Driving Lessons in Nottingham
Nottingham has 49 driving schools and 40 independent driving instructors to choose from, with prices ranging from £37 to £45 per hour across schools that display their rates. The area's schools maintain an excellent 4.9-star average rating, and 22 offer automatic driving lessons for learners who prefer that route. Female driving instructors are available at 13 schools, and there are 6 independent female driving instructors in the area. Pass rates at nearby test centres vary notably, from 43.9% at Chilwell to 51.2% at Ashfield based on the latest DVSA data (2024-25), so it's worth considering which centre your driving school uses.
- £40
- average price
- 49
- driving schools
- 40
- independent instructors
- 5
- test centres
Top driving schools in Nottingham by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Gears Driving School
Cheapest manual driving school in Nottingham.
Elevate Driving School
Highest-rated manual driving school in Nottingham.
Elevate Driving School
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Nottingham.
Elevate Driving School
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Nottingham.
Driving schools and instructors in Nottingham
Elevate Driving School
Elevate's instructors are trained personally by the school's CEO, creating a distinctive approach to learner development. Standard lessons start at £42/hour with significant savings on block bookings (66% of pupils opt for these deals), plus intensive courses from £1,948 including up to 43 hours and two test attempts. Theory test training is free, and test day car hire costs £90 with collection and return included.
Russ Chaplin Driving Lessons Nottingham
Advanced Driving Instructor with 23 years' experience and a money-back guarantee on all lessons. One-to-one tuition at £57 for 90-minute lessons (recommended), or £330 for a 10-hour introductory block for new drivers; Pass Plus courses also available. Pickup and dropoff anywhere in the area, with structured tuition tailored to your learning pace.
Gears Driving School
Competitive pricing from £37/hour with substantial block discounts: 10 hours for £350 (manual) or £380 (automatic), and intensive courses starting at £458 for 12 hours. NHS and student discounts available, plus a free hour for complete beginners who book a minimum 5-hour block. Door-to-door pickup and drop-off, one-to-one tuition, and lessons available 7 days a week from 8am to 9pm.
Checkmate Driver Training
Established in 2005 with a strong track record of first-time passes across the East Midlands. Single lessons from £40/hour, 10-hour blocks at £380, or intensive courses up to 40 hours for £1,500; weekend lessons available at £45/hour with no block discount. Modern dual control cars, patient instructors, and flexible scheduling designed to get you test-ready without excessive lessons.
Driving For Life
Competitive pricing with flexible lesson lengths: £40/hour, £60 for 90 minutes, or £80 for 2-hour sessions. Instructors focus on building confidence alongside test preparation, with an emphasis on personalized instruction tailored to individual learning styles. Hundreds of first-attempt passes reported.
Highcroft Driving School
£40/hour or £360 for a 10-hour block, with an introductory first lesson at £50 for 2 hours. Run by Brian Marshall-Lee, a former SCUBA diving instructor with over 12 years' driving experience, who brings a calm, patient teaching style focused on building confidence. Motorway lessons and Pass Plus courses also available.
Able 2 Drive School of Motoring
Two instructors with combined 50+ years' experience, including Jon Ford who's a beloved figure in the local community. New drivers get £150 for the first four hours, with standard lessons at £40/hour or £380 for a 10-hour block. They use older, simple-control cars to match what new drivers will actually drive, plus motorway lessons available at £43/hour for newly qualified drivers.
DLN Driving School
13+ years of teaching experience with an excellent pass rate. Lessons at £40/hour or £370 for a 10-hour block, with test day car usage available for £90. Patient and calm instruction tailored to individual learning styles.
A Level Driving School
Family-run for over 25 years with a Grade A instructor (Lee) and Grade B instructor (Britt), both known for building confident drivers. 90% pass rate, £45/hour or £430 for a 10-hour block, plus first 3 lessons at £100 for beginners. Lessons taught in a brand new BMW 1 Series with reverse cameras and parking sensors.
Elmer Driving
Patient instructor known for calming nervous learners and building confidence from day one, with multiple reviews praising his relaxed teaching style and ability to help anxious drivers. £45/hour or £420 for 10 hours, with test car available for your practical exam.
MSA Driving School Nottingham
2,000 learners have passed their test with MSA, backed by a 98% first-time pass rate. Lessons start at £37.50 per hour (2-hour manual lesson at £75), with block deals from £187.50 for 5 hours up to £1,280 for 40 hours, plus a £150 deposit option available across all courses including intensive, refresher, and Pass Plus.
PASS Automatically
A specialist in automatic driving lessons with instructor James, consistently praised for his patience and calm approach with nervous learners. Lessons start from £45 per hour with bulk discounts available, using a well-maintained Renault Clio. Intensive courses and Pass Plus training also on offer.
DriveBase School of Motoring
A well-established driving school with a team of friendly, patient instructors using modern teaching techniques and personalised approaches. Intensive driving courses and Pass Plus courses are available alongside manual lessons, with a focus on helping learners become safe and confident drivers.
City Driving Academy
Founded in 2005, City Driving Academy is run by a single female instructor with an excellent first-time pass rate and RoSPA Advanced Driver accreditation. Lessons are strictly 1:1 with no car-sharing in a new Toyota Yaris Hybrid; 90-minute sessions cost £63, 2-hour lessons £84, or £400 for a 10-hour block. Free local pick-up, mock tests, and Theory and Hazard Perception support included.
Drive 17
High first-time pass rate with friendly, in-depth lessons covering nervous pupils and all ages. Free theory tuition and motorway lessons included, plus competitive pricing with regular offers available.
NC Driving Tuition
£40 per 2-hour lesson (£80 manual, £85 automatic) with 10-hour block deals at £390–£415, plus larger discounts available. Run by Neil, a former primary school teacher with 13 years' experience in education who switched to driving instruction and now operates as a sole trader. Research-backed 2-hour lessons maximise learning progression, with flexible app-based booking and relaxed, personalised tuition tailored to your pace.
Phoenix Driving School
Run by Debbie Beet with 23 years of professional instruction experience, this school is known for building confidence in nervous learners and achieving first-time passes. Reviews highlight her patient, skilled approach to real-world driving preparation, including motorway and night driving tuition after passing. Flexible weekday lessons (Mon-Fri, 8:30-18:00) cover the Chilwell and Ashfield test centres with excellent local knowledge.
Nirvana Driving School
Experienced instructors focused on creating safe drivers for life, not just test passes. Lessons available throughout the day, evenings, and weekends for both manual and automatic learners in Nottingham.
drivinglesson.com
Network of instructors across the Midlands offering flexible learning options from weekly lessons to intensive courses. New beginners get two hours for £60, with 10-hour block deals from £370, plus motorway and refresher lessons available. Student reviews highlight patient instructors skilled at building confidence, particularly with nervous or anxious learners.
Drive Lesson UK
15 years' experience with a DSA-registered fleet driver trainer and strong student pass rates. £60 for a first two-hour lesson (25% off), with minimum 2-hour bookings and pay-in-full discounts available. Calm, detail-focused instruction that explains faults clearly, as one student noted passing with only 3 minors after struggling with previous instructors.
Block booking
Best block deals in Nottingham
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £50.
How much do driving lessons cost in Nottingham?
Most learners pay £40–£45 an hour. Under £40 is a good deal, over £50 is at the higher end.
Based on prices from 32 driving schools in Nottingham.
Intensive courses in Nottingham
Want to pass fast?
22 Nottingham schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Nottingham Test Centres and Pass Rates
Ashfield achieved the strongest performance at 51.2% from Nottingham's four centres, while Chilwell struggled most at 43.9% from the area's 32,553 tests between 2024 and 2025. Nottingham's challenging city centre features the complex Old Market Square area, steep Castle Rock approaches, and busy student areas that can intimidate learners. The gender split remains fairly even across all centres, with women achieving 43-50% and men 44-53%. Automatic pass rates stayed consistently low, ranging from 39% at Chilwell to 43% at Ashfield, suggesting the city's urban complexity affects all transmission types equally.
Derby (Alvaston)
9,260 tests takenAshfield
9,507 tests takenWatnall
636 tests takenNottingham (Colwick)
11,849 tests takenNottingham (Chilwell)
10,561 tests taken| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby (Alvaston) | 49.6% | 52.7% | 46.5% | 51.3% | 9,260 |
| Ashfield | 49.3% | 52.9% | 43.2% | 51.2% | 9,507 |
| Watnall | 49.8% | 49.3% | 40.3% | 49.5% | 636 |
| Nottingham (Colwick) | 45.8% | 45.3% | 41.6% | 45.5% | 11,849 |
| Nottingham (Chilwell) | 42.9% | 44.7% | 38.7% | 43.9% | 10,561 |