Our platform makes it easy to compare driving instructors in Cardiff and the surrounding areas. Browse profiles, check availability, read genuine reviews from past students, and send enquiries directly to instructors.
All instructors listed are fully qualified ADIs (Approved Driving Instructors) registered with the DVSA. Start your search today and take the first step towards getting on the road.
Best Driving Instructors in Cardiff
Compare verified, top-rated instructors with genuine reviews from real students
Mike
Mike is a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor and the driving force behind Chequered Flag Driving School. He has built a strong reputation for relaxed, …
Dean
Dean runs Drive Learn Achieve and has been teaching people to drive for over 19 years. He's an automatic specialist based in Cardiff and has built a …
John
John teaches with MSM Driving School and is known for being calm, patient and really easy to get on with. He specialises in intensive driving courses…
Alan
Alan is a friendly, experienced driving instructor based in Danescourt, Cardiff, with over 20 years of patient, professional tuition. He runs a famil…
Naeem
Naeem teaches with 1st Steer Driving School and has a great knack for helping people learn quickly and save money. He offers both manual and automati…
Craig Mordecai
Craig Mordecai is a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor. He qualified in 1996 and set up RoadRunner School of Motoring in 1999. Based in Barr…
Glenn
Glenn has been teaching people to drive for 14 years and really knows how to put learners at ease. He keeps lessons relaxed and friendly, and works a…
Rebecca Jones
Rebecca Jones runs Bloomin´ Learners, an independent driving school based in Cardiff. She is a fully qualified and approved driving instructor with m…
Steve
Steve has been teaching people to drive in Cardiff for over 35 years and has a great reputation for being patient, calm and friendly. His school has …
Krista
Krista is a friendly, patient female driving instructor who keeps lessons relaxed and supportive. She is DSA registered and DBS cleared, and she want…
Learning to Drive in Cardiff
Learning to drive in Cardiff mixes city traffic with quick stretches out to the M4. You get dense one-way systems around the city centre and broad multi-lane roads such as the A48 and A470. Cardiff Bay brings its own low-speed, busy junctions and tourist traffic. Lessons here give a good mix of urban and dual carriageway experience.
Nearest Test Centre: Cardiff (Llanishen)
The nearest DVSA test centre is Cardiff, about 3.3 miles from central locations. Expect busy bookings and routes that use Newport Road, parts of the city centre one-way system and access to the M4 slip roads. That centre runs around 10,370 tests a year, so plan bookings well in advance, Data source: DVSA 2024-2025. The local pass rate at Cardiff test centre is 53%, Data source: DVSA 2024-2025.
Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)
Pass Rate Analysis
Cardiff test centre has a pass rate of 53%, above the national average of 47.3%, Data source: DVSA 2024-2025. Male candidates at Cardiff pass at about 57.9% while female candidates pass at about 48.7%, Data source: DVSA 2024-2025. Llanishen, also nearby, shows a lower pass rate around 46% and Barry sits at 53%, Data source: DVSA 2024-2025. The higher local pass rate suggests test routes and preparation here suit many learners, but results vary by route and examiner.
Local Driving Tips
Practice the A48 approaches and the A4232 slip roads where lane discipline matters and speeds pick up. Newport Road and Queen Street have bus lanes and tight parking, so get used to checking signs and mirrors early. Work on roundabout technique at busy junctions such as Coryton and Pentwyn, where lane choice changes quickly. Take a few lessons around Cardiff Bay to handle tourist traffic and cyclists near the barrage. Try mock test runs that finish at the Cardiff test centre so you are familiar with the final approach and local parking rules.
Choosing an Instructor in Cardiff
There are nine local instructors listed, so compare experience on Cardiff routes and recent pupil reviews. Look for instructors who know the city centre one-way system and M4 slip roads, and who offer mock test drives from the Cardiff test centre. Expect hourly rates around £38, but check what is included and whether block discounts apply. Availability can change quickly, so book a trial lesson to see how they handle local junctions.
Lesson Costs in Cardiff
Average lessons in Cardiff are about £38 per hour. Total cost depends on how many hours you need, whether you take block bookings, and if you add intensive courses or motorway practice.
Getting Started
Apply for your provisional licence online or by post before booking anything else. Book and pass your theory test, then start practical lessons with a local instructor who knows Cardiff routes. Build up experience on the A48, Newport Road and around Cardiff Bay, take mock tests, then book your practical test at the Cardiff DVSA centre when you and your instructor agree you are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: February 2026