Our platform makes it easy to compare driving instructors in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas. Browse profiles, check availability, read genuine reviews from past students, and send enquiries directly to instructors.
All instructors listed are fully qualified ADIs (Approved Driving Instructors) registered with the DVSA. Start your search today and take the first step towards getting on the road.
Some instructors covering Portsmouth
Profiles stay public for trust, but the quickest route is to let us check who can actually take you on.
Marius
Marius is an Approved Driving Instructor with a Grade A qualification, based in Portsmouth. He's been teaching learners in the area for over six year…
Annette
Annette is a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and runs Anita Pass Driving Instructors, a friendly driving school based in Fareham, H…
Colin
Colin Martin is a friendly, reassuring driving instructor based in Portsmouth. He's been teaching automatic driving since 2006 and started The Bright…
Latch
Latch Drepaul is an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) who has been teaching since 1998 and running EYE2EYE Driver Training across Hampshire since 200…
Ian
Ian Gibson's been teaching people to drive safely in and around Chichester since 2002. He's an approved driving instructor with the DVSA, and he's bu…
Elaine
Elaine has been teaching people to drive for well over a decade. She ran a franchise with The British School of Motoring for more than 10 years, then…
Emma
Emma is an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) who qualified in 2010, so she has over a decade of teaching experience in Gosport, Fareham and the surro…
Joe
Hi, I'm Joe Picken. I've been teaching people to drive around Gosport and Lee on the Solent since 1976, when I started the Gosport School of Motoring…
Lou
Lou Down runs Lou's School of Motoring in Gosport. She's a fully qualified professional driving instructor, registered with the Driving Standards Age…
Katy
Katy runs KT Driving School, a small, friendly operation in Hampshire. She's a fully qualified female instructor who's trusted by her students for ma…
Reg
Reg is an automatic driving instructor based in Waterlooville. He's been teaching since 2002, qualified as an ADI in 2007, and has spent the last 14 …
Sean
Sean Laughton has been a DVSA approved driving instructor since 2009, with a pass rate consistently above the national and local average. He's built …
Learning to Drive in Portsmouth
Learning to drive in Portsmouth means dealing with a compact city, busy harbour roads and a mix of fast A-roads and narrow residential streets. Expect lessons that cover the M275 and the A27, plus city-centre manoeuvres around Gunwharf Quays and Old Portsmouth. You will meet ferry traffic near the International Port and regular commuter congestion on Eastern Road. Local instructors often focus on roundabout control and parking in tight streets.
Nearest Test Centre: Portsmouth
The nearest DVSA test centre is Portsmouth, about 4.2 miles from central areas. Expect test routes that use the M275, A27 and local high streets, with a mix of roundabouts and urban junctions. The Portsmouth test centre runs around 9,649 tests a year and has a pass rate of 45.8% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). You might spot examiners using Tipner roundabout and Fratton Road on test days.
Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)
Pass Rate Analysis
Portsmouth test centre pass rate sits at 45.8%, slightly below the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Male candidates locally pass at 47.8% while female candidates pass at 43.8% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Nearby Lee On The Solent shows a higher rate of 51.9% and Newport (Isle of Wight) is at 50.5% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). The centre runs a high number of tests, about 9,649 a year, which keeps local test days busy.
Local Driving Tips
Practice joining and leaving the M275 carefully, especially around the junctions with the A27. Tipner roundabout and the approaches to Gunwharf Quays can get congested, so learn to pick safe gaps. Spend time on Eastern Road and Fratton Road to get used to bus lanes, cycle lanes and narrow lanes near the stadium. Old Portsmouth and Southsea have tight streets and on-street parking that you will need to master. Expect frequent pedestrian crossings near the harbour and ferry terminal, and watch for coaches and lorries by the International Port.
Choosing an Instructor in Portsmouth
Look for an instructor who knows local test routes and has experience on the M275 and A27. With eight local instructors listed, availability can be limited at peak times, so book early. Ask about lesson structure, pass history and if they offer block discounts or mock tests. Expect to pay around the local average of £37 an hour for standard lessons.
Lesson Costs in Portsmouth
Average lessons in Portsmouth cost about £37 per hour. Prices vary with instructor experience, lesson length, time of day and whether you buy block bookings or single lessons.
Getting Started
Apply for your provisional licence and book a first lesson to get a sense of where you need to improve. Study for and pass the theory test before booking practical tests at the Portsmouth test centre, which is about 4.2 miles away. Arrange regular lessons and some independent practice to build confidence on local roads and roundabouts. Book mock tests with your instructor to prepare for actual test routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: February 2026