Driving Lessons in Cardiff

Cardiff dominates with 27 driving schools and 46 independent driving instructors, offering extensive choice with lessons priced £34-£47.67 per hour. Seventeen schools provide automatic driving lessons, eight offer female driving instructors, and fourteen run intensive courses, though only 4 independent female driving instructors are available. The Barry test centre excels with a 61.8% pass rate, significantly outperforming Cardiff Llanishen's 51.3%.

From £34/hr·Average £40/hr

Cardiff's Top Picks

Best Value

Freeway School of Motoring

Cheapest manual driving school in Cardiff.

5.0
£34/hr
Top Rated

JW Driver Training

Highest-rated manual driving school in Cardiff.

4.9(113 reviews)
Best Automatic

Drive Learn Achieve

Top-rated for automatic driving lessons in Cardiff.

5.0(180 reviews)
£45/hr
Female Instructors

Intensive Driving Courses Cardiff

Top-rated manual driving school with female instructors in Cardiff.

4.7(111 reviews)

Driving Schools in Cardiff

27 schools

Drive Learn Achieve

Drive Learn Achieve

From £45/hr·10hrs for £400Save 11%
5.0(180)

Established in 2007, Drive Learn Achieve has built a 19-year reputation with hundreds of 5-star reviews and a team of carefully vetted instructors. The owner's...

Automatic
1 Cherry Cl, Cardiff CF5 3RQ
Roadrunner Driving School

Roadrunner Driving School

From £35/hr·6hrs for £200Save 5%
5.0(61)

122 five-star reviews across Google and Yell.com from a friendly, experienced instructor who tailors lessons to your ability. £35/hour, £45 for 1.5 hours, or...

Manual
9 Merriott Place, Maindee, Newport NP19 8DA
Treads Driving School

Treads Driving School

From £35/hr·10hrs for £320Save 9%
5.0(28)

Flexible intensive driving courses from £35/hour or £320 for 10 hours, with options ranging from 10 to 40 hours depending on your experience level. Courses can...

ManualIntensive
43 Rectory Rd, Swffryd, Newport NP11 5EA
Navigator Driver Training

Navigator Driver Training

From £38/hr
5.0(23)·98% pass rate

Established in 2013, Navigator Driver Training stands out for instructor John Reynolds' exceptional credentials: ROSPA Gold Advanced Driver Trainer, Driving...

ManualIntensive
15 Neptune Ct, Cardiff CF24 5PJ
Freeway School of Motoring

Freeway School of Motoring

From £34/hr·10hrs for £320Save 6%
5.0

Established in 1988, this Cardiff institution has over 30 years of experience teaching relaxed, friendly lessons tailored to individual learners. £34 per hour...

Manual
51 St Ambrose Rd, Cardiff CF14 4BH
Driving Portal

Driving Portal

From £45/hr·10hrs for £400Save 11%
5.0

Flexible lesson lengths from 1 hour to 2 hours at £45–£80, with 10-hour blocks at £400 for both manual and automatic. Intensive courses range from 3 to 8 days...

ManualAutomaticIntensive
85 Aberporth Rd, Cardiff CF14 2PQ
Cardiff Driving School

Cardiff Driving School

From £47.67/hr·12hrs for £572
5.0

Over 30 years of experience with local instructors who know the area well. Flexible course structures starting at £47.67/hour (12-hour automatic block at £572,...

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale Instructors
16 Ruthin Gardens, Cardiff CF24 4AU
Solo School of Motoring

Solo School of Motoring

From £40/hr·10hrs for £385Save 4%
4.8

10 years' specialist experience with automatic driving lessons in an electric vehicle, offering £80 for 2-hour sessions or £385 for a 10-hour block with £20 off...

ManualAutomaticEvenings & Weekends
17 Eskdale Cl, Cardiff CF23 5LF
Whizz Driving School

Whizz Driving School

From £40/hr·10hrs for £390Save 3%
4.8

Known for supporting nervous drivers and the elderly with patient, structured instruction. £40/hour or £390 for a 10-hour block, with test car available for...

ManualAutomaticTest car availableEvenings & Weekends
93 Heol Lewis, Cardiff CF14 6QD
Cardiff School of Motoring

Cardiff School of Motoring

From £37.5/hr·Block bookings available
4.8

Former London Fire Brigade and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service driver with 16 years of emergency vehicle experience and IAM RoadSmart membership. Standard...

ManualIntensive
32 Norton Ave, Birchgrove, Cardiff CF14 4AJ
Coles Driving Academy

Coles Driving Academy

From £38/hr·10hrs for £370Save 3%
4.7(24)

£38/hour for manual lessons or £43/hour for automatic, with 10-hour block deals at £370 and £410 respectively. Pass Plus courses also available from £212 (6...

ManualAutomaticIntensiveTest car available
12 St Angela Rd, Cardiff CF14 4DN
Lady Drivers Driving School

Lady Drivers Driving School

From £45/hr·10hrs for £400Save 11%
4.4

Nearly 25 years of experience teaching nervous and confident learners alike in a calm, professional environment. £45/hour or £400 for a 10-hour block...

ManualFemale Instructors
129 Kennerleigh Rd, Rumney, Cardiff CF3 4BH
Bumps Drivin

Bumps Drivin

From £37/hr·10hrs for £350Save 5%
3.7(18)

Friendly instructors who prioritise a relaxed, encouraging learning environment—no shouting or criticism, just patient explanation and confidence-building....

ManualAutomaticEvenings & Weekends
43 Jenkins Way, St. Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0RN
Fran Woods Driving School

Fran Woods Driving School

From £38/hr·10hrs for £350Save 8%
3.0(3)

£38/hour for automatic driving lessons, £76 for 2 hours, or £350 for a 10-hour block. Eight years' experience with a patient approach to nervous and anxious...

AutomaticIntensiveFemale InstructorsEvenings & Weekends
64 Uphill Rd, Llanrumney, Cardiff CF3 4HD
1st Stop School of Motoring

1st Stop School of Motoring

From £37.5/hr·10hrs for £365Save 3%

£37.50/hour or £365 for a 10-hour block (students £36.50/hour or £360), plus 20 and 30-hour intensive courses from £750. Family-run for over 22 years with an...

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale InstructorsEvenings & Weekends
3 Bwlch Road, Cardiff CF5 3BX
Automatic Driving School Cardiff

Automatic Driving School Cardiff

12hrs for £560
5.0(25)

Operating for over 30 years, this school focuses on intensive courses structured around your schedule—no need to take time off work or use holidays. The 12-hour...

ManualAutomaticIntensiveFemale InstructorsEvenings & Weekends
49 E Tyndall St, Cardiff CF24 5DA
Pass R Uss Driving School

Pass R Uss Driving School

Block bookings available
5.0(12)

Grade 5 instructor with an exceptionally high first-time pass rate, offering one-on-one lessons tailored to your pace and schedule. Intensive courses available...

ManualIntensiveEvenings & Weekends
46 Cotswold Way, Newport NP19 9DL
Skids School of Motoring

Skids School of Motoring

5.0(1)

Grade A instructor with a full electric Golf fitted with dual controls and optional driving aids for learners who need extra support. Established in 2005, this...

Automatic
35 Pinewood Cl, Newport NP20 6WR
JW Driver Training

JW Driver Training

4.9(113)

A multi-service training provider with experienced instructors delivering learner driving lessons alongside HGV, PCV, and specialist courses. Customer reviews...

ManualAutomatic
West Way Park, W Way Rd, Alexandra Docks, Newport NP20 2PQ
1st for Learning

1st for Learning

20hrs for £999
4.9

Over 25 years' experience with modern teaching techniques and early participation in the 2017 driving test trials. £52 for 1.5-hour lessons, or save with block...

Manual
Allan Durst Cl, Cardiff CF5 2RP

Block Booking Deals in Cardiff

19 schools offer block deals - book in bulk and save.

Best deal - save 9%

Treads Driving School

10hrs for £320

£32.00/hr

Save 8%

Fran Woods Driving School

10hrs for £350

£35.00/hr

Save 6%

Freeway School of Motoring

10hrs for £320

£32.00/hr

Save 5%

Roadrunner Driving School

6hrs for £200

£33.33/hr

Save 5%

Bumps Drivin

10hrs for £350

£35.00/hr

Save 3%

1st Stop School of Motoring

10hrs for £365

£36.50/hr

Intensive Courses in Cardiff

Pass in 1–2 weeks

From£35/hr
14 schools4.7best rated

Cardiff Test Centres and Pass Rates

Based on the latest DVSA data, 2024–25 | 4 nearby test centres

Barry achieved an impressive 61.8% pass rate, leading the five centres that handled 36,008 tests between 2024 and 2025. Cardiff Llanishen, Llantrisant, and both Newport centres clustered around 51-52%. Barry's Vale of Glamorgan location offers quieter roads away from Cardiff's city centre pressure, while the Newport centres deal with busy dock area traffic and complex roundabout systems. Women slightly outperformed men at most centres, with automatic pass rates ranging from 41.4% to 60.7%, Barry again leading the way.

62%

Barry

1,621 tests taken
Women62.5%
Men61.1%
Automatic60.7%
51%

Cardiff (Llanishen)

14,852 tests taken
Women50.0%
Men52.2%
Automatic44.5%
51%

Newport (Gwent)

7,106 tests taken
Women51.6%
Men50.5%
Automatic45.2%
51%

Llantrisant

8,554 tests taken
Women52.5%
Men49.2%
Automatic41.4%

Nearby areas