Driving Lessons in Gateshead
Gateshead has 4 driving schools with a 4.7-star average rating, though no independent driving instructors currently listed. Lessons start from £35 per hour. Nearby test centres show significant variation in pass rates, from 37.5% at Gateshead to 48.4% at Gosforth and 51.1% at Sunderland.
- £35
- prices from
- 4
- driving schools
- 3
- test centres
Top driving schools in Gateshead by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Driving lessons in Gateshead
4 driving schools and 0 independent instructors.
Showing 1–4 of 4 driving schools.
Stuart Westthorp Driving School
Eight years as an approved instructor with over 30 years of driving experience, delivering patient, calm and professional lessons at £35 per hour. Pupil-led approach that moves at your pace, with an included progress-tracking app and Pass Plus courses also available from £39 per hour.
Shift Driving School
Gateshead Test Centres and Pass Rates
The Gateshead area covers three centres that handled 30,479 tests between 2025 and 2026, with a combined pass rate of 45.7%. The roads around Gateshead itself include steep hills, tight Victorian terraces with limited visibility, and the A167 where lanes merge suddenly near the metro bridge. Gateshead has the lowest pass rate at 37.5%, with just 32.7% for automatic drivers, though the wait is only 7 weeks. Sunderland scored the highest at 51.1% with women and men both at that mark, and a 9 week wait. Gosforth sits in the middle at 48.4%, with women at 46.7% and men at 49.8%, but you'll wait 16 weeks there.
Sunderland
10,436 tests taken · 9 week waitGosforth
10,531 tests taken · 16 week waitGateshead
9,512 tests taken · 7 week wait| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 51.1% | 51.2% | 42.7% | 51.1% | 10,436 | 9 weeks |
| Gosforth | 46.7% | 49.8% | 44.3% | 48.4% | 10,531 | 16 weeks |
| Gateshead | 37.9% | 37.2% | 32.7% | 37.5% | 9,512 | 7 weeks |