8 miles away; bus 97 connects in about ten minutes.

1.3 Cycling / walking

National Cycle Network Route 5 follows the Grand Union Canal tow‑path. Leave at Station Road Bridge and ride one mile along Yardley Road to Granby Avenue. Bike hoops sit outside Unit 4—bring a good lock.

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A45 50 → 40 → 30 drops

Typical slip‑up – Average‑speed cameras outside Birmingham Airport catch late braking.
Quick fix – Spot each speed‑limit board early, lift off, and let engine‑braking settle your pace.

Sheldon Island spiral lanes

Typical slip‑up – Unclear markings cause last‑second swerves toward Coventry Road.
Quick fix – Read lane arrows 100 m out, hold 25 mph and commit smoothly.

Granby Avenue HGV pinch‑points

Typical slip‑up – Parked artics leave single file; many learners don’t give way.
Quick fix – Scan two truck‑lengths ahead, pick a gap early and signal intentions.

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1 About Garretts Green Test Centre

This multi‑purpose site handles cars, LGVs, and motorcycles—so expect extra yard traffic. Manoeuvres usually happen in the wide rear bays (bay parking is the examiner’s favourite), while parallel parking often takes place on nearby The Radleys. The first pull‑out is onto a 30 mph bend—polish your second‑gear roll‑offs and sharp mirror checks.

2 What to Expect on the Day

Arrive ten minutes early with your provisional licence. You’ll:

• Read a 20 m number‑plate
• Answer one “show me, tell me” question
• Perform one reversing manoeuvre (bay or parallel)
• Possibly complete an emergency stop
• Spend around 20 minutes on independent sat‑nav or sign‑led driving

Examiners watch mirror–signal–manoeuvre closely when you join the fast A45 slip road.

3 After You Pass

DVSA spreadsheets list Garretts Green’s recent pass rate at 40%, slightly under the national 48.9% figure. Results are uploaded instantly; your full photocard usually arrives within two weeks. Consider Pass Plus for confidence on the M42, and compare telematics insurance early for better deals.

4. What If You Don’t Pass?

Not passing can sting, but DriveBot scans Garretts Green and over 100 UK centres—including South Yardley and Shirley—to secure the earliest retest slot, letting you bounce back fast.

5. Can’t Find Earlier Driving Test Cancellations?

DriveBot delivers:

• Instant alerts the second a slot appears
• Flexible filters for centre radius, date window and gearbox
• Stress‑free booking – DriveBot hunts while you focus on practice

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