Driving Lessons in Darlington

Darlington provides solid value with 9 driving schools averaging £38 per hour and maintaining an excellent 4.9-star rating. The schools include 3 offering automatic driving lessons alongside 40 independent driving instructors, of whom 8 are female driving instructors. Local test centre options are reasonably balanced, with Northallerton leading at 58.6% while the main Darlington centre sits at 49.2%.

From £35/hr·Average £38/hr

Darlington's Top Picks

Best Value

Chris Baines Driver Training

Cheapest manual driving school in Darlington.

5.0(23 reviews)
£35/hr
Top Rated

John Nicholson Driving School

Highest-rated manual driving school in Darlington.

4.9(100 reviews)
Best Automatic

JDS Driving School

Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Darlington.

4.9(46 reviews)

Driving Schools in Darlington

9 schools

Andy's Driver Training

Andy's Driver Training

From £38/hr·10hrs for £370Save 3%
5.0(43)

Calm, patient instructor who emphasises making learners feel at ease during lessons. £38 per hour for pay-as-you-go 2-hour sessions, or £370 for a 10-hour block...

ManualIntensive
99 Brinkburn Dr, Darlington DL3 0JY
Davies Driving School

Davies Driving School

From £40/hr·3hrs for £110Save 8%
4.6(10)

Advanced Driver instructor offering flexible pay-as-you-go lessons at £40/hour, with all sessions delivered as 90-minute blocks (£60 each). The starter package...

ManualAutomatic
63 Newton Ln, Darlington DL3 9EZ
JDS Driving School

JDS Driving School

Block bookings available
4.9(46)

13 years of patient, calm instruction with consistently strong testimonials from students who've passed on their first attempt. Student discounts and block...

AutomaticIntensive
10 Tintagel Ct, Darlington DL3 0ZY
MDL Driving School

MDL Driving School

5.0(11)

MDL Driving School offers both standard lessons and intensive courses with a focus on fast-track test booking to beat waiting lists. Expert instructors guide...

ManualAutomaticIntensive
12 Huntingdon Cl, Darlington DL1 2EF
626 Driver Training

626 Driver Training

5.0(11)
Manual
Morton Pk Wy, Darlington DL1 4PJ
Chris Baines Driver Training

Chris Baines Driver Training

From £35/hr·10hrs for £330Save 6%
5.0(23)

Military and MOD background with instructor qualification since 2021, delivering safe system driving in a relaxed, professional environment. £35/hour (2-hour...

Manual
22 Pond View, Darlington DL1 1LD
John Nicholson Driving School

John Nicholson Driving School

10hrs for £379
4.9(100)

Structured lessons following the DVSA syllabus, with an initial assessment drive to tailor the most cost-effective course for your level. 90-minute lessons at...

ManualIntensiveTest car available
Flat 1, 32A Larchfield St, Darlington DL3 7DH
Ambition Driving School

Ambition Driving School

Established in 2011, this school is known for patient, calm instruction that works particularly well with nervous learners and those with autism. Jonathan's...

ManualEvenings & Weekends
25 Welbeck Ave, Darlington DL1 2DR
MLD Driving School

MLD Driving School

Manual
5 Friars Pardon, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington DL2 2EA

Block Booking Deals in Darlington

5 schools offer block deals — book in bulk and save.

Best deal — save 8%

Davies Driving School

3hrs for £110

£36.67/hr

Save 6%

Chris Baines Driver Training

10hrs for £330

£33.00/hr

Save 3%

Andy's Driver Training

10hrs for £370

£37.00/hr

John Nicholson Driving School

10hrs for £379

£37.90/hr

Intensive Courses in Darlington

Pass in 1–2 weeks

From£38/hr
4 schools4.9best rated

Darlington Test Centres and Pass Rates

Based on the latest DVSA data, 2024–25 | 1 nearby test centre

Darlington has a single test centre where 6,828 tests were taken from 2024 to 2025, with automatic learners achieving a 43.6% pass rate. The town's mix of busy dual carriageways like the A66 and narrow Victorian terraced streets with tight parking can make for difficult test conditions. Women had a slightly higher success rate at 50.4% compared to 48.4% for men, while the overall pass rate sits at 49.2%, just above the national average.

49%

Darlington

6,828 tests taken
Women50.4%
Men48.4%
Automatic43.6%

Nearby areas