Driving Lessons in County Durham

From £33/hr·Average £38/hr

County Durham's Top Picks

Best Value

Medallion Driving School

Cheapest manual driving school in County Durham.

5.0(9 reviews)
£33/hr
Top Rated

Bradleys

Highest-rated manual driving school in County Durham.

5.0(398 reviews)
Best Automatic

The Driving Academy

Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in County Durham.

5.0(227 reviews)
Female Instructors

The Driving Academy

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

5.0(227 reviews)

Driving Schools in County Durham

47 schools

Ryan Miller Driving School

Ryan Miller Driving School

5.0(26)
Manual
31 Main St, Shildon DL4 1AL
English School of Motoring

English School of Motoring

From £33/hr·10hrs for £310Save 6%
4.2(98)

Competitive pricing with an unbeatable introductory offer: 4 hours for £45, then £33/hour or £310 for a 10-hour block. Two hours of every beginner package are...

ManualIntensive
12 Highgrove, Kirklevington, Yarm TS15 9GN
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
CM Driving College

CM Driving College

4.9(28)

Two 60-minute lessons for £40 makes this an affordable entry point for learners starting out. The school offers flexible scheduling with evening and weekend...

ManualIntensiveEvenings & Weekends
4 Leam Ln, Stockton-on-Tees TS19 8UE
Driving With Ellis

Driving With Ellis

From £40/hr·10hrs for £380Save 5%
5.0(7)

£40/hour or £380 for a 10-hour block, with a money-back guarantee if you don't pass first time. Northeast Driving Instructor of the Year 2024, this school uses...

Manual
58 Stokesley Rd, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool TS25 1EW
626 Driver Training

626 Driver Training

5.0(11)
Manual
Morton Pk Wy, Darlington DL1 4PJ
DrewMatic

DrewMatic

5.0(19)

Former DVSA driving examiners on staff deliver mock tests that replicate real test conditions word-for-word, giving learners unmatched insight into what to...

AutomaticFemale InstructorsEvenings & Weekends
Admiral way, Hartlepool TS24 0XG
Pass with Billy School of Motoring

Pass with Billy School of Motoring

From £40/hr·5hrs for £190Save 5%
3.0(2)

Operating since 2006, Pass with Billy offers competitive rates with block booking discounts: £40/hour standard, or £30/hour for 5+ hour blocks. Two-hour lessons...

ManualEvenings & Weekends
60 Tristram Ave, Hartlepool TS25 5PA
RDP Driving School

RDP Driving School

5.0(3)
Manual
18 Talbenny Grove, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 5EB
Safe2Go Driving School

Safe2Go Driving School

4.8(26)

Patient instruction for nervous drivers is a standout here, with supportive guidance to build confidence behind the wheel. The school offers learner lessons,...

ManualIntensiveEvenings & Weekends
10 Vicarage Farm Cl, Escomb, Bishop Auckland DL14 7UT
Durham Driving School

Durham Driving School

From £35/hr·10hrs for £350
4.9(58)

Experienced instructors with a high pass rate deliver personalised tuition tailored to each learner's needs. £35/hour for 2-hour lessons, or save with block...

ManualEvenings & Weekends
Barley Mow, 56 Northumberland Pl, Birtley, Chester-le-Street DH3 2AR
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
Caroline's School of Motoring

Caroline's School of Motoring

5.0(29)·99% pass rate

99% pass rate across two decades of experience, with Grade A instructors specialising in nervous drivers and offering patient, tailored support. 5-star rated on...

ManualAutomaticFemale Instructors
6 Aintree Dr, Consett DH8 0NT
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
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
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
Toot Driving School

Toot Driving School

10hrs for £242

Run by two brothers since 2013, with David as senior instructor bringing over 10 years of experience and deep local knowledge of test routes. Exceptional value...

ManualIntensive
9 Hartburn Ln, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3QJ
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
U Drive School of Motoring

U Drive School of Motoring

20hrs for £900
5.0(36)

Intensive driving courses ranging from 20 to 40 hours, priced from £900 for 20 hours up to £1,800 for 40 hours. One-to-one instruction with male or female...

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale Instructors
1 Flanders Ct, Birtley, Chester-le-Street DH3 1LD

Block Booking Deals in County Durham

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

Best deal — save 11%

Art of Driving

10hrs for £310

£31.00/hr

Save 6%

English School of Motoring

10hrs for £310

£31.00/hr

Save 6%

Chris Baines Driver Training

10hrs for £330

£33.00/hr

Save 6%

Cunningham Driving School

10hrs for £340

£34.00/hr

Save 3%

Medallion Driving School

10hrs for £320

£32.00/hr

Toot Driving School

10hrs for £242

£24.20/hr

Intensive Courses in County Durham

Pass in 1–2 weeks

From£33/hr
15 schools5.0best rated

County Durham Test Centres and Pass Rates

Based on the latest DVSA data, 2024–25 | 5 nearby test centres

With 38,817 tests from 2024 to 2025 across five centres, County Durham offers consistent results around the 48.8% average. Hartlepool edges ahead at 49.7% while Sunderland trails at 47.1%, reflecting the mix of challenging urban areas and quieter market towns. The region's driving involves navigating busy A-roads like the A1, industrial roundabouts, and steep hills around Durham city centre. Women slightly outperformed men at most centres, achieving 50.4% at both Darlington and Hartlepool compared to men's 48.4% and 49.2% respectively. Automatic pass rates varied from 37.6% at Sunderland to 48.6% at Middlesbrough.

50%

Hartlepool

5,725 tests taken
Women50.4%
Men49.2%
Automatic46.6%
50%

Durham

8,228 tests taken
Women49.5%
Men49.7%
Automatic45.3%
49%

Darlington

6,828 tests taken
Women50.4%
Men48.4%
Automatic43.6%
48%

Middlesbrough

8,952 tests taken
Women47.5%
Men48.9%
Automatic48.6%
47%

Sunderland

9,084 tests taken
Women46.4%
Men47.8%
Automatic37.6%

Areas in County Durham