Driving Lessons in Southampton
Southampton has 27 driving schools and 40 independent driving instructors, with school pricing ranging from £35 to £43.50 per hour (average £40). The schools achieve a 4.7-star average rating, and 10 offer automatic driving lessons while 9 provide intensive courses. There are 9 independent female driving instructors in the area. The Lee On The Solent test centre stands out with a 63.2% pass rate, considerably higher than Southampton Maybush's 50.3% and Winchester's 52.2%, based on the latest DVSA data (2025-26).
- £40
- average price
- 27
- driving schools
- 40
- independent instructors
- 3
- test centres
Top driving schools in Southampton by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Naz Driving School
Cheapest manual driving school in Southampton.
MDS Driving School Southampton
Highest-rated manual driving school in Southampton.
MDS Driving School Southampton
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Southampton.
Driving lessons in Southampton
27 driving schools and 40 independent instructors.
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Showing 1–20 of 67 driving schools and independent instructors in Southampton.
MasterIt Driving School
Automatic
Specializes in automatic driving lessons with CRB-checked instructors known for patience and personalized teaching—multiple reviews highlight first-time test passes and exceptional support. Standard 2-hour lessons at £81, or £40 per hour with 10-hour blocks from £400; intensive courses and test day hire (£120 for 3 hours) also available.
Drive Now
Manual and automatic
£41/hour for manual lessons (£46 after 5pm and weekends) or £43/hour for automatic (£48 evenings/weekends), with 10-hour block deals at £390–£410. Test car hire available at £110 for pupils with 10+ hours completed, including 1 hour of pre-test tuition. A relaxed, friendly school known for personalised instruction and a good sense of humour.
autoLearn Driving School
Automatic
£40/hour for automatic lessons, or £390 for a 10-hour block. Multiple five-star reviews highlight the instructor's patience, calm demeanor, and ability to adapt teaching to individual learning styles—several students mention passing first time. Specialises in automatic driving with a focus on building confidence and safe driving habits.
Drive With Dan
Manual
Grade A instructor with 13 years' experience offering structured lessons tailored to your pace and goals. £40 per 1.5-hour lesson or £80 for 2 hours, with block deals from £240 for 6 hours up to £450 for 12 hours—test day support included at £80. Flexible scheduling with college and workplace pickups available, plus lessons in your own car if needed.
Manny Driving School
Manual
Manual driving specialist with strong student reviews highlighting thorough, methodical instruction and multiple first-time passes. Block deals start at £40/hour (10 hours for £400), with intensive courses including test day car hire from £575 for 10 hours. Test day car hire also available separately at £120–£160.
Hannan Driving School
Automatic
Hannan Driving School specializes in automatic driving lessons with a focus on personalized instruction from experienced professionals. At £60 for a 1.5-hour lesson, the school has guided over 200 students to successful test passes, with instructor Mahboub Hannan earning particular praise for patience and belief in nervous learners. Intensive courses and test booking services are available alongside flexible weekday and weekend scheduling.
MDS Driving School Southampton
Manual and automatic
MDS Driving School Southampton offers lessons Monday to Friday from 7am–5pm, with evening and weekend rates available at £45/hour (manual) or £47/hour (automatic). A 10-hour block deal saves money at £390 (manual) or £400 (automatic), and test car hire starts at £110 for Maybush test centre with 1 hour free before your exam. Pass Plus courses are also available at £250 for the 6-hour practical training.
Shahed Driving School
Manual and automatic
A local instructor passionate about road safety who teaches one pupil at a time with patient, understanding guidance. £37/hour for manual lessons or £42/hour for automatic, with block deals at £350 for 10 hours (manual) and £400 for 10 hours (automatic). Testimonials highlight his caring approach—one student noted passing on their first attempt after gaining confidence through his teaching.
Amber Driving School
Manual
With 10 years' driving instruction experience plus 18 years as a secondary English teacher, Neil specialises in Maybush test centre routes—teaching from lesson one on roads you'll encounter during your test. All lessons are 2 hours at £40 for single lessons, £39/hour for a 10-hour block, or £38/hour for a 20-hour package. A problem-area tour highlights commonly failed locations and explains what examiners expect, backed by a well above average pass rate.
Naz Driving School
Manual
4.5-star rated instructor with 2,564 reviews, offering manual lessons at £35/hour for first-time learners (10-hour block at £375) or £40/hour for experienced drivers. Motorway and test preparation lessons also available, with intro lessons exclusive to new students.
1st Pass Driving School
Manual
Rated 4.7/5 with a focus on building learner confidence from day one—students consistently praise the instructor's encouragement and belief in their abilities. £40/hour for individual lessons, or £35–£38/hour with block deals ranging from 5 to 40 hours (£195–£1,400). Intensive courses also available at £45–£47/hour, plus Pass Plus and motorway lessons.
SMS Driving School Automatic
Automatic
Over 80% first-time pass rate with free mock practical tests that give learners a 40% better chance of passing. BSM-trained instructor offering automatic lessons at £43.50/hour (£42.50 for 10-hour blocks), plus intensive courses from £2,000 for 40 hours over 2 weeks. Student and NHS discounts available, with test day packages including practice and drop-off from £125.
Diamond Drive Totton School of Motoring
Manual
Grade A instructor with 30 years' experience and a 75% pass rate, well above the national average. £40/hour or £400 for a 10-hour block, with test car use available for £92.50 (2.5 hours). Known for minimal time wasted on stationary instruction and a calm teaching style backed by excellent examiner relationships at the local test centre.
A1 Driving School
Manual and automatic
Patient instructor known for helping nervous and returning learners succeed—one student passed first time after a 20-year gap. Lessons available in English, Farsi, and Urdu, with competitive pricing tailored to individual needs. Both manual and automatic instruction available, plus test booking support.
Mark Williams Driving School
Manual
2024 Award winner for best Driving Instructor in Southampton, using Client Centred Learning & Coaching to tailor lessons to how each learner best understands the road. Upgraded Toyota Aygo X with dual controls and latest safety technology, with the highest level of instructor insurance.
Drive Excellent
Manual
Established in 2015, Drive Excellent has built a reputation as one of the leading driving schools in the area, with an expert instructor boasting 10 years' experience and consistently high pass rates backed by five-star reviews. The school emphasizes skills for life rather than test-route memorization, using a structured approach with set goals and recaps at the start and end of each lesson. Two-hour lessons are available, along with intensive courses and weekend options for flexible scheduling.
R&A Driving School
Manual and automatic
A 99% pass rate across 38,000+ students since 2010, with instructors known for patience, professionalism, and a calm learning atmosphere. Reviews consistently highlight the individual approach and quick skill improvement, with students allowed to drive on their first lesson. Competitive pricing available for both manual and automatic lessons.
ABF Driving School
Automatic
A-Grade instructor specializing exclusively in automatic driving lessons with deep local knowledge of test routes and road conditions. Two-hour lessons designed to build confidence at your own pace, with high pass rates and flexible scheduling including weekends and evenings. Modern fleet vehicles, post-test support covering motorway and night driving, and competitive pricing packages available.
Naba Driving School
Manual
A Southampton-based school focused on personalized instruction for teens and adults, with separate beginner and advanced programs tailored to individual learning needs. Naba emphasizes hands-on training, defensive driving techniques, and lifelong safety skills through modern teaching methods. Contact them to discuss pricing and book your first lesson.
Amigos Driving School Ltd
Manual
All instructors are university graduates, bringing academic rigour to their teaching approach. Lessons available across Southampton, Romsey, and Hedge End with flexible scheduling to suit your needs.
Block booking
Best block deals in Southampton
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 Southampton?
Most learners pay £40–£45 an hour. Under £40 is a good deal, over £50 is at the higher end.
Based on prices from 13 driving schools in Southampton.
Intensive courses in Southampton
Want to pass fast?
9 Southampton schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Southampton Test Centres and Pass Rates
Lee On The Solent stands out among the three centres near Southampton. Its pass rate of 63% puts it in the top 10% in Britain, and its automatic pass rate of 53% beats the 45% national average for automatic tests, though the wait there is the longest at about 4½ months. Southampton itself has a pass rate of 50%, which is exactly the national pass rate, so it's the lowest nearby without being bad. Winchester has the shortest wait, about 2½ months. If you've learned around Southampton, there's no pressing reason to go elsewhere.
Lee On The Solent
8,502 tests taken · typical wait 4½ monthsWinchester
4,602 tests taken · typical wait 2½ monthsSouthampton (Maybush)
10,480 tests taken · typical wait 3½ months| Test Centre | Pass rate | Tests | Typical wait | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Manual | Automatic | |||
| Lee On The Solent | 63.2% | 67.3% | 53.1% | 8,502 | 4½ months |
| Winchester | 52.2% | 54.5% | 45.3% | 4,602 | 2½ months |
| Southampton (Maybush) | 50.3% | 52.6% | 45.0% | 10,480 | 3½ months |