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Some instructors covering Exeter
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Alan
Alan Beckett is a fully qualified driving instructor in Exeter and runs Alan Beckett Driving Tuition. He's a member of the Driving Instructors Associ…
Fiona
Fiona's an experienced automatic driving instructor based in Exmouth, Devon. She's been teaching for over 14 years and has a really calm, patient app…
Nick
Nick Capron runs Exeter Intensives, a well-known driving school based in Exeter. He has over 20 years of experience as a DVSA Approved Driving Instru…
Julie
Hi, I'm Julie Coldwell. I've been a fully qualified driving instructor for over 17 years now, and I teach people to drive around Torbay, Newton Abbot…
Stacey
Stacey Bale runs Correct Driving School, offering manual driving lessons in a Peugeot 208 Style. She's an Approved Driving Instructor with a backgrou…
Wendy
Wendy Howell is a friendly, patient driving instructor based in Exeter and East Devon. She's been teaching for many years and specialises in helping …
Helen
Helen Matthews is a fully qualified female driving instructor running her own independent LDC driving school in Exeter. She's been specially trained …
Katie
Katie Russell founded KAR Driving Instructor in 2016 after qualifying as an instructor with an A Grade, the highest possible. She's been driving for …
Ewan
Ewan's an ADI approved driving instructor based in East Devon, with a high pass rate and a modern dual-control car. He's known for being patient and …
Andy
Andy Dransfield is a driving instructor based in Exeter, with a real passion for helping people learn to drive. He's been teaching since qualifying a…
Lisa
Hi, I'm Lisa. I've been teaching people to drive around Exeter, Cullompton, and Honiton for about 7 years now, and I still love it. I'm a fully quali…
Mark
Mark Rhodes is a friendly, patient driving instructor based in Exmouth, Devon. He's an Approved Driving Instructor with a ROSPA Gold award in advance…
Learning to Drive in Exeter
Learning to drive in Exeter mixes quiet residential streets with busy A-roads. You will practise on narrow city lanes near Gandy Street and on faster stretches by the M5 junction 30. Local driving has a riverside feel around Countess Wear and a mix of student traffic near the university. I know the local test routes well and they swing between Marsh Barton industrial roads and quieter suburbs.
Nearest Test Centre: Exeter
Exeter DVSA test centre is about 4.9 miles from the city centre. Expect standard practical tests on both urban and A-road sections, and a steady number of bookings through the year. The centre runs around 5,675 tests a year and has a 47.9% pass rate, with men at 50.8% and women at 45.2% (Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025).
Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)
Pass Rate Analysis
Exeter's test centre pass rate is 47.9%, slightly above the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025). Men pass at 50.8% and women at 45.2% at Exeter, showing a modest gap (Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025). Nearby Newton Abbot reports a higher pass rate at 53.3% (Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025). That makes Exeter fairly typical for the South West, with tests spread across urban and A-road sections.
Local Driving Tips
Start lessons familiarising yourself with narrow lanes around the Cathedral quarter before tackling the A377. Expect heavier traffic on Alphington Road and at the Marsh Barton roundabout during peak hours. Practise joining and leaving the M5 at junction 30 so you are confident on slip-roads and faster lanes. Watch for cyclists on Cowley Bridge Road and the shared-use paths near Countess Wear. Parking and reversing in tight streets near the university need deliberate practice. Mock tests that include a run out towards the A38 to the bypass will help with independent driving.
Choosing an Instructor in Exeter
There are five instructors listed locally, so availability can change fast. Look for an ADI who knows Exeter test routes, junctions like Marsh Barton, and the M5 junction 30 approaches. Ask about pass rates, lesson length and whether they offer block-booking discounts. Expect to book ahead, especially during student term time and weekends.
Lesson Costs in Exeter
Lessons in Exeter vary with instructor experience, car type and lesson length. A small local instructor pool can push demand up at busy times, so prices may be higher for evenings and weekends. Ask instructors about package deals and what is included in the hourly rate.
Getting Started
Apply for your provisional driving licence online or by post before booking lessons. Book and pass your theory test, then start regular practical lessons with an ADI who knows local roads. When ready, book a practical test at Exeter DVSA test centre and use nearby routes like Marsh Barton and the A377 for mock runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: February 2026
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