Driving Lessons in Darwen
Darwen has 2 driving schools with an excellent 4.9-star average rating, offering automatic driving lessons and female driving instructors. Pricing sits at £37 per hour where listed. The nearest test centres include Blackburn with Darwen at 47.8% and Bolton at an impressive 56.7% pass rate, while Bury proves more challenging at 40.3%.
- £37
- prices from
- 2
- driving schools
- 6
- test centres
Top driving schools in Darwen by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Sams Angels
Cheapest manual driving school in Darwen.
Darwen Driver Training
Highest-rated manual driving school in Darwen.
Sams Angels
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Darwen.
Sams Angels
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Darwen.
Driving schools and instructors in Darwen
Sams Angels
Over 3,000 students passed with this school, backed by 500+ Google reviews and a top-three rating in the area. Lessons start at £37/hour for refreshers or £74 for 2-hour sessions, with block deals from £185 for 5 hours up to £360 for 10 hours. Pass Plus courses and motorway lessons also available.
Darwen Driver Training
1.5-hour and 2-hour lessons at £60 and £80 respectively, with block vouchers offering better value at £285 for five 1.5-hour sessions or £380 for five 2-hour sessions. The instructor emphasises longer lessons to maximise practice time and skill retention, recommending 2-hour sessions to reach test standard in approximately 22 weeks based on DVSA guidelines. Additional services include motorway training, mock tests with detailed feedback, and confidence-boosting refresher lessons for nervous or returning drivers.
Block booking
Best block deals in Darwen
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £10.
Darwen Test Centres and Pass Rates
Women achieved 53.1% at Preston and Bolton compared to men's rates of 54.2% and 59.9% respectively across the Darwen area's 4 centres. The roads around Bolton offer the best chance of passing at 56.7% success rate, with good dual carriageway practice on the A58 but manageable town centre sections. Blackburn with Darwen is tougher at 47.8% due to steep hills, narrow mill town streets, and busy roundabouts around the shopping areas. 37,401 tests were taken here from 2024 to 2025, with automatic pass rates ranging from 40.5% in Chorley to 51.0% in Bolton.
Bolton (Manchester)
11,879 tests takenPreston
11,380 tests takenChorley
5,257 tests takenBlackburn with Darwen
8,885 tests takenAtherton (Manchester)
7,690 tests takenBury (Manchester)
8,136 tests taken| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton (Manchester) | 53.1% | 59.9% | 51.0% | 56.7% | 11,879 |
| Preston | 53.1% | 54.2% | 45.8% | 53.7% | 11,380 |
| Chorley | 49.2% | 47.6% | 40.5% | 48.3% | 5,257 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 45.6% | 49.7% | 47.7% | 47.8% | 8,885 |
| Atherton (Manchester) | 43.9% | 44.8% | 39.4% | 44.4% | 7,690 |
| Bury (Manchester) | 38.4% | 41.5% | 35.5% | 40.3% | 8,136 |