Driving Lessons in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has 12 driving schools and 40 independent driving instructors, with school pricing ranging from £22.50 to £50 per hour (averaging £41). All schools hold excellent 5-star ratings, and 5 offer both automatic driving lessons and intensive courses. Female driving instructors are available at 1 school, with 6 independent female driving instructors also listed. Learners can choose between Portsmouth test centre (52.8% pass rate) and Lee On The Solent, which has a notably higher 63.2% pass rate.
- £43
- average price
- 11
- driving schools
- 40
- independent instructors
- 2
- test centres
Top driving schools in Portsmouth by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
1st Top Gear
Cheapest manual driving school in Portsmouth.
Learn With Joshua
Highest-rated manual driving school in Portsmouth.
Drive Confident Driving
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Portsmouth.
Pri-Plus School of Motoring
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Portsmouth.
Driving lessons in Portsmouth
11 driving schools and 40 independent instructors.
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Showing 1–11 of 11 driving schools, plus every independent instructor in Portsmouth.
Learn With Joshua
152 five-star Google reviews back up Joshua's reputation for patient, clear instruction that gets results—one learner passed first time with just 2 minors after only 6 lessons. £50/hour for single lessons or £100 for 2-hour sessions, with intensive courses, mock tests, motorway training, and test car hire all available.
Learn To Drive With Alpha
A Portsmouth-based instructor offering patient, one-to-one tuition with a focus on two-hour lessons that give you extended practice time. At £45 per hour or £82 for two hours, you can save £55 by booking a 10-hour block at £395. Pass Plus courses are also available.
Pri-Plus School of Motoring
Flexible lesson lengths from 1 to 2 hours at £45–£90, with a first hour free when you book 10 hours in advance (£405 total). Test car hire available for £170, including 2 hours' practice and use of a dual-controlled vehicle on exam day. Intensive courses run from £180 per day, and Pass Plus courses are also available.
Eco Drives
Founded by Vishnu, an instructor from Kerala with extensive Middle East and UK experience, Eco Drives specializes in automatic driving lessons and offers instruction in multiple Indian languages alongside English—a rare advantage for learners seeking culturally familiar teaching. The school boasts one of the highest first-time pass rates in the region, backed by consistently strong reviews praising Vishnu's calm, patient approach and confidence-building style. Pricing starts at £44/hour for 2-hour lessons, £43.33/hour for 6-hour blocks (£260), or £40/hour for 10-hour blocks (£400).
Julie's Happy Driving Academy
6 years' teaching experience with a calm, patient approach that adapts to each learner's pace. Weekday 2-hour lessons at £80 or 10-hour blocks at £390; intensive courses available at £1,600 for 35 hours over 1–4 weeks.
1st Top Gear
Competitively priced driving school offering daytime lessons at £40/hour or a 10-hour manual block at £390, with evening and weekend slots at £45/hour. Automatic lessons available at £70 for 90 minutes, making this a flexible choice for learners with different preferences and schedules.
Access 2 Drive
Experienced instructor specializing in automatic driving lessons, with testimonials from nervous learners who found the clutch-free approach significantly easier. £40/hour, £60 for 90 minutes, or £280 for a 5-lesson block, with test day pickup from your door included at £70.
Drive Confident Driving
Intensive course specialists with flexible options ranging from 12 to 38 hours, all including test fees and home/work pickup. £42/hour for standard lessons or £410 for a 10-hour block, with Pass Plus courses also available at £330.
P.A.P Driving School
Consistently strong first-time pass rates backed by dozens of five-star reviews praising Carl's patient, relaxed teaching style and ability to build confidence in nervous drivers. Known for supporting learners through emotional or challenging circumstances, with particular strength in helping anxious students feel safe on the road. Intensive courses available for accelerated learning.
AA Manual Driving
Grade A instructor with a track record of first-time passes and consistently strong five-star reviews praising his patient, explanatory teaching style. Try the introductory offer of 2 hours for £30 to see if his approach works for you, then commit to lessons tailored to your needs at great value.
Heresh Ahmed
Mark Alan Andrew
Shanoor Ali
Christopher Andrew Deane
John Arbon
Tihomir Atanasov Zagorov
Christopher Ballard
Jason Barry Mihell
Adam Bishop
Mark Bryant
Michael Chant
Kevan Chippindall-higgin
Mark Colin Silvester
Cheryl Collins
John Collins
Krzysztof Dobkowski
Richard Hall
Joseph Harbert
Roy Humphreys
Richard Ian Mitchell
Block booking
Best block deals in Portsmouth
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £55.
How much do driving lessons cost in Portsmouth?
Most learners pay £40–£45 an hour. Under £40 is a good deal, over £50 is at the higher end.
Based on prices from 8 driving schools in Portsmouth.
Intensive courses in Portsmouth
Want to pass fast?
5 Portsmouth schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Portsmouth Test Centres and Pass Rates
Portsmouth covers two centres with 22,020 tests taken between 2025 and 2026. Portsmouth itself has a 52.8% pass rate and a 13 week wait, while Lee On The Solent offers a much better 63.2% pass rate but you'll wait 20 weeks for a test. At Portsmouth, men passed at 53.6% and women at 51.9%, with automatic drivers at 46.1%. Lee On The Solent saw men at 64.2%, women at 62.1%, and automatic at 53.1%. The main Portsmouth centre sits near the dockyard area where the road system can be confusing, with a mix of naval traffic, ferries and narrow Victorian streets, while Lee On The Solent offers quieter coastal roads and less congested junctions.
Lee On The Solent
8,502 tests taken · 20 week waitPortsmouth
13,518 tests taken · 13 week wait| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee On The Solent | 62.1% | 64.2% | 53.1% | 63.2% | 8,502 | 20 weeks |
| Portsmouth | 51.9% | 53.6% | 46.1% | 52.8% | 13,518 | 13 weeks |