Find a Driving Instructor in Upminster

Tell us what you need and we will check suitable local instructors, availability, lesson price, and likely start date before you commit.

Instructors
12
Avg Price
£35/hr
Nearest Test Centre
London (Hornchurch) (1.3 mi)
Test Centre Pass Rate
39.5%
DVSA Approved Verified Reviews Free for learners

Free for learners

Not set on one instructor?

We can check suitable instructors near Upminster and come back with lesson terms for you to review.

Find me an available instructor faster

There are 12 driving instructors in Upminster. Prices range from £28.00 to £40.00 per hour. The average rating is 4.5 stars from 33 reviews.

12
Instructors
£35/hr
Avg Price
4.5 / 5
33 Reviews
DVSA
Approved ADIs
Welcome to our Upminster driving instructor directory. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, we can help you find the right instructor.

Our Upminster instructors offer a range of services including manual and automatic lessons, intensive courses, and flexible scheduling to fit around your commitments. Compare prices, read genuine student reviews, and find an instructor who matches your needs and budget.
Local Instructor Proof

Some instructors covering Upminster

Profiles stay public for trust, but the quickest route is to let us check who can actually take you on.

Julia Saxton
9.4 mi

Julia

Gravesend
5.0
8 reviews
Manual & Auto 60 min Evenings + Weekends

Julia runs Julia's School of Motoring, a driving school that's been helping learners in Kent for over 30 years. She's got a team of experienced femal…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Motorway
View Profile
AA
6.1 mi

Aman

Grays
5.0
7 reviews
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends

Aman Ahmadzai is an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) based in Grays, Essex (RM17 5FG). He provides driving lessons across Grays, Tilbury, South Ocke…

View Profile
Khaled
6.9 mi

Khaled

Ilford
5.0
1 review
Manual & Auto 60 min Evenings + Weekends
Ford, Toyota Focus Diesel, Corolla Hybrid

Hi, I'm Khaled. I've been teaching people to drive around East London for over 6 years now, and I still love it. I offer lessons in both manual and a…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Pass Plus
£38 /hour
View Profile
S
7.7 mi

Simmone

Dartford
4.9
15 reviews
Automatic 60 min Evenings + Weekends
Nissan Qashqai

Simmone is a patient and friendly female driving instructor based in Dartford. She teaches automatic driving lessons in a Nissan Qashqai, which has d…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive
View Profile
Derek
9.4 mi

Derek

Gravesend
2.5
2 reviews
Manual 60 min

Derek is a friendly, down-to-earth driving instructor who runs Milton Driving School in Gravesend, Kent. He's a Grade A instructor with over 19 years…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Motorway
View Profile
Nick
4.2 mi

Nick

Romford
Manual 120 min
Volkswagen Golf

Nick runs Elite Driving School in Romford, and he's the kind of instructor who makes learning to drive feel straightforward and supportive. He's a DV…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Motorway
£31 /hour
View Profile
NC
6.2 mi

Noel

Thurrock
Manual & Auto 60 min Evenings + Weekends

Hi, I'm Noel Christopher. I've been teaching people to drive around Thurrock and Essex since the year 2000, and I'm a Grade 6 approved driving instru…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway +1
View Profile
Buran
6.5 mi

Buran

Belvedere
Automatic 120 min Evenings + Weekends

Buran is the owner and sole instructor at Belv Auto Driving School in Belvedere (DA17). He teaches automatic only and keeps lessons focused, so you b…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway +1
£40 /hour
View Profile
Aisha Ashfaq
7.6 mi

Aisha

Barking
Automatic 60 min Evenings + Weekends

Aisha Ashfaq runs Aisha Driving School and is known for being calm, patient and easy to get on with. She specialises in automatic lessons and is grea…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway
£28 /hour
View Profile
Judith Brown
7.7 mi

Judith

Dartford
Manual 60 min Weekends

Judith Brown is a fully qualified female Approved Driving Instructor running her own independent LDC driving school in Dartford. She's been specially…

Intensive
£36 /hour
View Profile
BG
8.2 mi

Bruce

Erith
Manual 50 min Evenings + Weekends
Toyota Yaris

Bruce Gold is a fully qualified and approved driving instructor with over 30 years of experience teaching learner drivers. Based in Erith, he has a s…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway +1
£36 /hour
View Profile
Tony Read
9.4 mi

Tony

Gravesend
Manual 60 min
Ford Fiesta 1.5

Tony Read runs Read the Road Driving School, based in Southfleet near Gravesend, Kent. He's an approved driving instructor, CRB checked, and offers a…

Refresher Pass Plus
£38 /hour
View Profile

Learning to Drive in Upminster

Learning to drive in Upminster feels suburban and practical. Lessons often use Upminster High Street, Station Road and short runs on the A127 towards Southend. Commuter traffic can be heavy at peak times, so you'll get plenty of real-world experience. There are nine local instructors, so choice is limited compared with central London.

Nearest Test Centre: London (Hornchurch)

Hornchurch (London) is the nearest DVSA test centre, about 1.3 miles from Upminster. Expect a short drive along St Mary's Lane or the A127 to get there. The centre records a 45% pass rate (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025) and runs around 8,190 tests a year, so test dates are available but can fill up.

39.5%
Overall Pass Rate
41.0%
Male Pass Rate
38.0%
Female Pass Rate
1.3 mi
Distance

Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)

Pass Rate Analysis

Hornchurch (London) posts a 45% pass rate, slightly below the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Male candidates pass at about 46.5% and female candidates at about 43.6% at Hornchurch (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). That gap mirrors patterns seen in nearby centres and suggests targeted practice on manoeuvres and independent driving can help. Local instructors will often tailor lessons to the test routes around Hornchurch to improve outcomes.

Local Driving Tips

Expect tight parking and parked cars along Upminster High Street and side streets, so practise bay parking and reversing near shops. The level crossing by Upminster station can hold traffic, so know how to move off smoothly when it clears. A run out on the A127 will teach you lane discipline and slip-road use, try that on quieter lessons first. Station Road gets busy at commuter times, so concentrate on gap assessment and anticipation. Roundabouts near the station and local junctions need clear observations, so get used to signalling early and checking blind spots.

Choosing an Instructor in Upminster

Look for an instructor who knows local test routes around Hornchurch and Upminster. With only nine instructors nearby, availability can be limited, so check cancellation policies and block-book discounts. Ask if they provide mock tests that use the Hornchurch routes. Expect clear pricing and a mix of manual and automatic lesson options.

Lesson Costs in Upminster

Lessons in Upminster average about 035 per hour. Factors that affect cost include instructor experience, car type and lesson time, with weekend or evening slots sometimes costing more.

Getting Started

Apply for a provisional licence online or by post before booking lessons. Book a theory test and start lessons with a local instructor who understands Upminster and Hornchurch routes. Once ready, your instructor can advise when to book the Hornchurch practical test. Keep lessons regular to build confidence for the actual test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: February 2026

Hornchurch (London) test centre is about 1.3 miles from Upminster, a short drive via St Mary's Lane or the A127.
Hornchurch records a 45% pass rate (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025).
Hornchurch's 45% pass rate is slightly below the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025).
At Hornchurch, male candidates pass at about 46.5% and female candidates at about 43.6% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025).
The local average lesson price is around 035 per hour.
Learning time varies widely by pupil, but regular lessons and weekly practice usually lead to test readiness in a few months.
Yes, many learners from Upminster take lessons locally and sit the practical test at Hornchurch, since it is only 1.3 miles away.
There are nine instructors listed for Upminster, so choice is smaller than in larger towns.
Most initial lessons focus on town and A-road driving, including Upminster High Street and the A127.
Local traffic density, commuter flows and the mix of test routes around Upminster and Hornchurch can make tests more demanding.
Driving lesson prices vary by location and instructor, typically ranging from £30 to £45 per hour.
Most learners need between 40 to 50 hours of professional tuition, plus around 20 hours of private practice.
If you pass in an automatic, you can only drive automatic cars.
You can book your practical driving test online through the DVSA website or by calling their booking line.
Look for a fully qualified ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) with good reviews.
Most instructors prefer to use their own dual-controlled vehicles for safety reasons.

Guides for Upminster

Driving Lessons in Oxford: Prices, Slots and How to Start

Oxford is a busy learner city with three nearby test centres and a mix of historic streets, residential estates and business parks. This guide explains typical driving lesson options in Oxford, how availability changes around university and college terms, and what to consider when choosing between manual and automatic. Learn how to shortlist local instructors, find flexible lesson times, and plan practice around Oxford's test routes and pass rates so you can start learning to drive with a realistic schedule and budget.

Area Guides 5 min read

Intensive Driving Lessons in Peterborough: When To Book

Intensive driving lessons in Peterborough work best when you match your course dates to real test centre availability and local traffic patterns. This guide explains how to choose between Peterborough and Kettering test centres, plan a 2 to 4 week intensive, and find instructors who actually have space for block bookings. Learn which local routes are used, how events and rush hours affect lessons, and how to use MyInstructorFinder tools to check availability, compare instructors and lock in a realistic timetable before your test date.

Area Guides 5 min read

Manual Driving Lessons in Bournemouth: Prices & Tips

This guide explains what to expect from manual driving lessons in Bournemouth, from test centre choices and common local routes to real parking pressures in the BCP area. Learn how Bournemouth compares with Poole and Southampton Maybush for pass rates, plus how timing your start can affect your test date options. You will also discover how to find a manual instructor with the right availability, experience and teaching style, along with practical tips on traffic, parking and planning enough lessons for a confident first attempt.

Area Guides 5 min read