Driving lessons in York
Popular learner driver areas include:
Acomb, Bootham, Chapelfields, Clifton, Heworth, Holgate, Osbaldwick, South Bank, Tang Hall and Woodthorpe.
Enter your postcode above to find prices in your local area of York.
View other guides: Driving Lessons in London, Driving Lessons in Birmingham, Driving Lessons in Manchester.
Learn to drive in York
If you’re looking to learn to drive in York, you’re in luck! This Cathedral city is an ideal place for learners, with lots of quiet areas and a few trickier parts to work your way up to.
If you’re new to the driver’s seat, consider starting off on one of the industrial estates near the city, like Osbaldwick Industrial Estate. Head here in the evenings or at weekends and you’ll be able to practise moving off, stopping and steering without any pressure from other road users.
Once you understand the basics of controlling a car, you’ll want to get to grips with indicating, junctions and even some basic manoeuvres. We recommend heading to the quiet residential streets of Osbaldwick. When you feel ready, you can even try the two-laned roundabout just around the corner that leads onto Hull Road, or get some dual carriageway practice on Hull Road itself.
When the time comes to really put your skills to the test, hop onto the A64 to practise using slip roads and driving at the national speed limit (as long as the weather conditions make it safe to do so). Alternatively, you could test your hazard perception skills by heading into the city centre. You’ll need to have your wits about you, as there are plenty of restricted access roads, as well as traffic and pedestrians. Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll be fine!
Taking your test in York
The DVSA no longer publishes test routes, but your driving instructor will make sure you’re familiar with the routes that are likely to come up in your driving test.
With York Test Centre located in a mainly industrial area on the outskirts of the city, the chances are that your test will cover a range of road types and systems.
When you first leave the test centre, your examiner could ask you to head towards the village of Murton, where you’ll encounter narrow, winding roads. Alternatively, you could find yourself turning onto a dual carriageway, with the A166 or the A64 just a stone’s throw from the test centre.
You’re also likely to head closer into the city, where you’ll need to show you’re able to safely pass parked cars and cyclists. Don’t forget, your driving instructor will cover all these roads with you in your driving lessons, so you’ll be well-prepared by the time test day rolls round!
Driving test centre locations
There's just one test centre in York, but there are a few in the York postcode area. To see a full list of test centres near you, visit gov.uk.
- York: Murton Way, Osbaldwick, York, North Yorkshire, YO19 5UN
- Malton: 3 Milton Avenue, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LB
Manual vs Automatic
__Manual or automatic driving lessons in York, it's your choice.
While a manual car is a little bit trickier to get your head around, a manual driving licence qualifies you to drive both manuals and automatics - so, if you value choice, this might be a good option.
On the other hand, an automatic car can be quicker to learn, as you don’t have to get to grips with changing gears. Unfortunately though, once you qualify with an automatic driving licence, you won’t be able to drive a manual car.
When you’re deciding which transmission you’d like to learn, it’s also worth thinking about what type of driving you’re likely to do most once you’ve passed your test. If you’re thinking of commuting as far as Leeds, for example, you might prefer the sense of control that a manual car gives you. But, if you’re going to be navigating the streets of York city centre on a regular basis, you might opt for an automatic, which does away with the need to keep changing gears in stop-start traffic. Ultimately, the choice is yours!