Driving Lessons in Durham

Durham combines 9 schools with 40 independent driving instructors, including 9 independent female driving instructors. Schools average £39 per hour and maintain perfect 5-star ratings, with 4 offering intensive courses. The local Durham test centre achieves a solid 49.6% pass rate, performing better than nearby Gateshead (37.4%) but similarly to Hartlepool (49.7%).

From £35/hr·Average £39/hr

Durham's Top Picks

Best Value

All Stars Driving School

Cheapest manual driving school in Durham.

5.0(1 reviews)
£35/hr
Top Rated

Bradleys

Highest-rated manual driving school in Durham.

5.0(398 reviews)
Best Automatic

Driver Skills North East

Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Durham.

4.8(80 reviews)
£38/hr
Female Instructors

Driver Skills North East

Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Durham.

4.8(80 reviews)
£38/hr

Driving Schools in Durham

9 schools

All Stars Driving School

All Stars Driving School

From £35/hr
5.0(1)

Established in 2006 with a 4.5-star trust score from 100 reviews, All Stars focuses on patient, professional instruction that builds genuine confidence. At...

ManualEvenings & Weekends
104 Park Ave, Coxhoe, Durham DH6 4JN
Signal School of Motoring

Signal School of Motoring

5.0(1)

12 years' experience with a senior instructor background at BSM, known for high pass rates and a structured approach that goes beyond test preparation. Mark...

Manual
2 Osprey Cl, Esh Winning, Durham DH7 9JP
idriveauto Driving School

idriveauto Driving School

5.0
Manual
2 Uphill Dr, Sacriston, Durham DH7 6PN
Learn With Jay

Learn With Jay

From £40/hr
5.0(56)

Patient instructor known for adapting teaching pace to individual confidence levels and building learners into safe, competent drivers. £40/hour for 2-hour...

ManualTest car available
57 David Terrace, Bowburn, Durham DH6 5EF
PassClub

PassClub

From £40/hr·10hrs for £380Save 5%
5.0(37)

Operating since 1995 with over 30 years' experience, PassClub offers an impressively high first-time pass rate backed by a Pass Promise guarantee. Lessons start...

AutomaticIntensive
32 Brackenridge, Shotton Colliery, Durham DH6 2QT
Ian McQuillan Driving School

Ian McQuillan Driving School

From £40/hr·40hrs for £1600
5.0(33)

Grade A instructor with 19 years' experience and a published author with 500+ five-star reviews. Known for nervous pupil expertise and intensive courses, with...

ManualIntensiveTest car available
41 Broom Hall Dr, Ushaw Moor, Durham DH7 7NX
Mansfield School of Motoring

Mansfield School of Motoring

Block bookings available
5.0(5)

Independent instructor Peter Nattress focuses on client-centred learning with flexible lesson formats: 2-hour sessions at £70 or 1.5-hour sessions at £52.50,...

Manual
2 Store Buildings, Trimdon Station TS29 6BW
Bradleys

Bradleys

5.0(398)

Kenneth Smith's school emphasises structured, objective-driven lessons with a modern coaching style that encourages interactive learning and regular recaps to...

ManualIntensive
156 Devonshire Rd, Durham DH1 2BL
Driver Skills North East

Driver Skills North East

From £38/hr·10hrs for £370Save 3%
4.8(80)

Family-run school established 27 years ago with a former RAF Policeman as head instructor and in-house trained team. Standard rates are £38/hour for daytime...

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale InstructorsEvenings & Weekends
19 Hamilton Row, Waterhouses, Durham DH7 9AU

Block Booking Deals in Durham

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

Best deal — save 5%

PassClub

10hrs for £380

£38.00/hr

Save 3%

Driver Skills North East

10hrs for £370

£37.00/hr

Ian McQuillan Driving School

40hrs for £1600

£40.00/hr

Intensive Courses in Durham

Pass in 1–2 weeks

From£38/hr
4 schools5.0best rated

Durham Test Centres and Pass Rates

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

Durham's single centre processed 8,228 tests from 2024 to 2025 with a 49.6% pass rate just above the national average. The historic city's roads present challenges with cobbled streets around the cathedral, steep hills, and narrow bridges over the River Wear that require careful positioning. The gender split was almost even with women at 49.5% and men at 49.7%, while automatic learners achieved 45.3%.

50%

Durham

8,228 tests taken
Women49.5%
Men49.7%
Automatic45.3%

Nearby areas