Driving Lessons in South Shields
South Shields offers affordable learning with one school pricing at just £31 per hour, and all 4 schools maintain perfect 5-star ratings. The area also provides 40 independent driving instructors, including 6 female driving instructors for those preferring this option. Test centre performance varies locally, with Blyth achieving 47.2% and Sunderland 47.1%, while Gateshead lags at 37.4%.
- £31
- prices from
- 4
- driving schools
- 40
- independent instructors
- 4
- test centres
Top driving schools in South Shields by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Harton Driving School
Cheapest manual driving school in South Shields.
Road King School of Motoring
Highest-rated manual driving school in South Shields.
ProPasser Driving School
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in South Shields.
Driving schools and instructors in South Shields
Harton Driving School
Independent instructor built on word-of-mouth recommendations from passed pupils. £31 per hour for individual lessons, or £300 for a 10-hour block and £600 for 20 hours with savings of £10–£20. Free access to Theory Test Pro included with lessons.
ProPasser Driving School
Two-hour lessons as standard mean more time to practise and prepare for your test compared to shorter sessions. Patient instructors are available until 9:30 PM on weekdays, with Pass Plus courses also available after you pass. Learn in a manual car to earn a licence valid for both manual and automatic vehicles.
Haswell Driving School
Established in 1987 with over 30 years of instructing experience and an excellent pass rate, backed by 5-star Facebook reviews and 90% of business from customer recommendation. Peter Haswell tailors each course to individual learning needs, building confidence at a pace that suits you. Semi-intensive and intensive courses available, with theory tuition and free Hazard Perception CD-ROM included; Pass Plus motorway courses also on offer.
Block booking
Best block deals in South Shields
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £10.
Intensive courses in South Shields
Want to pass fast?
1 South Shields schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
South Shields Test Centres and Pass Rates
Men achieved pass rates of 47.8%, 37.2%, and 45.3% across the three centres, while women managed 46.4%, 37.6%, and 49.7% respectively in the South Shields area. Gateshead proved particularly challenging at just 37.4%, with the Tyne Bridge approaches, steep gradients around the MetroCentre, and busy A1 slip roads creating difficult conditions. The region's 23,686 tests from 2024 to 2025 showed automatic pass rates ranging from 31% at Gateshead to 37.6% at Sunderland. Blythe's 47.2% rate reflects its quieter mining town roads, while Sunderland's industrial seafront and university traffic add complexity around the 47.1% centre.
Gosforth
10,234 tests takenBlyth
6,493 tests takenSunderland
9,084 tests takenGateshead
8,109 tests taken| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gosforth | 47.3% | 47.6% | 45.7% | 47.5% | 10,234 |
| Blyth | 49.7% | 45.3% | 35.9% | 47.2% | 6,493 |
| Sunderland | 46.4% | 47.8% | 37.6% | 47.1% | 9,084 |
| Gateshead | 37.6% | 37.2% | 31.0% | 37.4% | 8,109 |