What is the average cost of a lesson in Penarth?

The average hourly lesson cost in Penarth is £38. Individual prices vary with instructor experience, location of pick-up and block-booking offers.

How many driving tests are carried out at Barry each year?

Barry carries out around 372 tests per year, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. That level of activity can affect test availability at certain times of year.

Are there differences in pass rates by gender at Barry?

Male candidates at Barry recorded a pass rate of 51.9 and female candidates 53.6, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. These figures reflect the recorded outcomes for the data year.

Should I practise on the seafront and Cardiff Road before my test?

Yes. Lessons that include the seafront and Cardiff Road help you handle both low-traffic and busier arterial roads. Practising the approaches and junctions used on routes to Barry is especially useful.

What other test centres are close to Penarth?

Cardiff centres are nearby, roughly 6.1 miles away, with one centre recording a pass rate of 53 and Cardiff (Llanishen) at 46. Use these options if Barry availability is limited.

How do I book a practical test from Penarth?

Book the practical test through the DVSA website and choose Barry or another nearby centre. Discuss the chosen date with your instructor and use mock tests to confirm readiness before the booked day.

How much do driving lessons cost?

Driving lesson prices vary by location and instructor, typically ranging from £30 to £45 per hour. Many instructors offer discounted rates for block bookings of 10 or more lessons. First lessons are often discounted to help you get started.

How many driving lessons will I need to pass?

Most learners need between 40 to 50 hours of professional tuition, plus around 20 hours of private practice. However, this varies based on your confidence, how quickly you learn, and how often you practice between lessons.

Should I learn in a manual or automatic car?

If you pass in an automatic, you can only drive automatic cars. Passing in a manual gives you the flexibility to drive both. Automatics are easier to learn in and becoming more popular, especially with electric vehicles on the rise.

How do I book my driving test?

You can book your practical driving test online through the DVSA website or by calling their booking line. You will need your provisional licence number and your theory test pass certificate number. Tests cost £62 on weekdays or £75 on evenings and weekends.

What should I look for in a driving instructor?

Look for a fully qualified ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) with good reviews. Consider their availability, the type of car they use, their teaching style, and whether they offer the lesson times you need. A good instructor should be patient, clear in their explanations, and make you feel comfortable.

Can I use my own car for driving lessons?

Most instructors prefer to use their own dual-controlled vehicles for safety reasons. However, some may offer lessons in your car for an additional fee. You would need to ensure your car is properly insured for learner driver use.

Find My Instructor Search

Find a driving instructor in Penarth without chasing people one by one.

Penarth is a compact coastal town with a mix of quiet residential streets and busy routes into Cardiff. Lessons here often include time on the seafront and on Cardiff Road, so you learn both calm streets and busier arterial roads. Local learners benefit from short drives to test centres in Barry and Cardiff. You will get a mix of low-traffic suburban practice and more challenging junctions on routes to the test centre.

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You pay the instructor directly for lessons. We only charge a small booking fee of £18.99 to £34.99 if we secure you a real start date, and it is refunded if you do not start on the agreed date.

Covering Penarth

instructors we may be able to check for you

Manual coverage

Automatic coverage

What we confirm before any fee

Availability, lesson price, start date, and how you will pay the instructor directly.

Free to start

No upfront payment to submit your search. You pay the instructor directly for lessons, and we only charge a small booking fee if we secure a real start date.

Local proof, not guesswork

Local lesson prices currently range from £37 to £38 per hour, paid directly to your instructor.

You can prioritise a name

If a profile catches your eye, we can try that instructor first, then continue nearby if they are unavailable.

Area coverage

12 instructors

Typical price

£37 to £38/hr

Average rating

4.6 / 5

Nearest test centre

Barry

Local instructor proof

We check availability so you do not have to chase.

These profiles help show the local instructor pool. Your main route is still to start a free search and let us confirm who can actually take you on.

Dean

Cardiff

5.0

Manual + automatic

Dean runs Drive Learn Achieve and has been teaching people to drive for over 19 years. He's an automatic specialist based in ...

Evenings Nervous learners

Check Dean first View profile

John

South Wales

5.0

Manual

John teaches with MSM Driving School and is known for being calm, patient and really easy to get on with. He specialises in i...

Nervous learners Intensive

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Naeem

Cardiff

5.0

Manual + automatic

Naeem teaches with 1st Steer Driving School and has a great knack for helping people learn quickly and save money. He offers ...

Nervous learners

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Craig

Barry

4.9

Manual

Craig Mordecai is a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor. He qualified in 1996 and set up RoadRunner School of Motorin...

Evenings Weekends

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Glenn

Caerphilly

3.0

Manual

Glenn has been teaching people to drive for 14 years and really knows how to put learners at ease. He keeps lessons relaxed a...

Evenings Weekends

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Rebecca

Cardiff

Manual

Rebecca Jones runs Bloomin´ Learners, an independent driving school based in Cardiff. She is a fully qualified and approved d...

Motorway

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How it works here

You tell us the shape of the lessons. We do the chasing.

Start with your postcode or town

Choose manual or automatic, tell us when you want to start, and add a preferred instructor if you already have one in mind.

We secure real availability

We only move forward with instructors who can cover your area and match the requirements you chose, including transmission and instructor preference where supplied.

You review the offer before paying

You see the confirmed lesson price, likely start date, and how you will pay the instructor directly. We only charge the small booking fee once you are happy to go ahead.

Local snapshot

Area covered: Penarth
Visible instructors: 12
Booking fee only: £18.99 to £34.99
Nearest test centre: Barry

In Penarth

Local lesson prices currently range from £37 to £38 per hour, paid directly to your instructor.

The nearest test centre is Barry with an overall pass rate of 53.0%.

Questions people ask

Finding a driving instructor in Penarth

How far is the nearest driving test centre from Penarth? +

The nearest DVSA test centre is in Barry, about 4.5 miles from Penarth. It is the most common test location for local learners heading out of Penarth.

What is Barry test centre's pass rate? +

Barry has a recorded pass rate of 53, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. This figure should be used alongside local practice and mock tests to judge realistic chances.

How does Barry's pass rate compare to the national average? +

Barry’s pass rate of 53 is higher than the national average of 47.3, Data source: DVSA, 2024-2025. Nearby centres show different outcomes, so test centre choice and local routes can matter.

How many instructors are available in Penarth? +

There are nine local driving instructors listed for Penarth. That gives you a reasonable choice of teaching styles and schedules within the town.

Start in Penarth

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Search is free to start. You pay the instructor directly for lessons, and we only charge the small booking fee after we have confirmed a real instructor, a start date, and the lesson details.

Start free instructor search

Booking fee if matched: £18.99 to £34.99. Lesson payments go directly to your instructor.

Find a driving instructor in Penarth without chasing people one by one.

We check availability so you do not have to chase.

Dean

John

Naeem

Craig

Glenn

Rebecca

You tell us the shape of the lessons. We do the chasing.

Start with your postcode or town

We secure real availability

You review the offer before paying

Finding a driving instructor in Penarth

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