Driving Lessons in East Sussex
- £42
- average price
- 73
- driving schools
- 201
- 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.
Southern Driver Training
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 schools and instructors in East Sussex

Mi Driving School - Automatic - Uckfield & Tunbridge Wells
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
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
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
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.
Drive 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.
Slipstream Driving School
£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
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
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
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
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.
Swift Driver Training Eastbourne
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
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.
Brighton & Hove Automatic Driving School
Specialist automatic driving instructors with a focus on nervous and anxious learners, offering a calm, relaxed teaching environment. £45/hour or £430 for a 10-hour block, with intensive courses available to suit individual needs. All instructors are DBS checked and create tailored lesson plans using the latest coaching methods.
NOE-L Driving School
NOE-L offers a new driver special: first 5 hours at just £30/hour, then £35/hour for full-time students or £37/hour for standard learners. Block deals provide additional savings, with 10-hour packages at £340 (students) or £360 (standard), plus refresher courses tailored for anxious, nervous, or returning drivers.
StartnDrive
Over 21 years in Eastbourne with consistently high first-time pass rates well above the national average. Learner-centred approach gives you control over your progress, with lessons from £39/hour or £390 for a 10-hour block; new learners can book their first 2 hours for just £60.
Lumi's Driving School
Excellent first-time pass rate with one-to-one tuition and no car sharing. Manual lessons from £48/hour or £470 for 10 hours; automatic from £50/hour or £485 for 10 hours. Complete beginners get 2 hours for £85 (manual) or £90 (automatic), plus a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied.
Steve's Driver Training
£40/hour or £380 for a 10-hour block, with introductory 2-hour lessons at £75 each to ease new drivers into the car and controls. Client-centered approach focusing on safe driving for life, covering everything from clutch control and junctions to bay parking and test preparation, plus refresher courses for drivers rebuilding confidence.
Ministry of Driving
Ministry of Driving specialises in calm, patient instruction for learner drivers in Eastbourne, with lessons tailored to your pace and experience. Standard 90-minute lessons are £60, with block deals offering savings: a first-time 9-hour block at £320, or the standard 15-hour block at £562. Beyond learner tuition, the school also offers Pass Plus courses, motorway and parking skills sessions, and refresher lessons for returning drivers.
Hastings Driving Lessons
40 years' experience with around 4,000 pupils from over 50 countries who've passed their tests. £40/hour with full access to Theory Test Pro included in the lesson price, plus pickup available from Bexhill or Hastings areas and comprehensive lesson notes to support your learning.
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 £35.
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 37 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
Burgess Hill proved the most challenging at 43.2% pass rate despite 11,191 tests taken between 2024 and 2025, while Eastbourne topped the region at 52.1%. The county's mix of coastal roads, South Downs hills, and market town centres creates varied driving conditions. Women actually performed better at Hastings (51.1% vs 47.5% for men), unusual for the region, while Eastbourne showed a more typical split (50.6% women, 53.3% men). Automatic success rates hovered around 40-47% across all three centres, with the coastal locations of Eastbourne and Hastings offering slightly more automatic-friendly conditions than Burgess Hill's challenging hill starts and narrow residential streets.
Eastbourne
5,609 tests takenHastings (Ore)
3,065 tests takenBurgess Hill
11,191 tests taken| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastbourne | 50.6% | 53.3% | 46.8% | 52.1% | 5,609 |
| Hastings (Ore) | 51.1% | 47.5% | 44.7% | 49.2% | 3,065 |
| Burgess Hill | 45.1% | 41.8% | 38.6% | 43.2% | 11,191 |