Best Driving Instructors in Waterlooville 2025: The Complete Guide

The average UK learner needs 45 hours of professional instruction to pass their driving test. At £35-40 per hour, that's over £1,500 before you've even paid for the theory test, practical test, and provisional licence.

Choose the wrong instructor and you could double that. Choose the right one, and you might halve it. We spent weeks investigating every driving instructor serving Waterlooville, Cowplain, Horndean, Denmead and the surrounding areas. Here's what we found.

The Numbers That Matter

The national driving test pass rate is 47%. That means more than half of all test candidates fail. But some local instructors achieve pass rates of 75% or higher — nearly double the national average.

The test centre for Waterlooville learners is at James Callaghan Drive, Portsmouth (opposite Fort Southwick). Having an instructor who knows the local test routes inside out makes a significant difference.

Our Top Picks

After reviewing Google reviews, checking websites, and comparing services, here are the driving instructors we'd recommend in the Waterlooville area:

⭐ 5.0 stars | 150+ reviews | £50/hour (2hr blocks only)

Joshua is the highest-rated driving instructor in the area — and it's not even close. With a perfect 5.0-star rating from over 150 Google reviews, he's built a reputation for clear, patient instruction that gets results.

He only offers 2-hour lessons (£100), which might seem expensive but actually works out well for serious learners — you cover more ground per lesson and spend less time warming up. Based in Horndean, he covers Waterlooville, Cowplain, and Clanfield.

Best for: Learners who want a premium experience and are willing to pay for it. His reviews are genuinely exceptional.

📞 07926 418333 | 🌐 my-driving-school.co.uk

⭐ Grade A Instructor | 75% pass rate | Female instructor | Est. 1999

Elle is one of the most experienced instructors in the area — she's been teaching since 1999, which is over 25 years. Her 75% pass rate is remarkable when the county average is just 48%.

She holds a Grade A DVSA rating — the highest grade a driving instructor can achieve. Only a small percentage of instructors reach this level. She's also a registered Pass Plus instructor for post-test training.

You'll learn in a Toyota Yaris with dual controls, manual gearbox, and air conditioning. She covers Cowplain, Horndean, Clanfield, Waterlooville, Denmead, Bedhampton, Havant, Hayling Island, Drayton, Leigh Park and Emsworth.

Best for: Learners who prefer a female instructor, or anyone who wants a highly experienced, top-graded teacher.

📞 07730 009061 | ☎️ 02392 593540 | 🌐 elleplate.co.uk

⭐ Award-winning | 95% theory pass rate | Multiple instructors | Male & female

Lendrum's is a larger operation with multiple instructors, including several female instructors — Christine, Nicole, Victoria, Helen, Lisa, Nikki, Sana and Refat. This is useful if you have a preference or if your chosen instructor is fully booked.

They've won awards: finalists in the Intelligent Instructor Awards (2019 & 2020), Investors in People (2020 & 2021), and voted Best Driving School by Freeindex for 7 consecutive years. Their claim of a 95% theory test pass rate for students using their free online training is impressive.

They offer manual and automatic lessons, NHS & student discounts, and flexible lesson lengths (1hr, 1.5hr, or 2hr). They also provide instructor training for anyone looking to become a driving instructor themselves.

Best for: Learners who want flexibility, student discounts, or a specific instructor type. Good backup option if sole instructors are fully booked.

🌐 lendrums-driving-school.co.uk

⭐ ADI since 1998 | Ex-BSM trainer | Toyota Aygo X | Intensive courses

Latch Drepaul has been an Approved Driving Instructor since 1998 — that's over 25 years of experience. He started with BSM and became a trainer for the ADI Part 2 Exam at BSM's Central London and Surrey branches. He's also been a sub-contractor instructor in the Ministry of Defence and part of the Young Driver Instructor Team.

You'll learn in a Toyota Aygo X — a modern crossover with sat nav, reversing camera, front and back sensors, and automatic lights. It's sporty looking and easy to drive.

Reviews consistently mention his calm demeanour and ability to put nervous learners at ease. Multiple students report passing first time after his instruction.

Best for: Nervous learners, or anyone who wants an instructor with serious credentials (ex-instructor trainer, MOD experience).

📞 07748 503364 | 🌐 eye2eyedrivertraining.com

⭐ Female instructor | LDC franchise | Intensive courses available

Siobhan Towell is a fully qualified ADI running an LDC (Learner Driving Centre) franchise. The LDC system is a structured approach to learning that uses a workbook and online videos — you study each driving task before your lesson, making better use of in-car time.

She offers intensive and semi-intensive courses (crash courses) as well as pay-as-you-go lessons. All students get access to the LDC online learning hub for theory and hazard perception practice. She covers Waterlooville, Havant, Horndean and Portsmouth.

Best for: Learners who like structured, systematic approaches. Good if you want theory test support included.

📞 07765 013065 | 🌐 passwithsiobhan.co.uk

⭐ Family business | Competitive prices | 90-min lessons | Purbrook-based

A small family business based in Purbrook, Waterlooville Driving School offers some of the most competitive prices in the area. Without the overheads of the major chains, they can pass savings on to students.

Their unique selling point: if you feel a lesson wasn't value for money, they'll refund it. That's confidence in their service. They recommend 90-minute lessons as the most cost-effective length, and they don't make you share your lesson time with other pupils (which some cheaper schools do).

They cover Waterlooville, Purbrook, Cosham, Drayton, Paulsgrove, Crookhorn, Bedhampton, Havant, Leigh Park, Denmead, Cowplain, Horndean, Clanfield, Catherington, and surrounding areas.

Best for: Budget-conscious learners who want good value without compromising on quality.

🌐 waterloovilledrivingschool.com

⭐ National chain | Local instructors | Standardised quality

RED is one of the UK's largest driving school chains, with local instructors covering the Waterlooville area. The advantage of a national chain is consistency — standardised training for instructors, modern vehicles, and a complaints process if things go wrong.

The downside is you may not get the same personalised service as a sole instructor, and you're paying for the brand overhead. But it's a safe choice if you want reliability.

Best for: Learners who want a 'big brand' with standardised quality and accountability.

🌐 reddrivingschool.com

What to Look For in a Driving Instructor

1. Check they're properly qualified. All instructors should display a green ADI badge (fully qualified) or pink badge (trainee). Trainees can be good value, but you want someone supervising their progress.

2. Read Google reviews — but read the actual text. Star ratings are useful, but the written reviews tell you more. Look for mentions of patience, clarity, and pass rates.

3. Consider lesson length. Longer lessons (90 mins to 2 hours) are generally more effective than 1-hour slots, as you spend less time warming up and reviewing.

4. Ask about the car. You'll spend a lot of time in it. Dual controls are essential. Air conditioning matters in summer. Some people prefer smaller cars for manoeuvres.

5. Location matters. An instructor based in your area will know the local test routes and won't waste your lesson time driving to pick you up.

Pricing Guide

Here's what you can expect to pay for driving lessons in Waterlooville in 2025:

The Bottom Line

You can't go wrong with Joshua Pycroft if you want the best-reviewed instructor in the area and can afford the premium. For a female instructor with proven results, Elle Driving School has the credentials (Grade A, 75% pass rate, 25+ years experience).

If you're on a budget, Waterlooville Driving School offers competitive prices from a family business that stands behind their lessons with a satisfaction guarantee.

And if you're a nervous learner, Latch at Eye2Eye has reviews specifically praising his calming approach — plus the experience of having trained other instructors.

Whoever you choose, book a trial lesson first. Chemistry matters — you'll be spending 40+ hours with this person. Find someone you can learn from.