PortsmouthDriving Test Centre: Pass Rate & Routes
In 2025/26, DVSA examiners at Portsmouth conducted 13,518 car practical tests and 7,141 candidates passed: a 52.8% pass rate, +2.8 points against the Great Britain average of 50.0%. That ranks 105 of 267 centres and 17 of 31 in South East.
Practise Portsmouth routes in the app
Driving Routes UK guides you round 14 practice routes near Portsmouth with spoken directions, so you can drive the local roundabouts, junctions and speed changes before test day.
Portsmouth pass rate in 2025/26
Pass rate trend at Portsmouth
From 2021/22 to 2025/26 the pass rate rose from 50.4% to 52.8% (+2.4 points). Test volumes changed too, from 10,234 to 13,518 tests a year.
| Year (Apr–Mar) | Tests | Passes | Portsmouth | GB average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 10,234 | 5,160 | 50.4% | 48.9% |
| 2022/23 | 11,948 | 5,756 | 48.2% | 48.4% |
| 2023/24 | 11,237 | 5,655 | 50.3% | 47.9% |
| 2024/25 | 11,305 | 5,857 | 51.8% | 48.7% |
| 2025/26 | 13,518 | 7,141 | 52.8% | 50.0% |
Month by month, 2025/26
The strongest month was September 2025 (56% from 1,057 tests) and the weakest was January 2026 (49.6%). Monthly rates move with small samples, so treat single months with caution.
Test centres near Portsmouth
Distances are straight-line from the centre location. Pass rates are DVSA figures for 2025/26. The closest with a noticeably higher rate is Lee On The Solent (7 km, 63.2%).
What the test at Portsmouth involves
- About 40 minutes of driving, starting with an eyesight check and a “tell me” question.
- Around 20 minutes of independent driving, usually following a sat nav set by the examiner.
- One reversing manoeuvre: parallel park, bay park, or pull up on the right and reverse two car lengths.
- A “show me” question while you drive, and possibly an emergency stop.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the pass rate at Portsmouth driving test centre?
- DVSA figures for 2025/26 show 7,141 passes from 13,518 car practical tests at Portsmouth, a pass rate of 52.8%, above the Great Britain average of 50.0% for the same year.
- How many people pass first time at Portsmouth?
- 3,858 of 7,293 first attempts passed in 2025/26 (52.9%). 260 learners passed their first test with zero driving faults.
- Is there an easier test centre near Portsmouth?
- The nearest centre with a noticeably higher pass rate is Lee On The Solent, about 7 km away, at 63.2% in 2025/26. Pass rates reflect who tests there as much as the roads, so practise the routes where you will actually take your test.
- How many practice routes are there for Portsmouth?
- The Driving Routes UK app has 14 practice route patterns around Portsmouth. They are compiled practice routes, not official DVSA routes; examiners change routes for traffic and roadworks.
Pass rates: DVSA, car driving test data by test centre (DRT122A/C/E, April 2025 to March 2026, published June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice routes are compiled by Driving Routes UK and are not official DVSA routes. Examiners vary routes for traffic and roadworks.