Driving Lessons in East Sussex
East Sussex brings together 72 driving schools and 197 independent driving instructors spread across the region's towns and coastal areas. Lessons range from £30 to £48 per hour, with schools averaging £41 and maintaining a 4.8-star rating. Automatic driving lessons are available at 29 schools, and you'll find 49 female independent driving instructors alongside 8 schools offering female driving instructors. Test centres across the region show varied pass rates, with Eastbourne at 55.4% and Hastings at 52.4%, both considerably higher than Burgess Hill's 45.5%.
- £41
- average price
- 73
- driving schools
- 195
- independent instructors
- 3
- test centres
Top driving schools in East Sussex by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Rule the Road with King
Cheapest manual driving school in East Sussex.
Drive with Jo
Highest-rated manual driving school in East Sussex.
Mi Driving School - Automatic - Uckfield & Tunbridge Wells
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in East Sussex.
Drive with Jo
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in East Sussex.
Driving lessons in East Sussex
73 driving schools and 195 independent instructors.
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Showing 1–20 of 268 driving schools and independent instructors in East Sussex.
Drive Automatic
Automatic
Specialist automatic driving instructor covering Brighton, Hove, Portslade, and Southwick with years of experience and an excellent pass rate. New students get 6 hours for the price of 5 (from £220), with standard pricing at £44/hour for 2-hour lessons or £43/hour in 10-hour blocks (£430). Dual-control automatic car with comprehensive insurance.
Automatic with Fran
Automatic
Calm and empathetic instructor offering automatic lessons in a latest-model Mercedes B Class with pickup available within 3 miles. Intensive courses and flexible scheduling designed to help nervous learners build confidence from first lesson to test day.
Fazel Sharifat
Manual and automatic
I start at 08.00 till 17.00 Monday to Saturday and day off on Sundays

Mi Driving School - Automatic - Uckfield & Tunbridge Wells
Automatic
90% first-time pass rate with a client-centred coaching approach that builds confidence and long-term safe driving skills. Standard lessons at £45/hour (£50 in outlying areas) or £430 for a 10-hour block, plus intensive courses ranging from £900–£3,130 depending on experience. Test day car hire available for £130, and a free lesson for every recommendation.

Andy Wimbs Driving School
Ideal for nervous drivers and beginners, Andy specialises in building confidence with patient, modern teaching methods and maintains a 75%+ pass rate since 2019, well above the national average. £40/hour or £380 for a 10-hour block, plus motorway lessons (£120 for up to 3 hours) and test day car hire (£85 for up to 2.5 hours). Uses the My Drive Time app to track progress, with parents able to monitor their child's development.
Southern Driver Training
Manual and automatic
25 years' experience with over 1,000 new drivers passed and a consistently high pass rate. £37/hour for standard lessons, or £350 for a 10-lesson block; new drivers get a special introductory rate of £45 for the first 1.5 hours. Free pickup from home, school, or workplace included.
Ready To Go Driving School
Manual
Established in 2009 and welcoming nervous learners with calm, patient instruction across all abilities. £46/hour for standard lessons, or save with a 6-hour block at £270, plus intensive courses from £520 for 10 hours. Pass Plus courses, motorway tuition, and refresher lessons also available.
Chris Trickey Driving Lessons
Manual
18 years of teaching experience with a focus on building safe, confident drivers in a calm environment tailored to your pace. Standard lessons are £48/hour (£55 on Saturdays and bank holidays), with a 10-hour block package at £450. Post-test motorway training and refresher lessons also available, all delivered in a Ford Focus diesel.
Hotdog Driving School
Manual and automatic
Specialists in intensive driving courses with instructors trained to build confidence quickly and safely, ideal for learners aiming to pass within weeks rather than months. Double lessons at £76 for 100 minutes or a 10-lesson block for £360 (saving £20), plus Pass Plus courses and motorway training available. Free local pick-up and drop-off across a 20-mile radius, with flexible scheduling and one-to-one tuition throughout.
Slipstream Driving School
Manual
£40/hour or £380 for 10 hours paid in advance, with 2-hour test sessions at £80. Run by Daryl Pope, this local school has built a strong reputation for first-time passes and a patient, friendly approach that keeps learners comfortable throughout their lessons.
Black & White Driving School
Manual
Over 30 years of operation with 100+ five-star reviews and the best first-time pass rate locally. Daytime lessons at £45/hour or £435 for a 10-hour block, with evening and weekend availability at £85/hour. Modern manual car and experienced instruction make this a strong choice for learners seeking proven results.
Routine Driving School
Manual
One-to-one tuition tailored to each learner's pace and needs, from nervous beginners to test preparation. £45/hour for standard lessons, or save with block deals like 10 hours for £390 or 20 hours for £760. Additional services include mock tests (£80 for 2 hours), motorway lessons (£125 for 3 hours), and Pass Plus courses (£240 for 6 hours).
Seb G Driving School
Automatic
Learn in a Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid Automatic, a modern mini SUV chosen for its safety and calm learning environment with excellent visibility. Lessons start from £37 per hour, with block deals from £80 for 2 hours up to £740 for 20 hours. Full-time instructor with an established local reputation and gallery of recent test passes.
What An L Of A Drive
Manual
Every instructor here has a minimum of 10 years' experience and remembers their own test nerves, which shapes their teaching approach. Two-hour lessons at £42.50 per hour, or block deals at £410 for 10 hours and £800 for 20 hours. Pass Plus courses also available alongside beginner and refresher options.
Rule the Road with King
Manual
Russ King specialises in teaching neurodivergent and anxious drivers, with dedicated specialist training in this area. Single 1.5-hour lessons cost £60, or save with block bookings: 4 lessons for £230 or 8 lessons for £450. First-time pass rates feature prominently in student reviews, with learners praising his calm, patient approach.
Reid Driving
Manual
Independent instructor with 19 years' experience built on word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied learners. Friendly, laid-back teaching style that makes learning enjoyable rather than stressful, with flexible lessons tailored to individual needs. 90-minute lessons at £67 or two-hour lessons at £90, with block deals from £430 for 10 hours.
Swift Driver Training Eastbourne
Automatic
Grade A instructor with 26 years' experience since 2000, now back teaching after a career break and specialising in learners with difficulties who struggled with manual cars. One-to-one lessons only, no waiting lists, with structured tuition and emailed progress sheets. 1.5-hour lessons at £60 (highly recommended over single hours), test day sessions £80 for 2 hours, and motorway lessons available.
Look to Learn Driving School
Manual
British Sign Language tuition sets this school apart, making it accessible to deaf and hard of hearing learners. Standard lessons cost £40/hour, with block deals at £197.50 for 5 hours or £390 for 10 hours, plus motorway training and refresher courses available.
Block booking
Best block deals in East Sussex
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £20.
How much do driving lessons cost in East Sussex?
Most learners pay £40–£45 an hour. Under £40 is a good deal, over £50 is at the higher end.
Based on prices from 41 driving schools in East Sussex.
Intensive courses in East Sussex
Want to pass fast?
20 East Sussex schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
East Sussex Test Centres and Pass Rates
All three centres around East Sussex are in reasonable shape. Eastbourne leads with a pass rate of 55%, above the national pass rate of 50%, and even Burgess Hill, the lowest at 46%, isn't far below average. If you're taking an automatic test, Hastings has the best automatic pass rate at 52%, though it also has the longest wait, about 4 months. Burgess Hill is usually the soonest, at about 3 months.
Eastbourne
6,031 tests taken · typical wait 3 monthsHastings (Ore)
3,892 tests taken · typical wait 4 monthsBurgess Hill
11,237 tests taken · typical wait 3 months| Test Centre | Pass rate | Tests | Typical wait | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Manual | Automatic | |||
| Eastbourne | 55.4% | 57.3% | 50.2% | 6,031 | 3 months |
| Hastings (Ore) | 52.4% | 52.7% | 51.6% | 3,892 | 4 months |
| Burgess Hill | 45.5% | 47.0% | 40.4% | 11,237 | 3 months |