Driving Lessons in Southsea
Southsea's 5 driving schools all maintain perfect 5-star ratings, with pricing from £35 to £45 per hour for those that publish rates. Two schools offer automatic driving lessons and intensive courses, giving learners flexible options for their preferred learning style. The nearby Chichester test centre stands out with a 64.2% pass rate, significantly higher than Portsmouth's 51.8% and Lee On The Solent's 59.6%.
- £35
- prices from
- 5
- driving schools
- 3
- test centres
Top driving schools in Southsea by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Driving schools and instructors in Southsea
Wheelwise
Long-established school with consistently outstanding first-time pass results. Standard lessons from £40/hour, with evening and weekend rates at £45-£50/hour, plus a 30-hour intensive course at £1,650 over a few weeks. Pass Plus courses also available at £270 for a minimum 6-hour day.
Chris Deane ADI
Grade A instructor with years of experience and a client-centred approach that adapts to how each learner learns best. £35/hour for standard lessons or £330 for a 10-hour block, with specialist confidence-boosting sessions at £38/hour for learners with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, autism, and anxiety. Motorway lessons also available from £38/hour (minimum 2 hours).
Apple Driving School
30 years' experience with a single dedicated instructor who adapts teaching methods to suit individual needs, including learners with learning difficulties and those for whom English is a second language. Weekday lessons at £45/hour, £67.50 for 90 minutes, or £90 for 2 hours; weekends £50/hour. Book 20 hours on weekdays for £850.
Driving-Pro Ltd
Driving-Pro emphasizes realistic expectations and thorough preparation—they stress that 47 hours of professional training plus 22 hours of private practice is the realistic average, not the exception. Rather than chasing cheap deals, they focus on ensuring learners are genuinely ready before test day, viewing mistakes as learning opportunities and building confidence through structured progression.
4 Pass Driving Lessons Portsmouth
Block booking
Best block deals in Southsea
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £50.
Intensive courses in Southsea
Want to pass fast?
2 Southsea schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Southsea Test Centres and Pass Rates
Lee On The Solent achieved 59.6% compared to Portsmouth's 51.8% across the Southsea area's 2 centres, which saw 21,714 tests from 2024 to 2025. Portsmouth's naval city centre brings challenges with narrow historic streets, busy dockyard traffic, and the complex Guildhall area, while Lee On The Solent benefits from quieter coastal roads and more predictable traffic patterns. Men scored 60.4% and 52.2% respectively, with women at 58.7% and 51.3%. Automatic drivers managed 50.5% at Lee On The Solent versus 46.1% at Portsmouth, highlighting how the city's stop-start traffic can challenge even automatic learners.
Lee On The Solent
10,409 tests takenNewport (Isle of Wight)
3,875 tests takenPortsmouth
11,305 tests taken| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee On The Solent | 58.7% | 60.4% | 50.5% | 59.6% | 10,409 |
| Newport (Isle of Wight) | 52.2% | 52.6% | 42.5% | 52.4% | 3,875 |
| Portsmouth | 51.3% | 52.2% | 46.1% | 51.8% | 11,305 |