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

Easypass Driving School

Easypass Driving School

From £37/hr·10hrs for £360Save 3%
4.6(236)

Standard 2-hour lessons at £37 per hour, with block deals from £360 for 10 hours up to £1,400 for 40 hours. One-week intensive courses start from £1,090, making...

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale InstructorsTest car available
Pinetree Centre, Durham Rd, Birtley, Chester-le-Street DH3 2TD
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
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
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
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
The Driving Academy

The Driving Academy

10hrs for £370
5.0(227)

Led by Darran Shaw, a 25-year veteran instructor and former chairman of Bishop Auckland Driving Instructors Association, alongside top-graded instructor Andy...

ManualAutomaticFemale Instructors
49 Beckett Cl, Etherley Dene, Bishop Auckland DL14 0SU
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Pass N Go

Pass N Go

4.2(456)

A network of top-rated local instructors offering manual and automatic lessons through a postcode-based finder system. Recent passes showcase consistent results...

ManualAutomatic
Station Lane, Coupe, Chester-le-Street DH2 1AW
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
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
Ryan Miller Driving School

Ryan Miller Driving School

5.0(26)
Manual
31 Main St, Shildon DL4 1AL

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