Driving Lessons in Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot has strong provision with 12 driving schools and 40 independent driving instructors, including 11 independent female driving instructors. Schools charge between £35 and £50 per hour (averaging £44) with an excellent 4.8-star rating. Female driving instructors are offered at 6 schools, automatic driving lessons at 6, and intensive courses at 8. The Newton Abbot test centre recorded a 53.8% pass rate, significantly higher than Exeter's 46.8%.
- £44
- average price
- 12
- driving schools
- 40
- independent instructors
- 2
- test centres
Top driving schools in Newton Abbot by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Highway Driver Training
Cheapest manual driving school in Newton Abbot.
Cowley's School of Motoring
Highest-rated manual driving school in Newton Abbot.
Cowley's School of Motoring
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Newton Abbot.
Cowley's School of Motoring
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Newton Abbot.
Driving lessons in Newton Abbot
12 driving schools and 40 independent instructors.
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Showing 1–12 of 12 driving schools, plus every independent instructor in Newton Abbot.
Easy Pass Driving
AA-rated instructor offering flexible lesson packages from £50/hour up to intensive 30-hour courses completed over 5 consecutive days at £1250. Block deals provide strong value, with 10 hours at £440, 20 hours at £860, and 40 hours at £1600, all customisable to fit around your schedule with lessons ranging from 2 to 6 hours per day.
Kingsley's School of Motoring
Start with a no-obligation 1.5-hour assessment lesson to find an instructor suited to your needs. Automatic lessons from £39/hour, or grab a starter deal: first 5 hours for £190 (Torbay/Teignbridge) or £195 (Exeter), both including assessment. Block bookings and intensive courses also available.
Vaughan's School of Motoring
Jon brings 20 years of driving experience and several advanced driving qualifications to every lesson, teaching in a calm and patient style focused on building safe, responsible drivers rather than just test passes. Lessons are £45/hour or £430 for a 10-hour block, with flexible scheduling to fit around work and study. Free unlimited access to Theory Test Pro is included, and you'll learn in a comfortable Ford Fiesta ST Line with dual controls.
Highway Driver Training
20 years' experience with one of the highest first-time pass rates in the Southwest. £35/hour for standard lessons or £50 for 1.5-hour sessions; a 6-hour block (four 1.5-hour lessons) costs £180. One-to-one tuition with flexible pick-up and drop-off, plus motorway lessons, mock tests, and Pass Plus courses also available.
Road Masters
Over 25 years' experience with most students passing within 30 hours. Lessons from £46/hour or £460 for a 10-hour block, with 1.5 or 2-hour structured sessions including mock tests before your test day. Pass Plus courses available at £320 when you pass with Road Masters.
Williams Driving School
£45 per hour with a starter deal of 6 hours for £240, or 10-hour blocks at £420. Owner Dave Williams has nearly 20 years' experience and achieved 248 successful test passes in 2019 alone, with all 86 Google reviews and 68 Facebook reviews rating 5 stars. Lessons are a minimum of 90 minutes or 2 hours, using client-centred learning that builds confidence through structured objectives rather than aimless driving.
Horrell's School of Motoring
Grade A instructor Adam Horrell specialises in nervous learners and anxiety behind the wheel, using modern teaching techniques to make lessons enjoyable rather than a chore. Standard lessons are £45/hour or £65 for 1.5 hours, with a 10.5-hour block at £440. Pass Plus courses and motorway lessons also available, plus off-road tuition at 16 through the Devon Driver's Centre.
ICE Driving School
Operating since 1998 with over 25 years of experience, ICE focuses on structured, quality training rather than cheap lessons. Single lessons from £45, with block bookings and intensive courses available, plus mock tests to prepare you thoroughly for test day. Their instructors hold OrDIT (the highest instructor training qualification) and specialise in building safe drivers for life, not just passing tests quickly.
Diamond Drive Devon
Grade A instructor with 25 years' experience and rare Diamond Advanced qualification, plus Institute of Advanced Motorists credentials earned at 19. Manual lessons from £45/hour or £430 for 10 hours; automatic from £50/hour or £470 for 10 hours. Includes structured progress tracking, detailed monthly reports, and free TheoryTest Pro app access, with training extending beyond local areas to motorways, multi-storey car parks, and town centre driving.
Drive with Emma
A specialist instructor trained in driving assessment, neurodiversity awareness, and test nerves techniques, with a Post Graduate qualification from Oxford Brookes University. Emma has taught people with a wide variety of medical conditions and disabilities since 2015, and her dual-controlled Toyota Yaris Cross is fitted with common adaptations including left foot accelerator, push/pull hand controls, and steering aids. Ideal if you're learning to drive with a condition or disability, or returning to driving following illness or injury.
Lion's School of Motoring
An established school with over 12 years of instructor experience, known for calm, patient teaching that delivers first-time passes. Budget-friendly hourly lessons and intensive courses available, with block bookings accepted for added savings.
Cowley's School of Motoring
Regional Driving School of the Year winner, recognised at the national driving instructor awards for delivering excellence to the local community. Patient instructors use modern teaching techniques and local knowledge to guide you through test routes and build confidence, with one learner recently passing first time with only 5 minors. High pass rates, flexible lesson options, and test booking managed for you.
Carmel Ann Langmead
Andrew Broadhurst
Martin Caddy
Darren Cain
Anouska Carmel N Willcox
Philip Coatham
Stephen Croucher
Graham David Woodcock
Steven Edward Dyos
Deborah Fey
Sean Geoffrey Brown
Kristian Gilbert
Emma Hallett
Adam Horrell
Nyree Jayne Clarke
Robert John Quinton
Dawid Kulbacki
Claire L. Hancock
David Mann
Vicky Marie Storer
Block booking
Best block deals in Newton Abbot
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £30.
How much do driving lessons cost in Newton Abbot?
Most learners pay £45–£50 an hour. Under £45 is a good deal, over £55 is at the higher end.
Based on prices from 9 driving schools in Newton Abbot.
Intensive courses in Newton Abbot
Want to pass fast?
8 Newton Abbot schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Newton Abbot Test Centres and Pass Rates
The roads around Newton Abbot include the busy A380 Penn Inn roundabout and the tight streets in the town centre, but it still manages a 53.8% pass rate compared to Exeter's 46.8%. Between 2025 and 2026, 15,270 tests were taken across both centres. Exeter involves navigating the city's one-way system and the tricky junctions around Sowton industrial estate. Women passed at 51.3% in Newton Abbot and 48% in Exeter, men at 56.1% and 45.8%. You'll wait 7 weeks for Newton Abbot and 8 for Exeter, with automatic pass rates at 46.9% and 38.5%.
Newton Abbot
6,591 tests taken · 7 week waitExeter
8,679 tests taken · 8 week wait| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton Abbot | 51.3% | 56.1% | 46.9% | 53.8% | 6,591 | 7 weeks |
| Exeter | 48.0% | 45.8% | 38.5% | 46.8% | 8,679 | 8 weeks |