Find a Driving Instructor in Chatham

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Instructors
12
Avg Price
£37/hr
Nearest Test Centre
Gillingham (2.8 mi)
Test Centre Pass Rate
45.0%
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There are 12 driving instructors in Chatham. Prices range from £34.00 to £40.00 per hour. The average rating is 4.4 stars from 48 reviews.

12
Instructors
£37/hr
Avg Price
4.4 / 5
48 Reviews
DVSA
Approved ADIs
Welcome to our Chatham driving instructor directory. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, we can help you find the right instructor.

Our Chatham 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.
Local Instructor Proof

Some instructors covering Chatham

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MB
0.4 mi

Martin

Chatham
5.0
30 reviews
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends
Ford Fiesta ST Line

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…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway +1
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Patrick Pender
1.3 mi

Patrick

Gillingham
5.0
8 reviews
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends

Patrick Pender runs Drive4Life Academy, offering driving lessons in Gillingham and across Medway. He's a DSA approved and CRB checked instructor with…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway +1
£35 /hour
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Julia Saxton
7.9 mi

Julia

Gravesend
5.0
8 reviews
Manual & Auto 60 min Evenings + Weekends

Julia runs Julia's School of Motoring, a driving school that's been helping learners in Kent for over 30 years. She's got a team of experienced femal…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Motorway
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Derek
7.9 mi

Derek

Gravesend
2.5
2 reviews
Manual 60 min

Derek is a friendly, down-to-earth driving instructor who runs Milton Driving School in Gravesend, Kent. He's a Grade A instructor with over 19 years…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Motorway
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Alan Corbett
0.7 mi

Alan

Chatham
Manual 60 min
Mercedes Benz

Hi, I'm Alan. I've been a Grade A driving instructor for a while now, and I love helping people get behind the wheel. I'm based in Chatham and cover …

Nervous Drivers Refresher
£36 /hour
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L
0.9 mi

Lizzie

Medway
Manual 60 min
Suzuki Ignis

Lizzie is a friendly driving instructor who's been teaching for over 22 years. She's based in Medway and North Kent, and she's got a really practical…

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Ola
0.9 mi

Ola

Medway
Manual 60 min

Ola runs Pass Code Driving School in the Medway area. He's a friendly instructor who's focused on helping learners get their licence. You can reach h…

£35 /hour
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Shaun
1.5 mi

Shaun

Gillingham
Manual 60 min

Shaun is a friendly driving instructor based in Gillingham, Kent. He's been teaching since 2017, and before that, he spent over 25 years driving buse…

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Alan
7 mi

Alan

Kent
Manual 60 min Weekends

Hi, I'm Alan. I run TLC Driving School, a local independent driving school in Kent. I've been teaching people to drive for years, and I love helping …

Nervous Drivers Refresher Motorway
£40 /hour
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Chris Batten
7.4 mi

Chris

Maidstone
Manual 60 min

Hi, I'm Chris Batten. I've been teaching people to drive around Maidstone for over 20 years now, and I still really enjoy it. I'm a fully qualified D…

Nervous Drivers
£40 /hour
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Richard Watson
7.4 mi

Richard

Medway Towns
Manual & Auto 60 min Evenings + Weekends
FIAT 500

Richard Watson is a friendly, experienced driving instructor based in the Medway Towns. He's been a DVSA Grade 'A' Approved Driving Instructor for ov…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Motorway Pass Plus
£34 /hour
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Mark Veness
7.4 mi

Mark

Maidstone
Manual 60 min
Vauxhall Corsa

Mark Veness has been teaching driving lessons in and around Maidstone for eleven years. He's built Panache Driving School on a foundation of professi…

Intensive
£38 /hour
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Learning to Drive in Chatham

Learning to drive in Chatham mixes tight town streets with faster A2 approaches into the Medway towns. Lessons often cover busy junctions around the High Street and the riverfront near the Historic Dockyard. The area has an industrial feel with compact residential roads and frequent roundabouts close to the station. You will practice both urban manoeuvres and quick dual-carriageway joins en route to Gillingham.

Nearest Test Centre: Gillingham

Gillingham test centre sits about 2.8 miles from Chatham and handles routes that use parts of the A2 and local residential streets. Expect a busy centre, especially at evenings and weekends, since it runs around 8,936 tests a year. Gillingham's overall pass rate is 45% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Male candidates pass at 48.4% and female candidates at 42% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025).

45.0%
Overall Pass Rate
48.4%
Male Pass Rate
42.0%
Female Pass Rate
2.8 mi
Distance

Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)

Pass Rate Analysis

Gillingham records a 45% pass rate, slightly under the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). There is a noticeable gap between male and female pass rates at Gillingham, 48.4% versus 42% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Nearby Maidstone posts 46.6% and Tilbury 36.4% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). That range shows performance can change noticeably between close test centres.

Local Driving Tips

Practice joining and leaving the A2, as those merges come up often on test routes. Expect rush-hour queues towards Gillingham and around the M2 junctions, so learn situational speed control and lane discipline. Take time to practise roundabout navigation near Chatham town centre and the Dock Road area. Get comfortable with tight parking and hill starts in older residential streets close to the Historic Dockyard. Learn the one-way systems around the station and High Street so you do not get turned the wrong way during lessons.

Choosing an Instructor in Chatham

Chatham has eight local instructors, so look for someone who knows Gillingham test routes and the A2 approaches. Ask if they offer mock tests and whether they teach in manual or automatic cars. Expect to pay around £28 per hour on average, and check for any discounts on block bookings. Read local reviews and confirm availability for morning or evening sessions.

Lesson Costs in Chatham

Average lesson cost in Chatham is about £28 per hour. Prices vary with instructor experience, lesson length, time of day and whether you book single lessons or blocks. Travel time to pick you up can also affect the final price.

Getting Started

Apply for your provisional licence before booking lessons and the theory test. Start lessons with a local instructor who knows Gillingham test routes and practise both town and dual-carriageway driving. Pass the theory test, then book your practical at Gillingham when your instructor feels you are ready. Use mock tests to get used to the format and timing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: February 2026

Gillingham test centre is about 2.8 miles from Chatham.
Gillingham's overall pass rate is 45% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025).
Gillingham's 45% pass rate is slightly below the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025).
There are eight instructors listed in Chatham.
Average lessons cost around £28 per hour in Chatham.
Time to pass varies with individual ability, lesson frequency and practice outside lessons.
Many local instructors offer evenings and weekend slots to fit work or study.
Yes, practising merges and overtaking on the A2 will help, because test routes often include short dual-carriageway segments near Gillingham.
Maidstone is about 8.2 miles away and has a 46.6% pass rate, while Tilbury is about 9.4 miles away with a 36.4% pass rate (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025).
Driving lesson prices vary by location and instructor, typically ranging from £30 to £45 per hour.
Most learners need between 40 to 50 hours of professional tuition, plus around 20 hours of private practice.
If you pass in an automatic, you can only drive automatic cars.
You can book your practical driving test online through the DVSA website or by calling their booking line.
Look for a fully qualified ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) with good reviews.
Most instructors prefer to use their own dual-controlled vehicles for safety reasons.

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