Find a Grade-A driving instructor in London near you!
Trusted driving school in London
As a large, established driving school in London, we pride ourselves on the many positive reviews we receive every year.
Our instructors are rated a minimum of 4.5/5 online, and over the years, we have gained an excellent reputation which continues to grow.
At our driving school, we work on forming good relationships with our instructors and pupils. If an instructor receives too many complaints, we ask them to leave the company. Also, if an instructor doesn’t receive enough pupils, they can choose to leave as well.
- Free access to our online app where your instructor will record your lesson progress, you can watch videos of your last lesson or upcoming lesson plan and more.
- A local driving instructor who knows your area and the test routes well and they have passed a recent driveJohnson’s audit inspection.
- All of our instructors have a minimum feedback score of 4.5 out of 5. You can rate your instructor’s performance after each lesson via the App.
- Our bookings office is open 7 days a week; they can assist with any additional queries and even find you driving tests quickly if you are in a rush to pass fast!
Manual & automatic driving lessons London
Learning to drive an automatic car has never been so popular, especially since the government announced all new vehicles should be built as hybrid or electric from 2030 onwards. With so much slow-moving traffic and stop/start traffic, more learners are seeking automatic driving lessons in London.
Although automatic driving lessons are on the up, approximately 80% of the driving tests across the UK are still taken in a manual car. Having a manual licence is always useful if you want to drive an older vehicle or a classic car in the future. It’s always handy when trying to hire a car in Europe too.
Regardless of your preference, we’ve got you covered, as we have male and female instructors that cover manual and automatic driving lessons in London!
How much are driving lessons in London?
We are the go to company if you want to pass first time…
Dele Alli
Professional footballer
Joe Swash
TV presenter & actor
Stephen Graham
Film & TV Actor
Tom Grennan
Singer/Songwriter
Ricky Norwood
Actor & TV personality
Daniel Dubois
Professional boxerAfter failing with another company I needed to pass quickly, I was recommended to use driveJohnson’s. I took around 8 hours and then passed with just 1 minor fault. So it was a massive turn around in a short period of time.
Dele Alli – Former Tottenham Hotspur & England International Footballer
Intensive driving courses in London
We offer weekly, semi-intensive and intensive driving courses in London. Living in the hustle and bustle of London, we understand that many learners want to pass fast. At driveJohnson’s, we do our intensive courses differently from our competitors.
Firstly, we will book you in for a 2-hour assessment lesson and then choose a course type to suit you. No matter your level, our approved driving instructor in London will tell you how many hours you need, how much it will cost and when to book the test. They can also break down what you will need to learn during your driving lessons in London.
We recommend booking either an assessment or our 10-hour block booking deal. After seeing you, we will tailor a crash-driving course in London that works for you!
How much are driving lessons in London?
The average driving lesson cost in London is between £34-36 an hour.
In some areas where demand is high for lessons, you may find instructors charge around £40 an hour. At driveJohnson’s, we try to pitch our lesson pricing so it’s fair and similar to the average price charged in each area.
We operate with very low overheads, meaning you get a quality driving instructor for an average price. You may find other driving schools in London charging much higher as their overheads are much higher. Therefore, they are passing these costs on to you.
We will never suddenly increase your lesson price because demand is high, so you can rest assured that whatever the standard rate is for your area will be your ongoing charge for each lesson.
Testimonials that do the talking
Rated 5 out of 5
Based on 701 customer reviews
Appreciate his calm demeanor and manner, really helped me improve my skills and pass!
I did 18 hours including my test and smashed my practical in Wimbledon. I got a quick test and passed Monday.
Tom was a great instructor. He was very patient at the start and gave me excellent advice and teaching so I was able to pass my test first time. Would highly recommend.
I can't thank Abdul enough for his exceptional instruction. He was patient, understanding, and always maintained a positive attitude. Learning to drive with him was a wonderful experience.
Loved every lessons and passed after 14 hours, couldn't have asked for a better instructor, thanks Drivejohnson for pairing me with Domenico.
very good instructor every lesson i improve even more and really focuses on your weaknesses to make sure you improve and learn from your mistakes. I have only done 3 lessons and i have already covered so much by applying theory based knowledge through safe driving on the road
I am so happy to have passed my test today and thanks to Hassan I can now go on roadtrips and see what other parts of the country are like.
Fantastic instructor, calm and relaxed but never complacent. Lots of great conversation and non-stressful drives. Also did my pass plus with Ahmad!
If you need to pass make sure you learn with Domenico as he is incredibly efficient and a great communicator.
A brilliant instructor! lessons where consistent, fun and i always felt like i was being encouraged.
Frequently asked questions in London
Can I try manual lessons, and if I don’t like it, then go to automatic?
If you are new to driving, then we always suggest trying manual first.
In the event you are struggling with manual lessons, then, of course, you can change to an automatic driving instructor in London. If you have pre-paid for your lessons we will organise any remaining balance to go towards your automatic lessons.
If I find a company that can do cheaper lessons, will you beat it?
Unfortunately, we don’t price match or try to beat our competitors.
Here’s a brief explanation of why; driveJohnson’s is very unique compared to other national driving schools. We do not tie our instructors into long franchise agreements, and our franchise is much cheaper than AA, BSM, RED and Bill Plant, to name a few. Our instructor overheads are much lower, which means we can offer lessons at a lower rate to you, the customer. On top of that, you get a quality instructor who is happy working with driveJohnson’s as they are free to leave us if they aren’t happy.
Is my money protected if I pay driveJohnson's Driving School London directly?
Whenever you pay driveJohnson’s directly, we can promise your money is protected. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scams happening in London via Whatsapp, Telegram and more.
We advise anyone to avoid paying for a block of lessons to an independent instructor upfront before you have met them. If an instructor demands a large sum of cash or a bank transfer before commencing your lessons then think twice. Is your money protected if something goes wrong? Your money is safe with driveJohnson’s.
If you choose driveJohnson’s and something does go wrong, such as your instructor is suddenly unwell or passes away, then you don’t need to worry if you have paid us directly. We will ensure any remaining balance owed to you is paid back ASAP from our holdings account: this usually happens within 24-48 hours.
Can I have my driving lessons in East London?
Our driving school in London cover most areas in and around London. Whether you’re looking for driving lessons in East London, Central London, South or West, we can help you! Check out our most popular places to learn to drive in London at the top of our page, or enter your postcode into our area finder to see how we can help you! Just some of the areas we cover in East London are Ilford, Barking, Redbridge and Hackney!
Which driving test centre should I choose for London?
Choosing the right test centre can directly affect how you perform on the day and whether you pass or not. Where you choose to take your driving test in London will depend on where you live, and the nearest test centres to you. We always recommend choosing a test centre closest to the area you’ve been taking most of your lessons in so that you’re familiar with the roads around the test centre. Some of the most popular test centres include Barnet, Goodmayes and Mill Hill.
Do you have female driving instructors in London?
Yes, we have both male and female driving instructors in London available for you to learn to drive with. If you have a preference for your instructor just let us know when booking your lesson and we can pick the right instructor to suit your needs!
What happens on my first driving lesson in London?
On your first driving lesson in London, your driving instructor will begin with a quick chat about your driving experience. If you are using the marvellous driveJohnson’s learner app you can fill in the questionnaire in advance to save some time. During the chat, your driving instructor will discover what you know and what you don’t know. They will also check your driving licence and eyesight.
Once this is done, your instructor will then begin your driving lesson in a quiet area if you are a beginner.
If you have more experience, then they will find an area nearby to get you familiar with the car and then start working on some of the weaknesses that you may have mentioned.
Your instructor will provide a client-centred lesson, meaning they will adapt the lesson to your liking. If they see you are finding something easy, the lesson will be adjusted so that it becomes more challenging. Likewise, if they see you are struggling, then they can adjust the route so you can be challenged whilst building your confidence.
I had a bad experience with another driving school and it made me hate driving lessons! Are your instructors nice?
Our instructors are all friendly and patient and will do everything they can to help you become a safe and confident driver. Having a bad experience with a driving instructor could understandably cause you to hate driving lessons, however, we promise to try our best to make you love driving and look forward to lessons!
What happens if I get stuck in traffic on my test?
This is an excellent question; as you can imagine, learner drivers in London often ask this question. The DVSA examiners have designed the test routes so they avoid congested areas. Specific test routes, especially around rush hour times, have been tailored to prevent you from getting stuck in long traffic. It’s unlikely you will get stuck in traffic on your driving test. However, it’s always possible if there has been an accident, for example. Your test will continue until you reach the test centre. Don’t worry. This won’t affect the result of your driving test.
Do you have instructors who can speak my language?
Yes we do, especially in London. London is an extremely diverse city, so we have instructors from many parts of the world, speaking two, three or even four different languages. If you have specific language requirement, please let us know at the time of your booking and we can advise if we have an instructor to suit your needs. You can see all of our foreign language driving instructors on our website.
I need a car hire only for my driving test in London - can you help?
Unfortunately, we don’t offer on-the-day car hire for just the driving test. If you have a driving test booked for more than seven days, we can most likely help you, but we would need to assess your driving ability before an instructor commits to taking you for your driving test. If you are interested in this service, please ask for the assessment lesson and let us know the location, date and time of your driving test when booking.
Do you offer mock driving tests in London?
If you are learning to drive with driveJohnson’s, your instructor will conduct mock tests with you as you get closer to your test date. It’s not uncommon to fail the first few mock tests, so many instructors will start doing mock tests with you in plenty of time to help you understand what standard is required for the test.
If you are a non-driveJohnson’s pupil and just looking for a mock test, we won’t be able to help you. However, we do encourage you to ask the instructor you are currently learning with to see if they can accommodate your needs. It’s quite challenging for a learner to get used to a different instructor and their car immediately. It won’t be a very accurate assessment of your driving level by doing a one-off mock test with you.
Is it worth doing 2-hour driving lessons in London?
Most of our instructors recommend two-hour lessons as you can get so much more covered, especially if you don’t live in the test route areas. As you learn the basics, your instructor will start showing you the areas around the test centre and the routes. If you don’t live near the test centre, then a two-hour lesson is often recommended.
On another note, everyone is different. If your concentration levels aren’t significant or you get tired easily, then doing 1 hour or 1.5 hours may benefit you. We recommend speaking to your instructor to find out what they think you would benefit from.
Are you a booking agency or a proper driving school in London? I paid a booking agency to find me an instructor and I lost my money.
We are sorry to hear you lost your money with a booking agent. Unfortunately, there are many of these types of companies offering to find you an instructor. They take your money upfront but then they can’t find you a driving instructor in London. They often waste your time and then it’s a hassle getting your money back. In many instances, we hear most pupils lose their money.
At driveJohnson’s London, we have over 150 instructors serving all areas of London. You can rest assured when you book with us we won’t be messaging random instructors your details hoping to allocate you a lesson.
All of our instructors work with us every day, using our roof sign and working to our fair terms and conditions.
