Find a Driving Instructor in Newtownabbey

Tell us what you need and we will check suitable local instructors, availability, lesson price, and likely start date before you commit.

Instructors
10
Avg Price
£37/hr
Nearest Test Centre
Belfast (Boucher Road) (6.2 mi)
DVSA Approved Verified Reviews Free for learners

Free for learners

Not set on one instructor?

We can check suitable instructors near Newtownabbey and come back with lesson terms for you to review.

Find me an available instructor faster

There are 10 driving instructors in Newtownabbey. Prices range from £24.00 to £45.00 per hour. The average rating is 4.5 stars from 64 reviews.

10
Instructors
£37/hr
Avg Price
4.5 / 5
64 Reviews
DVSA
Approved ADIs
Welcome to our Newtownabbey 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 Newtownabbey 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 Newtownabbey

Profiles stay public for trust, but the quickest route is to let us check who can actually take you on.

Andy Morrow
2 mi

Andy

Belfast
5.0
30 reviews
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends
Toyota Yaris

Hi, I'm Andy Morrow. I've been a DSA qualified driving instructor for over 20 years now, and I run The Driving Academy in Belfast. I focus on both th…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive
View Profile
John Gribbon
4.4 mi

John

Belfast
5.0
27 reviews
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends

John Gribbon has over 25 years of experience teaching people to drive in Belfast. He is a DOE-approved ADI and an award-winning instructor. John has …

Nervous Drivers Refresher
View Profile
Paul Catherwood
8.2 mi

Paul

Belfast
5.0
3 reviews
Manual 120 min Evenings
Audi Q2

Hi, I'm Paul Catherwood. I've been a driving instructor for 22 years now, and I teach around the Hillsborough, Lisburn, Four Winds, Castlereagh and B…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive
£43 /hour
View Profile
Colm
4.4 mi

Colm

Belfast
5.0
2 reviews
Manual 60 min

Colm is a friendly, down-to-earth driving instructor based in Belfast. He's part of McCluskey Driving Academy, a rapidly expanding driving school tha…

Nervous Drivers Intensive
£38 /hour
View Profile
Maura McMahon
4.4 mi

Maura

Belfast
4.0
1 review
Manual 60 min

Maura McMahon is a friendly, experienced driving instructor based in Belfast. She's a fully qualified DSA Approved driving instructor and has been a …

Intensive
£24 /hour
View Profile
Kim Colhoun
4.4 mi

Kim

Saintfield
3.0
1 review
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends
Audi A3 S-Line Diesel

Kim Colhoun runs Drive Techniques, an award winning independent driving school in Northern Ireland. He's a DOE Approved Driving Instructor who teache…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway +1
View Profile
Lloyd Walker
4.4 mi

Lloyd

Belfast
Manual & Auto 60 min

Lloyd Walker is the founder and owner of Lloyds School of Motoring, a commercial driver training company that has been running since 2008. Based in C…

View Profile
David Craig
4.4 mi

David

Larne
Manual 60 min

David Craig is a very experienced driving instructor and a former Driving Examiner in Northern Ireland. He has over 10 years of experience as an inst…

View Profile
Paul Scott
4.4 mi

Paul

Belfast
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends

Paul Scott runs Open Road Driving School in Belfast, and he's been helping people learn to drive for over eight years. He started the school himself …

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive
£45 /hour
View Profile
LD
4.4 mi

Leslie

Belfast
Manual 60 min Evenings + Weekends

L Factor has helped over 400 students pass their driving test in the last five years. Based in Northern Ireland, he's known for being patient and rea…

Nervous Drivers Refresher Intensive Motorway +1
View Profile

Learning to Drive in Newtownabbey

Learning to drive in Newtownabbey is practical and local. Most learners head into Belfast for tests and practice, so expect lessons to focus on busy junctions and commuter traffic. Five local instructors serve the town, so you'll find a small pool to compare. Average lesson prices sit around £40 per hour.

Nearest Test Centre: Belfast (Boucher Road)

Belfast (Boucher Road) is the nearest DVSA test centre, about 6.2 miles away. You will need to allow time for the drive, especially at peak times into Belfast. Public transport options or a lift from your instructor are common ways to get there. Pass rate details for that centre are not available in the provided data.

Pass Rate Analysis

Local pass rate data for Newtownabbey is not provided, so a direct comparison is not possible. The national average pass rate in the dataset is 47.3% (Data source: DVSA, data period not provided). Nearby Stranraer shows a pass rate of 56.6% (Data source: DVSA, data period not provided), while pass rates for the Belfast centres in the data are not available. Male and female split figures for the local area are not provided.

Local Driving Tips

Expect a mix of suburban streets and busier routes toward Belfast during rush hour, so practise lane discipline and merging. Spend time on dual carriageway driving and safe speed management if your lessons head towards main routes. Make sure you practise roundabout entries and exits, as these often feature in tests taken in nearby centres. Work on observation at junctions and mirror use when filtering in traffic. Book a few lessons that include the trip to the Belfast test centre so you know the route and timings.

Choosing an Instructor in Newtownabbey

Look for an ADI who shows flexibility with pick-ups and who can take you to the Belfast test centre for mock runs. Five instructors operate in Newtownabbey, so meet a couple to compare teaching style and availability. Expect to pay around the local average of £40 per hour, with some variation for block bookings or longer lesson times. Ask about lesson plans and experience with the Belfast test routes.

Lesson Costs in Newtownabbey

Average single-lesson price in this area is about £40 per hour. Longer lessons, block bookings and travel to the Belfast test centre can change the effective hourly cost.

Getting Started

Apply for a provisional driving licence first and then book your theory test when you are ready. Arrange lessons with a local instructor and take practice runs to the Belfast test centre to familiarise yourself with the route. When your instructor and you agree you are ready, book the practical test at the nearest centre, likely Belfast (Boucher Road).

Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: February 2026

The nearest test centre is Belfast (Boucher Road), about 6.2 miles from Newtownabbey.
There are five instructors listed for Newtownabbey in the provided data.
The local average price is £40 per hour according to the data provided.
Pass rate data specific to Newtownabbey is not provided in the dataset, so no local pass rate can be stated.
Male and female split figures for Newtownabbey are not available in the provided data.
Learning time varies by individual ability, lesson frequency and practice.
Many instructors offer trips to the nearest test centre for mock runs, but this depends on the instructor.
Stranraer in the dataset shows a pass rate of 56.6% (Data source: DVSA, data period not provided), which is higher than the national average listed here.
You need a provisional licence and to have passed your theory test before booking.
Some instructors charge more for longer lessons or for driving to the test centre.
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.

Guides for Newtownabbey

Driving Lessons in Oxford: Prices, Slots and How to Start

Oxford is a busy learner city with three nearby test centres and a mix of historic streets, residential estates and business parks. This guide explains typical driving lesson options in Oxford, how availability changes around university and college terms, and what to consider when choosing between manual and automatic. Learn how to shortlist local instructors, find flexible lesson times, and plan practice around Oxford's test routes and pass rates so you can start learning to drive with a realistic schedule and budget.

Area Guides 5 min read

Intensive Driving Lessons in Peterborough: When To Book

Intensive driving lessons in Peterborough work best when you match your course dates to real test centre availability and local traffic patterns. This guide explains how to choose between Peterborough and Kettering test centres, plan a 2 to 4 week intensive, and find instructors who actually have space for block bookings. Learn which local routes are used, how events and rush hours affect lessons, and how to use MyInstructorFinder tools to check availability, compare instructors and lock in a realistic timetable before your test date.

Area Guides 5 min read

Manual Driving Lessons in Bournemouth: Prices & Tips

This guide explains what to expect from manual driving lessons in Bournemouth, from test centre choices and common local routes to real parking pressures in the BCP area. Learn how Bournemouth compares with Poole and Southampton Maybush for pass rates, plus how timing your start can affect your test date options. You will also discover how to find a manual instructor with the right availability, experience and teaching style, along with practical tips on traffic, parking and planning enough lessons for a confident first attempt.

Area Guides 5 min read