Our South Moor 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 South Moor
Compare verified, top-rated instructors with genuine reviews from real students
Geoff
Geoff is a friendly, down to earth driving instructor based in Durham city centre, with over 8 years of experience helping people become safe, confid…
Gary Greenup
Gary Greenup is a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) with 19 years of experience. In that time he's helped nearly 1,000 learners becom…
Tony
Tony is the founder and lead instructor of Chester le Street Driver Training. He has a disciplined but friendly style and teaches learners across Che…
Rob Campbell
Rob Campbell is a DSA-approved driving instructor with Alpha Driving School, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. He teaches using the DSA approved syllabus…
Martin McElhone
Martin McElhone has been running his School of Motoring in Consett, Co. Durham since 1988, so you're in very experienced hands. In over three decades…
Ian McQuillan
Ian McQuillan is a fully qualified Grade A Approved Driving Instructor with over 19 years of experience, running his own driving school in County Dur…
Abi Sanders
Abi Sanders is an independent driving instructor based in Gateshead, offering flexible lessons across the local area. She runs Drive With Abi (ABIGAI…
Paulo
Paulo runs Paulo's School of Motoring in Newcastle, where the aim is simple, to help you become a safe, confident driver at your own pace. He keeps t…
Colin Mitcheson
Colin Mitcheson runs Enigma Driving, a friendly driving school based in Newcastle upon Tyne. He offers relaxed, one-to-one lessons for all levels, fr…
Learning to Drive in South Moor
South Moor sits in the North East and feels like a compact place to learn. Local lessons tend to be short drives to nearby centres such as Gateshead and Durham, so you get a mix of town and faster A-road practice. Nine local instructors means choice, but spaces can fill quickly at popular times. Roads like the A693 and A692 come up a lot in lessons, and you may head towards Stanley or Gateshead on longer runs.
Nearest Test Centre: Gateshead
Gateshead test centre is about 7 miles from South Moor, a typical pick for local learners. Expect tests to run through urban and suburban roads, and occasional stretches on busier A-roads on the way to the centre. Gateshead records a pass rate of 42.7% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025) and runs around 5,042 tests a year, so appointment availability varies. Your instructor will advise which local routes are commonly used for the test and how to get there from Front Street or the A693.
Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)
Pass Rate Analysis
Gateshead's pass rate sits at 42.7%, below the national average of 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Nearby Durham has a higher pass rate at 60.1% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025), while Newcastle (Heaton) is lower at 27.1% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). For Gateshead, male pupils pass at 44.3% and female pupils at 41.0% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025), which shows only a small gap between sexes locally.
Local Driving Tips
Expect a mix of narrow residential streets and short bursts on A-roads like the A693 when you head towards Stanley. Roundabouts around Stanley and junctions onto the A692 need calm, steady observations, so practise mirror-signals-manoeuvre until it feels automatic. Watch for parked cars on Front Street and local side roads where visibility can be limited. If you drive towards Gateshead, be ready for busier traffic and frequent lane changes near major junctions on the route.
Choosing an Instructor in South Moor
With nine instructors in South Moor you can compare availability and teaching style without long travel. Look for someone who offers pick-ups from a central spot in South Moor and who knows the Gateshead test routes. Expect instructors to charge around £32 per hour on average, and ask about block-booking discounts or test-day rates. Choose an instructor who is patient and who will take you on the local A-roads and roundabouts you will meet on test day.
Lesson Costs in South Moor
Local lessons average about £32 per hour. Price can vary with instructor experience, type of car used for lessons, and whether you book single lessons or a block of sessions.
Getting Started
Apply for your provisional licence before you book lessons or a theory test. Start with an instructor in South Moor to build basic control on quiet streets before moving on to A-roads like the A693. Book your theory and then a practical test at Gateshead or another nearby centre when your instructor advises you are ready. Your instructor can often arrange mock tests and a route to the test centre so there are no surprises on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: February 2026