Let’s be honest – finding a decent driving school in Birmingham is harder than it should be. I’ve spent months researching this for a friend who was getting nowhere with her first instructor, and trust me, there’s a huge difference between the good ones and the ones that’ll take your money and leave you more confused than when you started.
Birmingham’s roads are no joke either. You’ve got everything from the nightmare that is Spaghetti Junction to busy city centre traffic and those massive roundabouts that seem designed to terrify learners. You need an instructor who actually knows what they’re doing, not someone who just got their badge last week.
After digging through reviews, checking actual pass rates, and speaking to people who’ve recently passed, here are the 10 driving schools I’d actually recommend.
1. Select Drive Driving School – The One That Actually Cares
I’m putting these guys first because they’re the only school I found that genuinely seems to care whether you pass or not. Most places just want to rack up lesson hours, but Select Drive actually tailors their teaching to how you learn.
Their instructor Gurps has some seriously good reviews – not the fake-sounding ones you see everywhere, but proper detailed feedback from people talking about how patient he was and how he explained everything about the car, not just the driving. One student mentioned how he even did a motorway lesson after they passed to boost their confidence, which is pretty rare.
They cover most of Birmingham including Smethwick, Harborne, and Selly Oak. Manual lessons start at £33 and automatic at £35, which isn’t the cheapest but definitely worth it for what you get. They do evening and weekend lessons too, which saved my life when I was working full-time.
You can check them out at Select Drive Driving School – seriously worth a look if you want someone who’ll actually help you become a proper driver, not just scrape through the test.
2. RED Driving School – Good if You Like Apps and Deals
RED is one of those big national chains, but they’re actually pretty decent. Their main thing is this app they’ve got that tracks your progress and has theory test practice built in. If you’re the type who likes everything organised and digital, you’ll probably love it.
They do some good deals too – like two free hours when you book 14, and you can save up to 10% if you buy lessons in bulk. The instructors are properly qualified and they can arrange female instructors or even ones who speak other languages if that helps.
Won some training award in 2024 apparently, and their Trustpilot reviews are solid. Not as personal as Select Drive, but reliable enough.
3. Bill Plant Driving School – Posh Cars, Decent Teaching
Bill Plant is the one where you learn in those nice Volkswagen cars – Golf or Polo usually. If you care about what you’re driving (and let’s face it, some people do), this might appeal to you. They’ve won some national driving school award three years running, so they must be doing something right.
I know someone who passed with an instructor called Tofsir at South Yardley, which is supposed to be one of the hardest test centres. She said he was really calm and methodical, which helped a lot when she was panicking about roundabouts.
The pricing varies depending on which instructor you get since they work as franchises, but you can usually find decent deals if you book blocks of lessons.
4. AA Driving School – The Safe Bet
Everyone knows the AA, right? They claim their students have a 62% first-time pass rate, which is 13% better than average. Whether that’s actually true or just clever marketing, I don’t know, but their instructors do seem to know what they’re doing.
They’re particularly good if you’re nervous about driving. I heard they have instructors who specialise in teaching people with anxiety or learning differences, which is pretty cool. They’ve got loads of instructors around Birmingham so you’re more likely to find someone with availability that suits you.
Can be a bit more expensive than the smaller schools, but sometimes paying extra for peace of mind is worth it.
5. Think Safety Driving School – Actually Has Decent Reviews
This is a local independent that seems to have genuinely happy customers. They’ve got 4.9 stars on Google from 170+ reviews, and when you read them, people are actually naming their instructors – Amirul, Mrs Islam, Shanur – and saying specific things about why they were good.
That’s usually a good sign because fake reviews tend to be vague and generic. People are saying things like “passed first time with only 2 minors” and mentioning how patient their instructors were when they were struggling with particular things.
Lessons start at £33 and they do discounts for NHS workers and students, which is pretty decent of them.
6. Attard School of Motoring – Perfect for Nervous Drivers
This is a family-run place that seems to specialise in people who are really anxious about driving or have had bad experiences before. I found this amazing review from a parent whose autistic son passed first time with instructor Carl after failing twice with four different instructors from other schools. That’s the kind of patience and skill you can’t fake.
Carl and Sarah (the husband and wife who run it) get mentioned by name in loads of reviews for being incredibly patient and understanding. They also do trailer training if you need that for work or whatever.
You have to contact them for prices, but if you’re the type who gets stressed easily or has specific learning needs, these are probably your best bet.
7. Pass and Go Premium – Knows South Birmingham Inside Out
Been around since 2005 and they really know their stuff when it comes to South Birmingham and Solihull test routes. If you’re taking your test at Shirley or anywhere in that area, these guys have probably driven every possible route a hundred times.
Their instructors originally trained with big schools like AA but now work independently, so you get the training standards without the corporate nonsense. Students rave about Mohammed and Kay in particular.
£35 an hour with discounts for block bookings. Not the cheapest but probably worth it if you’re in their area.
8. Just Pass School of Motoring – Actually Flexible
These guys are good if you need something a bit different. They have instructors who speak Hindi, Punjabi, and Bengali, which is really helpful for some people. They also do this thing where you can hire their dual control cars for extra practice, which I’ve never seen anywhere else.
They claim a 97% pass rate, which sounds too good to be true, but they’ve been around for 15 years so they must be doing something right. Their cars are pretty modern too – some even have hybrid automatics.
9. 4 Wheelz Driving School – Old School but Reliable
These guys have been around since 1994, which in driving school terms makes them ancient. They have this system with learning booklets that apparently help you learn faster – 90% of their students say they’re useful.
It’s very much a family business where they treat you like part of the family. If you like that old-fashioned, personal approach rather than corporate efficiency, you might prefer this.
10. MS Driving School – Great Local Reputation
Perfect 5 stars on Yell from 71 reviews, which is pretty impressive. The main instructor Maruf gets consistently good feedback from people in areas like Yardley and Small Heath. They throw in free theory help too, which saves you a bit of money.
Very much a local operation, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
What Actually Matters When Choosing
Look, I could give you a massive list of things to consider, but here’s what actually matters:
Does the instructor know your test centre? Birmingham test centres are all different. South Yardley is notorious for being tough, while Shirley has better pass rates. Make sure your instructor knows the routes.
Can you actually get along with them? You’re going to be stuck in a car with this person for hours. If they stress you out or you don’t understand how they explain things, find someone else.
Are they patient? Birmingham traffic can be mental, especially for learners. You need someone who won’t lose their temper when you stall at traffic lights for the third time.
Do they teach you to drive or just pass the test? Some instructors just drill you on test routes. The good ones teach you to actually handle Birmingham’s roads confidently.
The Birmingham Reality Check
Quick heads up about driving in Birmingham – it’s not easy. The Clean Air Zone means you can’t drive older cars in the city centre without paying £8 a day. Most driving school cars are fine, but it’s worth checking.
Those big roundabouts like Beckett’s Farm can be terrifying at first, but once you understand the lane markings, they’re actually quite logical. Don’t let your instructor rush you through them – make sure you properly understand how they work.
Bottom Line
If I had to choose again, I’d probably go with Select Drive because they seem to actually care about making you a good driver, not just getting you through the test. But honestly, any of these schools will do a decent job if you find an instructor you click with.
The most important thing is finding someone patient who explains things clearly and knows Birmingham’s roads. Don’t just go with whoever’s cheapest – a few extra pounds per lesson is worth it if it means fewer lessons overall and actually feeling confident when you pass.
Whatever you choose, good luck with it. Birmingham’s roads are challenging, but once you’ve learned to drive here, you can drive anywhere.