Driving Lessons in Barry
Barry's 7 driving schools offer exceptional value at £31-£46 per hour with perfect 5-star ratings across the board. Independent learners can choose from 40 independent driving instructors, including 10 female driving instructors, while 2 schools also offer female driving instructors. The local Barry test centre excels with a 61.8% pass rate, though Cardiff Llanishen provides another solid option at 51.3%.
- £39
- average price
- 7
- driving schools
- 40
- independent instructors
- 3
- test centres
Top driving schools in Barry by what matters most
The standout school for each of the most-asked questions.
Mad River Training
Cheapest manual driving school in Barry.
I Will Drive
Highest-rated manual driving school in Barry.
I Will Drive
Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Barry.
Lloyds Driving School
Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Barry.
Driving schools and instructors in Barry
I Will Drive
£46/hour for automatic lessons with flexible block deals from 10 to 25 hours (£450–£1,125), plus intensive courses tailored to your experience level. Trading since 2008 with multiple instructors across the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Cardiff, they claim among the best pass rates in the UK and offer the rare option to learn from age 14, plus motorway lessons.
Lloyds Driving School
Family-run school with three instructors combining over 30 years of experience. Each lesson is tailored to your pace, whether you're a complete beginner, nervous driver needing confidence-building, or seeking refresher tuition. £45 per hour for manual or automatic lessons.
Chris B Drivingschool
Intensive courses are the focus here, designed to get you test-ready and confident in the shortest timeframe possible. Standard lessons are £40/hour or £380 for a 10-hour block, with motorway and refresher lessons at £44/hour. Pass Plus courses also available at £280.
Mad River Training
An A-grade instructor delivering student-centred, active learning rather than traditional instructor-led methods, helping you develop real-world driving skills beyond test requirements. From £30.50/hour (student rate) or £300 for a 10-hour block, with intensive courses available at £30/hour and a £20 introductory session. Special offers run frequently, and bespoke packages are negotiable for those wanting all-inclusive pricing.
Magnet Driving School
Experienced instructor specialising in nervous learners and students with dyslexia and dyspraxia, offering one-to-one lessons in a relaxed, structured environment. £37/hour or £350 for a 10-hour block, with an introductory 1.5-hour lesson at £30 for new drivers. Pass Plus motorway courses also available at £40/hour.
RoadRunner School of Motoring
Instructor Craig Mordecai has built a reputation for high-quality tuition and excellent pass rates since qualifying in 1996. Beginners pay £35/hour (or £70 for 2 hours), while experienced drivers start with an assessment lesson at £35/hour followed by single hours at the same rate or 10-hour blocks at £350. Motorway lessons, Pass Plus courses, and refresher tuition are also available.
Block booking
Best block deals in Barry
Pay for a block of lessons upfront and the hourly rate drops. The best block here saves you £20.
Intensive courses in Barry
Want to pass fast?
3 Barry schools run intensive courses, compressing months of training into days or weeks.
Barry Test Centres and Pass Rates
Women slightly outperform men at these three centres, achieving 50% to 62.5% compared to men's 49.2% to 61.1% across the 25,027 tests taken between 2024 and 2025. Barry centre itself excels with 61.8%, benefiting from the seaside town's quieter streets and straightforward layout, while busier Cardiff Llanishen manages 51.3% despite more challenging urban conditions. The Vale of Glamorgan's mix includes coastal roads, residential estates and approaches to Cardiff that test various skills. Automatic learners perform exceptionally well at Barry with 60.7%, though this drops to around 41-44% at the busier Cardiff and Llantrisant locations.
Barry
1,621 tests takenCardiff (Llanishen)
14,852 tests takenLlantrisant
8,554 tests taken| Test Centre | Female | Male | Automatic | Overall | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry | 62.5% | 61.1% | 60.7% | 61.8% | 1,621 |
| Cardiff (Llanishen) | 50.0% | 52.2% | 44.5% | 51.3% | 14,852 |
| Llantrisant | 52.5% | 49.2% | 41.4% | 50.6% | 8,554 |