Driving lessons
Driving lessons in Bristol
Learners in Bristol can book the car practical test at two DVSA test centres. Bristol (Avonmouth) has the highest pass rate at 55.5% and Bristol (Kingswood) the lowest at 51.9%, against a national average of 50.0% in 2025 to 2026.
Bristol driving test pass rates
The national average car practical pass rate is 50.0% for 2025 to 2026. Here is how the DVSA test centres serving Bristol compare.
Bristol (Avonmouth)
55.5%
5.5 percentage points above the national average
Bristol (Kingswood)
51.9%
1.9 percentage points above the national average
Bristol (Avonmouth) is the strongest of these centres at 55.5%, 5.5 percentage points above the 50.0% national average. Bristol (Kingswood) is the lowest at 51.9%, 1.9 percentage points above the 50.0% national average. The spread between them is 3.6 percentage points.
Source: DVSA Driving test statistics (DRT), table DRT122A / DRT121A, GOV.UK, published 25 June 2026, data to March 2026.
Which test centre should you book in Bristol?
The gap between Bristol (Avonmouth) at 55.5% and Bristol (Kingswood) at 51.9% is 3.6 percentage points. That is a modest spread rather than a decisive one. If your first choice has no slot in your timescale, the other centre listed above is still within Bristol.
A centre's pass rate reflects the candidates who book there as much as the roads around it, so treat it as context rather than a prediction. Sitting the test on roads you have actually practised on is usually worth more than a point or two on a headline figure.
Learning to drive in Bristol
Bristol is covered by the BS postcode area and is reported in the South West region of England in national statistics. That is worth knowing when you read published figures: regional averages for lesson prices and pass rates are the bucket Bristol falls into, and they can sit some way from what an individual instructor or test centre actually does.
If you cannot get a convenient slot locally, the nearest alternatives are in Gloucester (47.8%), Swindon (51.1%) and Newport (Newport (Gwent), 48.9%), on 2025 to 2026 figures. Each is a different set of test routes, so treat a move as a fresh area to learn rather than a shortcut.
Nearby towns with their own pages: Driving lessons in Bath, Driving lessons in Gloucester, Driving lessons in Swindon and Driving lessons in Newport. You can also browse every location from the driving lessons near me hub.
What driving lessons in Bristol cost
Passly does not publish an average lesson price for Bristol, because rates are set by each instructor and we have no verified local sample. As a benchmark, UK lessons typically run £30 to £40 an hour, and £32 to £40 an hour across the South West. The full course is the bigger number: roughly 45 hours of tuition plus the £34 provisional licence, £23 theory test and £62 practical test fees.
Block bookings, automatic against manual, and how much private practice you get all move that total. Our guide to how much driving lessons cost breaks the figures down by region and explains what changes them. Always ask an instructor for their own rate rather than relying on a published average.
Guides for learner drivers
Driving test pass rates explained
How DVSA pass rates are calculated and how much weight to give them when you pick a test centre.
Read the guideHow much do driving lessons cost?
Typical hourly rates by region, the full cost of learning to drive, and ways to spend less.
See the costsHow to choose a driving instructor
What to ask before you book, how to check an instructor is DVSA registered, and when to switch.
Read the guideDriving lessons in Bristol: FAQs
Which DVSA test centre serves Bristol?
Bristol (Avonmouth) at 55.5% and Bristol (Kingswood) at 51.9%. They are the DVSA car test centres listed for Bristol in the 2025 to 2026 statistics.
What is the driving test pass rate in Bristol?
Pass rates at the centres serving Bristol ranged from 51.9% at Bristol (Kingswood) to 55.5% at Bristol (Avonmouth) in 2025 to 2026. The national average was 50.0%.
How do Bristol pass rates compare with the national average?
The Great Britain average for car practical tests was 50.0% in 2025 to 2026. Bristol (Avonmouth) was 5.5 percentage points above the 50.0% national average, and Bristol (Kingswood) was 1.9 percentage points above the 50.0% national average. Pass rates reflect the mix of candidates at a centre as well as its routes.
Where else can Bristol learners take the driving test?
Nearby centres include Gloucester in Gloucester at 47.8%, Swindon in Swindon at 51.1% and Newport (Gwent) in Newport at 48.9%. Booking further afield means being tested on roads you may not have practised on, so weigh the travel against the familiarity.
How much do driving lessons cost in Bristol?
Passly does not publish an average lesson price for Bristol, because rates are set by each instructor and we have no verified local sample. As a benchmark, UK lessons typically run £30 to £40 an hour, and £32 to £40 an hour across the South West. A full course also includes the £34 provisional licence, £23 theory test and £62 practical test fees. Ask any instructor for their own rate.
Which year do these pass rates cover?
All figures are DVSA car practical test pass rates for the 2025 to 2026 financial year, taken from table DRT122A by test centre and DRT121A for the national average, published on 25 June 2026 with data to March 2026.
Teaching learners in Bristol?
Passly gives driving instructors online booking, payments and pupil progress tracking in one place. Set up your diary in an afternoon.