Driving Lessons in Plymouth
Plymouth's 17 driving schools and 40 independent driving instructors create substantial choice, though with notable price variation from £30-£55 per hour. Schools average 4.6 stars, while 5 offer automatic driving lessons and 4 provide intensive courses. Female driving instructor availability includes 3 schools and 6 independent female driving instructors. However, the local Plymouth test centre presents challenges with just a 40.8% pass rate, among the lower rates nationally.
- £45
- average price
- 17
- driving schools
- 40
- independent instructors
- 1
- test centre
Top driving schools in Plymouth by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Martin Regan
Cheapest manual driving school in Plymouth.
AAA School of Motoring
Highest-rated manual driving school in Plymouth.
Belt Up Driving School
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Plymouth.
AAA School of Motoring
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Plymouth.
Driving schools and instructors in Plymouth
Let's Pass Driving School
Grade A instructor offering calm, one-to-one tuition for nervous drivers and learners of all abilities. At £43/hour or £430 for a 10-hour block, lessons include theory and hazard perception prep, plus Pass Plus courses for newly qualified drivers.
Easy Drive Automatic Tuition
Gold Award winner in the Southwest (2024) and ranked in the top 100 driving schools in England. Instructor Paul Kellow was highly commended in 2021 and specialises in nervous learners, offering a patient, relaxed approach with one-to-one tuition. Lessons at £50/hour or £480 for a 10-hour block, with mock tests and theory advice included.
Belt Up Driving School
Award-winning school recognised as one of Plymouth's top 3 driving schools, led by Grade A instructor Angie Presland who holds City & Guilds Level 3 in Education and Training. Seven instructors on staff including newly qualified Dave West, plus Becky offering automatic lessons. Lessons from £46/hour with block deals starting at £360 for 5 x 2-hour sessions, test car hire at £100 (£110 weekends), and free unlimited Theory Test Pro access until you pass.
Com'Pass Driving School
Family-run school with over 35 years' experience and one of Plymouth's largest independent operations. £45/hour for manual lessons, or £420 for a 10-hour block at £42/hour; Pass Plus courses available at £300 (or £280 in your own car). Currently at capacity for intensive courses but standard lessons, advanced driving, and test preparation are available.
Andi Green Driving School
Grade A instructor with an exceptionally high first-time pass rate, including specialist tuition for learners with learning difficulties. £47.50 per hour with block booking discounts available, plus intensive courses that can be completed in a week (theory test must be passed first). Lessons run 7 days a week from 08:30 to 19:30 on weekdays, with collection from home or work included.
Martin Regan
20-year veteran instructor with a highly graded status and experience teaching learners from 17 to 83. Lessons in a Ford Focus at £30/hour or £290 for a 10-hour block, with a female instructor option available if preferred.
A-class Driving School
Calm and reliable instructor with an excellent pass rate, specializing in nervous pupils and complete beginners. £55/hour or £100 for 2-hour lessons, with a 10-hour block deal at £490 (five 2-hour sessions). Test car hire including a one-hour warm-up session costs £120.
Look First Driving School
Focus on real-world driving from lesson one rather than side-of-the-road basics, combining test-focused instruction with an enjoyable learning experience. Grahame reports strong pass rates and high demand, catering to nervous learners, refresher drivers, and those taking intensive courses. Pass Plus courses also available.
AAA School of Motoring
Run by two high-grade instructors with over 30 years' combined experience, this school emphasises making learning to drive enjoyable while promoting safer driving for life. All lessons are 90 minutes at £60, with a 12-hour block at £460 or refresher courses from £300, plus Pass Plus training and 4-hour motorway sessions available.
Andy Robinson Driving School
Ex-Royal Navy instructor with 5+ years' experience and 200+ students taught, offering 2-hour lessons at £92 or flexible packages from £450 for 10 hours. Intensive courses (30 hours, £1,470) include theory test support and mock sessions, with a track record of high first-time pass rates across the South West.
1st 4 Driving
Free theory training via their exclusive Theory Test Suite, where learners are twice as likely to pass first time. All-Inclusive bundles of 20 or 30 hours include practical test, theory test, and tuition, eliminating surprise costs and making them ideal gift vouchers.
Ken Roden Driving Tuition
Block booking
Best block deals in Plymouth
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £30.
Intensive courses in Plymouth
Want to pass fast?
4 Plymouth schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Plymouth Test Centres and Pass Rates
The 23,132 tests from 2024 to 2025 split between Plymouth proper and Liverpool's Norris Green, creating an odd pairing in this search area. Plymouth achieved 40.8% while Norris Green managed just 38.7%, both struggling with challenging urban road networks. Plymouth's steep hills, naval dockyard traffic, and narrow city centre streets prove demanding, while Liverpool's dense residential areas and busy arterial routes create their own difficulties. Women outperformed men slightly at Plymouth (41.6% versus 40%), while automatic learners managed around 33-35% at both centres, suggesting clutch control helps with the frequent hill starts and stop-start traffic.
Plymouth
9,867 tests taken| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 41.6% | 40.0% | 32.4% | 40.8% | 9,867 |