Our Bearsted instructors offer a range of services including manual and automatic lessons, intensive courses, and flexible scheduling to fit around your commitments. Compare prices, read genuine student reviews, and find an instructor who matches your needs and budget.
Best Driving Instructors in Bearsted
Compare verified, top-rated instructors with genuine reviews from real students
Martin Bradford
Martin Bradford is an A graded Approved Driving Instructor with a strong record of helping learners pass first time. He is based on St Marys Island i…
Andrew Pidduck
Andrew Pidduck, known to everyone as 'Lester', is a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) with a strong background in safety and teaching…
Andy Stigle
Andy Stigle is a fully qualified DVSA driving instructor based in Maidstone. He offers affordable driving lessons for all ages and abilities, and kee…
Wojciech
Wojciech is a calm, friendly driving instructor at Marshal Driving School who really knows his stuff. He is patient and explains things clearly, whic…
Neil
Neil is a driving instructor at Medway Driving School and is known for being calm, patient and genuinely supportive. He knows everyone learns differe…
Sean
Sean is the founder of Turn to Learn and has been teaching people to drive since 2008. He's calm, patient and easy to get on with. He passed his own …
Babu
Babu is a DVSA registered driving instructor with Axlr8 School of Motoring, which has been running since 2001. He has loads of experience and really …
Michaela
Michaela has over 20 years' experience as a driving instructor, so you're in very safe hands. She first trained with BSM in Maidstone and has taught …
Paul
Paul is a Grade A driving instructor, equivalent to the old Grade 6, so you know you're learning with someone at the highest level. He's been giving …
Glenn
Glenn is a friendly, experienced driving instructor with over 10 years as a fully qualified DSA Approved Driving Instructor. He is known for being pa…
Learning to Drive in Bearsted
Bearsted is a village on the edge of Maidstone with a local feel and easy access to the town for lessons and tests. Learners often practise on quiet residential streets and busier roads near the town centre. You can expect short drives to the test centre, which keeps lessons focused on local junctions and roundabouts. Local instructors usually know the Maidstone test routes well.
Nearest Test Centre: Maidstone
The nearest DVSA test centre is Maidstone, about 2.1 miles from Bearsted. Expect standard practical tests and a mix of urban and suburban roads around the town, with around 5,803 tests recorded there last year. The Maidstone pass rate is 46.6%, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. Male and female pass rates are 48.7% and 44.5% respectively, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025.
Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)
Pass Rate Analysis
Maidstone's pass rate of 46.6% sits just under the national average of 47.3%, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. Local male candidates perform slightly better than female candidates at that centre, with 48.7% versus 44.5%, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. Nearby Gillingham shows a 45% pass rate while Ashford (Kent) is at 48.1%, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. These figures suggest pass rates in this corner of the South East are similar to national levels with small local variation, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025.
Local Driving Tips
Start lessons on quiet residential streets to build clutch and steering control before moving to busier roads around Maidstone. Practice hill starts, junctions and roundabout entries you find on short runs into town, and get used to changing traffic speeds. Work with your instructor on observation at junctions and position on approach, because test routes include mixed traffic. Book at least one lesson that ends at the Maidstone test centre so you know the route and parking.
Choosing an Instructor in Bearsted
There are eight instructors listed for Bearsted, so check availability and vehicle type before you book. Prices average around £28 per hour locally, and some instructors offer block-booking discounts or intensive courses. Ask about pass rates and recent test routes used for training rather than grand claims. Choose someone whose teaching style suits you and who can show local test experience.
Lesson Costs in Bearsted
Average lessons in Bearsted cost about 28 per hour. Lesson length, instructor experience and whether you take block bookings or intensive courses will affect the total cost.
Getting Started
Apply for your provisional licence and start theory revision while you take lessons. Once you and your instructor agree you are ready, book a practical test at Maidstone, which is about 2.1 miles away. Pass your theory and practical to gain a full licence, and practise on the local roads you will meet in the test centre area. Instructors in Bearsted can guide you through each step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: February 2026