Driving Lessons in Cumbria
Across Cumbria, our directory lists 17 driving schools and 155 independent driving instructors, giving learners throughout the region plenty of options. Schools charge between £40 and £50 per hour and average 4.6 stars, with 5 offering automatic driving lessons and 2 providing female driving instructors. There are also 39 independent female driving instructors across the region. Four schools run intensive courses if you're working to a deadline. Carlisle is the main test centre with a strong 58.7% pass rate.
- £43
- average price
- 17
- driving schools
- 155
- independent instructors
- 1
- test centre
Top driving schools in Cumbria by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Fullers Driving School
Cheapest manual driving school in Cumbria.
New Starters Driving School
Highest-rated manual driving school in Cumbria.
Kenny's Driving School
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Cumbria.
drivehow driver training
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Cumbria.
Driving lessons in Cumbria
17 driving schools and 155 independent instructors.
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Showing 1–20 of 172 driving schools and independent instructors in Cumbria.
Kevin Graham Driver Training
Manual
One of the three best-rated driving schools in the area with over 73 five-star Google reviews. £55/hour or £450 for a 10-hour block, with flexible 1.5 and 2-hour lesson options available. Known for identifying individual learning styles on the first lesson and offering a Money Back Guarantee, Pass Promise, and Two Year Driving Licence Warranty.
drivehow driver training
Manual
Patient instructor with consistently strong reviews praising her calming presence and confidence-building approach. Single-instructor setup means continuity throughout your learning journey, with flexible pricing from £46/hour up to £455 for a 10-hour block. Pass Plus courses also available for new drivers looking to reduce insurance costs.
Fullers Driving School
Manual and automatic
£40 per hour for learner lessons with home or work pick-up and drop-off included, plus a Pass Plus course available at £120 with Cumbria council support. AA Driving School graduate offering a calm, patient approach in an air-conditioned vehicle, with a 5-star Google rating and experience supporting nervous learners.
Keith Summers Driving Lessons
Manual and automatic
32 years' experience with a BA (hons) degree and C+G Teaching Certificate, plus Pass Plus and fleet trainer credentials. £40/hour or from £28/hour with block deals ranging from 10 lessons at £400 to 40 lessons at £1,600, with motorway lessons and 1.5-hour assessments also available.
The Little School of Motoring
Manual
Grade B instructor with a patient, encouraging teaching style that learners consistently praise for building confidence. £40/hour or £190 for a 5-hour block, with door-to-door pickup available and lessons tailored to how you learn best. Pass Plus courses and refresher training also available.
Solway Driver Training
Automatic
Denis brings decades of experience across cars, trailers, and motorbikes to this Cumbria-based school, with a track record of training many learners to test standard. Lessons in automatic cars cost £40 per hour, £60 for 1.5 hours, or £420 for an 11-hour block. Patient and enthusiastic instruction focused on safe driving for life, not just passing the test.
Fast Pass Peter
Manual
Peter brings 20 years of training experience and an excellent pass rate to intensive and semi-intensive driving courses. Lessons take place in a smart manual Ford Puma at £45/hour, with most courses structured as 2-hour sessions to maximise learning time.
Carlisle Driver Training
Manual
Known for working with extremely nervous drivers, this school creates a patient, non-judgmental environment where learners gain confidence quickly. Personalized lessons progress at your pace, with instructors trained to put you at ease. One recent student described transforming from dreading lessons to actually enjoying them and passing first time.
AutoMate Driving Tuition
Automatic
Flexible automatic lessons with pickup from home, work or college, and lesson slots from 1 hour to 2 hours to suit your schedule. The Ford Fiesta is equipped with integrated sat nav, reversing camera, and air conditioning. Price guarantee means your hourly rate won't rise for the duration of your lessons as long as you book regularly.
Spot On Driving Tuition
Manual
Grade A instructor offering friendly, patient tuition to learners of all ages. Every student receives free online theory test training with Theory Test Pro and the Smart Driving app, giving you a complete learning package from day one.
New Starters Driving School
Manual
Unique 60-hectare private site with full road layout lets you master basic controls, manoeuvres, and hill starts risk-free before tackling Carlisle's busy roads. Pre-learner lessons from age 14 (no provisional needed), standard lessons, and intensive courses available with the same instructor throughout. Endorsed by the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership for innovative road craft teaching, with multiple five-star reviews highlighting first-time passes.
Kenny's Driving School
Manual and automatic
Instructor since October 2015 with a focus on building safe, confident drivers across all experience levels. All learners receive access to Theory Test Pro to boost their chances of passing both theory and practical tests. Spaces are limited and posted on Facebook as they become available.
Wren's Driving School
Manual
Independent local school offering intensive courses from 1 day to 2 weeks, with flexible scheduling to suit working learners and those with other commitments. Tailored lessons cover beginners through to motorway confidence and refresher training, including mock tests and rescue courses for those needing a second attempt.
Karen's Driving School
Manual
I Drive-uk
Manual
Smith's Driving School
Manual
Gemma 2 pass driving school
Manual
Raymond Allan Patterson
Block booking
Best block deals in Cumbria
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £50.
Intensive courses in Cumbria
Want to pass fast?
4 Cumbria schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Cumbria Test Centres and Pass Rates
Carlisle, the centre for Cumbria, has a good record. Its pass rate of 59% is well above the national pass rate of 50%, and the typical wait for a test is about 3 months.