Driving Lessons in Essex

£37
average price
132
driving schools
339
independent instructors
6
test centres

Driving schools and instructors in Essex

Showing 120 of 132
Smooth Pass Driver Training

Smooth Pass Driver Training

5(92)
From £55/hr10hrs for £495Save £55

Specialist in helping nervous and anxious learners pass their test, with 32 years' experience as a trainer. £55/hour or £495 for a 10-hour block. Daljit works with learners who have ADHD, ADD, PTSD, Asperger's, panic attacks, and test anxiety, designing lessons to build confidence and overcome driving fears; reviews consistently highlight his patience, adaptability, and ability to turn failed attempts into first-time passes.

AutomaticTest car available
Speaks Hindi, Punjabi
48 Chelmsford Rd, Shenfield, Brentwood CM15 8RJView school
Innov8 Driving School

Innov8 Driving School

5(25)
From £40/hr10hrs for £390Save £10

£40/hour for manual lessons or £42/hour for automatic, with 10-hour blocks from £390. The standout offer is the Guaranteed Pass Scheme: pay a £500 deposit plus £2,850 balance, and they cover unlimited lessons and test fees until you pass (up to 80 hours or 12 months), plus free theory test app and mock exams. Intensive courses also available at £900 for 20 hours or £1,800 for 40 hours, plus £50 cash back when you pass first time.

ManualAutomaticIntensive
Forge View, Back Ln, Pleshey, Chelmsford CM3 1HLView school
Skillup Driving School

Skillup Driving School

5(13)96% pass rate
From £37/hr

96% first-time pass rate with a 5.0-star rating across 14 reviews, backed by instructors praised for patience and thoroughness. Flexible intensive courses start from £37/hour for 1-hour lessons up to £130 for 4-hour weekend sessions, plus use of an insured automatic test car available for your driving test.

EveningsWeekendsAutomaticIntensiveFemale InstructorsTest car available
12 Sartoria Cl, Grays RM20 3BAView school
Value Driving School

Value Driving School

5
From £35/hr

Steve's friendly, confidence-focused approach has earned him five-star reviews, including a first-time pass with just 2 minors on automatic lessons. Lessons start from £35 per hour, making this an affordable option for learners across the area.

Automatic
20 Littlethorpe, Vange, Basildon SS16 4LHView school
RS Driving School

RS Driving School

5
From £25/hr10hrs for £220Save £30

Small, word-of-mouth school focused on safe, eco-friendly driving for life rather than just test passing. Manual lessons from £25/hour or £220 for a 10-hour initial block; automatic from £27/hour or £240 for a 10-hour initial block, with intensive courses available to pass in as little as 3 days.

ManualAutomaticIntensive
1 Columbine Mews, Colchester CO3 0SGView school
Skillld Drivers

Skillld Drivers

5
From £39/hrBlock bookings available

Mother and daughter-led school headed by June, an A-graded instructor with extensive ADI experience and instructor training credentials. Lessons start from £39/hour for manual or £42.50/hour for automatic, with block booking discounts available the more hours you book in advance. Testimonials highlight first-time pass rates and particular strength with nervous learners seeking confidence and support.

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale Instructors
New Ln, Feering, Colchester CO5 9EJView school
Holder School of Motoring

Holder School of Motoring

5
From £37/hr10hrs for £340Save £30

Family-run school operating since 1998 with an above-average pass rate and competitive pricing. £37/hour for standard lessons, or £330 for a 10-hour block booking (first block only £210 for 6 hours). Intensive courses range from 20 to 50 hours, all including test fees, plus Pass Plus and motorway training available.

ManualIntensiveTest car available
47 Bolney Dr, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 5HQView school
Bell School of Motoring

Bell School of Motoring

5
From £38/hr10hrs for £370Save £10

Independent school with both male and female instructors using new Ford Fiestas and client-centred teaching methods. Standard lessons from £38/hour (manual) or £40/hour (automatic), with 10-hour blocks at £370 (manual) or £390 (automatic), plus 20 and 40-hour deals available. Pass Plus, motorway tuition, and refresher lessons also on offer.

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale Instructors
47 Littlefield Rd, Colchester CO2 9HUView school
Lacey's Driving School

Lacey's Driving School

5
From £36/hrBlock bookings available

Independent instructor specializing in nervous learners, offering a calm, one-to-one approach where lessons are kept enjoyable rather than stressful. Daytime lessons at £36/hour, evenings £38/hour, and Saturdays £42/hour, with two-hour lessons available and mock tests to build confidence before your test. You'll take your practical test in the same car you trained in.

ManualEveningsWeekendsTest car available
243 Great Knightleys, Basildon SS15 5EEView school
Earl Drive

Earl Drive

5
From £38/hr10hrs for £370Save £10

£38/hour or £370 for a 10-hour block, with intensive courses ranging from 20 to 50 hours (£800–£2,000). All intensive courses include full mock tests on actual local driving test routes and begin with a professional assessment to create a tailored training plan.

AutomaticIntensive
The Bryn, Basildon SS14 2NBView school
A&H Driving School

A&H Driving School

5
From £35/hr10hrs for £340Save £10

£35 per hour for 2-hour lessons, or save with block bookings from £340 for 10 hours up to £1,360 for 40 hours. This school covers motorway tuition, Pass Plus courses, and refresher lessons alongside standard learner instruction, making it a flexible option whether you're starting from scratch or building on existing skills.

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale Instructors
Feryby Rd, Grays RM16 4SSView school
SD Driving School

SD Driving School

5
From £38/hr

Former AA Driving School instructor with a high first-time pass rate and 100% five-star reviews. Flexible lesson lengths from 1 hour to 2 hours at £38-£76 on weekdays, with Pass Plus and refresher training available. Pick-up and drop-off included at any local location, plus mock tests to prepare you for test day.

EveningsWeekendsAutomatic
Chignal Rd, Chelmsford CM1 4UNView school
Coggeshall Driving School

Coggeshall Driving School

5
From £35/hrBlock bookings available

Grade A instructor and Vice Chairman of the Institute of Advanced Motorists with 20+ years' experience since 2001. Beyond test preparation, you'll learn advanced driving techniques to stay safe on the road, with an above-average pass rate backing the approach. £35/hour with intensive courses available in 2, 10, 20 and 40-hour blocks.

ManualIntensive
42 Robinsbridge Rd, Coggeshall, Colchester CO6 1ULView school
Sudbury Driving School

Sudbury Driving School

5
From £24/hr10hrs for £220Save £20

Family-run school established over 20 years, now run by Darren Weavers with a focus on friendly, patient tuition in modern air-conditioned Volkswagens. Intensive courses start at £650 for 30 hours, or £24/hour with a 10-hour block at £220. Standout offerings include one-hour assessment lessons, theory test help with transport provided, motorway tuition, and mock tests.

ManualIntensiveTest car available
19 Mallard Way, Great Cornard, Sudbury CO10 0YGView school
Khaled's Driving School

Khaled's Driving School

580% pass rate
From £37.50/hr10hrs for £370Save £5

An 80% pass rate instructor offering £37.50/hour lessons or 10-hour blocks at £370 and 20-hour packages at £730. Khaled's students consistently praise his patience and knowledge of test routes; one learner passed first time with just 10 lessons after struggling elsewhere. Both Ford Focus manual and Toyota Corolla Hybrid automatic cars available, with Pass Plus and motorway courses also on offer.

ManualEveningsWeekendsAutomaticIntensive
47, George Crooks House, New Rd, Grays RM17 6PSView school
Carters Driving Tuition

Carters Driving Tuition

5
From £36/hr10hrs for £320Save £40

Manual lessons from £36/hour or 10 hours for £320 with Michelle Carter, a fully qualified ADI with over 10 years' experience teaching in Basildon, Pitsea, Corringham, Stanford Le Hope and Canvey Island. Female instructor offering tailored lessons, theory support, intensive test preparation, and motorway training for provisional licence holders.

ManualIntensiveFemale Instructors
Basildon SS14 3SPView school
Roseco Driving School

Roseco Driving School

5
From £43/hr10hrs for £400Save £30

Over 20 years' experience with instructors covering Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham, North London, Harrow, Gravesend, Gillingham, and Nottingham. Both manual (£45/hour) and automatic (£43/hour) lessons available, with 10-lesson block deals at £430 and £400 respectively — high first-time pass rates and Turkish-speaking instructors also available.

ManualEveningsWeekendsAutomaticFemale Instructors
Speaks Turkish
33 Elgar Dr, Witham CM8 1DSView school
Top Gun School of Motoring

Top Gun School of Motoring

5
From £38/hr10hrs for £350Save £30

Competitive rates starting at £38/hour with flexible block deals from 10 to 50 hours, ranging from £350 to £1,750. One-to-one tuition tailored to each learner's needs, with intensive courses also available at £35/hour. Test lesson packages include pickup from home, pre-test preparation, and debrief for £110.

ManualIntensiveTest car available
44 Cedar Rd, Grays RM16 4SXView school
Drivelink Driving School

Drivelink Driving School

5
From £38/hr

One-to-one lessons at £38/hour with pick-up and drop-off included, plus mock tests at £40/hour and test car hire for £150. Pass Plus courses also available alongside refresher lessons for returning drivers.

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale InstructorsTest car available
Southend Rd, Grays RM17 5NPView school
Automatic Driving Lessons

Automatic Driving Lessons

5
From £40/hr10hrs for £380Save £20

Automatic and manual lessons from £40–£42/hour in Romford, Essex, with 10-hour block deals at £380–£390. Specialist in last-minute test cover across Chelmsford, Basildon, Hornchurch, Loughton, Goodmayes, Southend, Chingford and surrounding areas.

ManualAutomatic
Begonia Cl, Springfield, Chelmsford CM1 6NLView school
Price snapshot

How much do driving lessons cost in Essex?

Most learners pay £35–£40 an hour. Under £35 is a good deal, over £45 is at the higher end.

Typical
£38
Most pay
£35–£40
Schools
Under £30
3
£30–35
3
£35–40
40
£40–45
16
£45+
3

Based on prices from 65 driving schools in Essex.

Intensive courses in Essex

Want to pass fast?

55 Essex schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.

Essex Test Centres and Pass Rates

Hornchurch achieved the highest pass rate at 48.3% while Basildon proved most challenging at 45.6%, with 36,397 tests handled across six centres between 2024 and 2025. Essex's road network combines the M25 orbital approaches with traditional market town centres and new town developments around Basildon. Automatic drivers saw consistent results around 38-45% across all centres, with the county's mix of roundabouts and dual carriageways providing relatively standard conditions. Men outperformed women most significantly at Southend (51.5% vs 44.7%), where the seafront's wider roads and faster A13 approaches seem to favour more confident drivers, while the differences remained smaller at inland centres like Chelmsford and Brentwood.

49%

Tilbury

4,185 tests taken
Women47.9%
Men50.1%
Automatic44.4%
49%

Brentwood (London)

5,485 tests taken
Women48.3%
Men48.6%
Automatic44.3%
48%

Hornchurch (London)

6,310 tests taken
Women47.3%
Men49.1%
Automatic45.5%
48%

Southend-on-Sea

4,797 tests taken
Women44.7%
Men51.5%
Automatic40.3%
46%

Basildon

4,862 tests taken
Women44.4%
Men46.5%
Automatic38.6%
45%

Chelmsford (Hanbury Road)

10,758 tests taken
Women43.2%
Men46.0%
Automatic40.2%

Areas in Essex