Our Ilkeston 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 Ilkeston
Compare verified, top-rated instructors with genuine reviews from real students
Andy Price
Andy Price is a friendly, fully qualified driving instructor with over 16 years of experience in the Derby area. He runs Derby Driver Training and is…
Damian Jones
Damian Jones is a DSA-approved driving instructor working in Derby, Ashbourne and the wider Derbyshire area. He's a friendly local instructor who kee…
George
George is a fully qualified, DVSA-approved driving instructor with over 10 years of experience, offering driving lessons in Nottingham. He teaches in…
Rob Nichols
Rob Nichols is a friendly, experienced Approved Driving Instructor based in Forest Town, Mansfield. He has several years of experience helping local …
Munir
Munir teaches at Mughal Driving School and keeps his lessons relaxed and supportive. He focuses on safe and responsible driving, and he adapts how he…
Adam Blackwell
Adam Blackwell is a calm, patient Approved Driving Instructor with over 15 years of experience. He runs automatic lessons in Derbyshire and brings st…
Andy Wilkinson
Andy Wilkinson has been helping learners get on the road since 2002. He is a Grade A DVSA-approved instructor, holds the RoSPA gold driving qualifica…
Tony
Tony teaches at M&M Academy and is known for mixing music and martial arts in a really fun, down to earth way. He is a 3rd Dan Blackbelt in Taekwondo…
Martyn
Martyn is a fully qualified driving instructor based in Belper, Derbyshire, with many years of experience. He offers a range of courses to suit all l…
Learning to Drive in Ilkeston
Ilkeston sits between Nottingham and Derby and feels like a busy market town with short runs to bigger urban centres. Learning here means a mix of town centre manoeuvres around the Market Place and quicker drives onto the main roads towards Nottingham and Derby. Lessons often cover tight residential streets, local roundabouts and short dual carriageway sections as you head out of town. You'll get a variety of practice within a few miles of home.
Nearest Test Centre: Nottingham (Chilwell)
The nearest DVSA test centre is Nottingham (Chilwell), about 6.8 miles from Ilkeston by road. Expect tests to include suburban roads and busier approaches into Nottingham, with a mix of roundabouts and dual carriageways. Nottingham (Chilwell) had a pass rate of 41.9% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025) and runs around 6,213 tests a year (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Allow 20 to 35 minutes to reach the centre in normal traffic.
Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)
Pass Rate Analysis
Nottingham (Chilwell)'s pass rate is 41.9%, below the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Male learners at Chilwell pass at 45.6% while female learners pass at 38.5% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Derby (Alvaston), nearby, posts 45.5% and Nottingham (Colwick) 40.6% which gives you local alternatives to consider when booking (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Lower pass rates often reflect busier test routes and higher test volumes rather than individual instructor quality.
Local Driving Tips
Practice around the Market Place to get confident with parked cars and tight junctions before you head for the main roads. Work on lane discipline and observation for the approaches into Nottingham and Derby, where traffic can build quickly. Pay attention at local roundabouts and give way junctions, and rehearse pulling out safely onto faster roads. Try a practice run to the test centre to time your journey and identify parking or bus lane restrictions.
Choosing an Instructor in Ilkeston
Ilkeston has around nine local instructors, so shop around and ask for recent pass photos or references. Expect average lesson rates near £38 an hour, but check whether that is for a full 60-minute lesson or a shorter slot. Pick an instructor who knows the usual test routes into Nottingham and Derby and who will correct faults clearly. Ask about pass rates and lesson plans before you book a block.
Lesson Costs in Ilkeston
Local lessons average about £38 per hour, which reflects local demand and travel to nearby test centres. Costs vary with lesson length, instructor experience and whether you book blocks of lessons or one-offs. Weekend or evening lessons may attract a premium from some instructors.
Getting Started
First apply for your provisional licence, then book your theory and hazard perception tests. Take lessons in town to build basic control, then practice on the busier approaches to Nottingham or Derby when you are steady. When your instructor feels you are ready, book your practical at Nottingham (Chilwell) or Derby (Alvaston) and take a timed run to the centre beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: February 2026