Skip to main content

Where will your licence take you?

To the drive-through Shopping To see friends Work To the beach Uni

Searching for Driving Lessons Newcastle Upon Tyne, Gateshead or the North East? Using advanced teaching methods and technology, our DVSA Approved Driving Instructors provide high-quality driving lessons in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Stockton that exceed industry standards, enabling you to easily pass your driving test.

Our experienced instructors provide driving lessons in Newcastle, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Stockton. Whether you’re just starting out or want to brush up on your skills with one of our intensive driving courses, we’ll get you on the road in no time at all.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Increased Pass Rate

Having all of your progress at hand means that you can easily access it with just a touch of a button, keeping the information fresh in your mind

Lesson Logs & Progress

Lesson logs and progress reports allow you to track your progress and review what you have learned during your lessons.

Payments and Reminders

Stay on top of your lessons and payments through automated reminders and notifications, ensuring you never miss a lesson or payment again.

Book Lesson Gaps

Book a last minute slot in your instructors diary without having to contact them directly. Handy for those extra lessons.

Silas Tutu ★★★★★ I highly recommend Shift Driving School Gateshead for beginners or anyone with some prior experience. Their website is excellent, and the app is incredibly user friendly, it makes booking lessons, tracking progress, making payments, and setting your availability so simple.One of the things that impressed me most was how quickly Shift matched me with an instructor. Within a week of purchasing my package, I was driving. Other companies I contacted took over two weeks just to respond and told me I’d be waiting up to five weeks for an instructor. Choosing Shift was definitely the best decision I made.I had Simon as my instructor, and he was fantastic. He was super flexible with my hectic schedule, gave me honest and constructive feedback, and used the app to track my progress so I could clearly see what I needed to work on and what I was already doing well. This made the lessons streamlined and efficient.Simon also gave me the confidence to believe I was ready before I even felt it myself and he was right. Thanks to his teaching, I passed my driving test with zero faults (not even a single minor!).Overall, Shift offers great cars (Mercedes 😉), an easy to use system, and most importantly, excellent instructors. Huge thanks to Simon for making the learning experience such a positive one!chris eagle ★★★★★ My experience using Shift Driving School in Gateshead has been outstanding from start to finish.My instructor, Simon Houghton, was incredibly patient, personable, and knowledgeable. He explained everything clearly, tailored lessons to my pace, and kept me calm with encouraging, constructive feedback.His local knowledge and practical tips made a huge difference, and my confidence grew every week.Thanks to Simon’s guidance, I’ve just passed my driving test and feel ready to drive independently.I’d highly recommend Shift driving School—especially Simon—to anyone in Gateshead looking for a supportive, professional instructor and great results.Megan Wood ★★★★★ Passed with Simon today! He’s an outstanding instructor, so much patience and understanding, especially for neurodivergent learners. My confidence developed massively whilst learning with Simon. Also big shout out to the whole team, especially Lewis, for being so reassuring when I first reached out about lessons. I’d recommend these guys to anyone.Adam Plumb ★★★★★ Super organised with their own app which helps you fit your lessons in whenever you like. Lewis is so patient and supportive and very calming when you’re just beginning. He has really developed my confidence and I couldn’t recommend Shift and Lewis enough!Jess Baum ★★★★★ Lottie Johnson ★★★★★ Lewis is a great instructor, very calming and patient. This was my first lesson with him and I was put at ease straight away. Looking forward to continuing our lessons!Charlotte Briggs ★★★★★ Could not recommend Shift enough. I did Automatic Driving Lessons with them and I passed first time in Gateshead. The app is really good too. Would highly recommend!Benjamin Mcgarry ★★★★★ Lewis is a great instructor very patient, clear, and encouraging he made learning to drive feel easy and enjoyable highly recommend.AJAY chandran ★★★★★ I passed my test today and would like to thank my instructor, Mr. Hassan. He has been incredibly kind, patient, and clear in his explanations, which made the whole learning experience truly positive. Throughout my journey, I had only one instructor and never felt the need to change, thanks to the excellent guidance I received. I’m also grateful to the Shift team for making everything smooth and convenient through the mobile application.Garry Dando ★★★★★ Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Shift and Hassan. Thank you!Thanh Tran ★★★★★ I just passed my driving test. With many thanks to Simon instructor at Shift driving school. I learned a lot and Simon was very patient and guide me well. I am grateful for the excellent teaching and kind lessons I had. Definitely recommend.Sarah ★★★★★ What an AMAZING school this is!! My instructor was brilliant! She was so patient, and I found out much easier ways to do things. Booking was easy, they use an app to manage lessons which is so easy and there is no back and forth with texts and phone calls. If you are looking for driving lessons in Gateshead, use Shift 100%! Thanks so much guys! <3js_loader

How much are Driving Lessons?

Our standard rates for Manual Lessons are as follows:
Manual Driving Lessons Newcastle and Gateshead – £75 for 2 hours
Manual Driving Lessons Middlesbrough and Redcar – £72 for 2 hours
Manual Intensive Driving Lessons Newcastle and Gateshead – £85 for 2 hours

Our standard rates for Automatic Lessons are as follows:
Automatic  Driving Lessons Newcastle and Gateshead – £80 for 2 hours
Automatic  Driving Lessons Middlesbrough and Redcar – £80 for 2 hours
Automatic Intensive Driving Lessons Newcastle and Gateshead – £85 for 2 hours

Different areas can sometimes have different pricing. You can check if we cover your area and the prices by clicking here. We also offer Block Bookings, Intensive Driving Lessons, Automatic Driving Lessons and Pass Plus Courses.

What areas do you cover for driving lessons?

We provide driving lessons in Newcastle, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton and surrounding areas including Jesmond, Dunston, Blaydon, Low Fell, New Marske, Saltburn and Grangetown. You can check if we cover a particular area and the local prices by clicking here.

Where will I go for my first driving lesson?

When getting behind the wheel for the first time, it’s important that the practice areas are suitable but more importantly, safe. For example, if you have booked driving lessons in Newcastle or Gateshead, your instructor may take you to an industrial estate such as Team Valley for your first few lessons until you grasp the basics and can control the car independently.

Can you help with nervous or anxious drivers?

It just so happens that we specialise in nervous and anxious drivers. We want our learners to feel at ease and to leave feeling confident! Our fully qualified driving instructors have years of experience putting learners’ minds at rest through a calm, supportive teaching approach tailored to your needs. So whether you’re booking driving lessons in Newcastle, or even in Middlesbrough, we have an instructor that will be able to help you with this. Please be sure to let us know at the time of booking though so we can allocate you to the most appropriate driving instructor for you.

Do I really need a driving instructor or should I get private tuition?

There is no denying that private tuition can be a useful tool. While it may seem tempting to have a friend or family member provide the majority of your tuition to learn to drive and save some money, taking professional driving lessons in Newcastle, Gateshead, Redcar or Middlesbrough with a qualified instructor is highly recommended. Our instructors can provide objective feedback on your driving abilities without being swayed by personal factors. Approved driving instructors undergo extensive training and testing to earn their certification. They have an in-depth knowledge of road rules, safe driving techniques, and the ability to teach these skills effectively. It is also extremely likely that you will pick up bad driving habits, or out of date techniques.

Do you have female Instructors?

Yes! At Shift Driving School, we offer both male and female driving instructors to suit your personal preference. We understand that learning to drive is a personal experience, and having the option to choose between male and female instructors can help make students feel more comfortable and confident.

Denise W.
Denise W.
1732480140
I 10000000% recommend this driving school my instructor has been appsalutly amazing he had so much patience and really helped me through all my lessons then he recommend me a nervous course which really helped me as I really struggled with my nerve on my test but I finally done it and passed my test and I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for lewis so thank u sooooo much :)
Amarah L.
Amarah L.
1737135660
Lewis was a very patient and reassuring driving instructor and couldn’t recommend him enough! Definitely couldn’t have passed without him and shift thanks!
Laura W.
Laura W.
1722025864
Recently had my first lesson with Alex at shift and was made to feel very comfortable. After several other instructors he made me feel at ease with my nerves and spoke me through what we’d be doing and boosted my confidence, can’t thank him enough and hope to be passed soon with his teaching
Georgia P.
Georgia P.
1687349847
The best driving school. Not only reliable but really friendly instructors. They are open and honest to help you improve whilst always being kind and helping you. I could not thank them enough for helping me pass first time. They are an amazing driving school and I highly recommend them if you want a reliable instructor who won’t knock your confidence.
James B.
James B.
1719080802
Thanks to Kelli’s expertise, teaching and support, I passed my driving test today on my first attempt! I cannot recommend her and Shift Driving School highly enough to anyone looking to learn to drive confidently and efficiently.My experience with Shift Driving School was fantastic, from contacting them to arrange lessons to my instructor, Kelli, who was amazing and whose lessons I thoroughly enjoyed. I will miss my weekly lessons going forward!With Kelli’s guidance, I saw great progress in a short amount of time. Her patience, positivity, and encouragement was fantastic throughout the entire process. Kelli takes time to get to know you, and I can safely say she is the kindest and most supportive driving instructor you will have.A big thanks again to Kelli for her outstanding instruction and support throughout my journey. I would never have passed without you.
Charlotte B.
Charlotte B.
1756571367
Could not recommend Shift enough. I did Automatic Driving Lessons with them and I passed first time in Gateshead. The app is really good too. Would highly recommend!
Sophie L.
Sophie L.
1723061474
Thomas G.
Thomas G.
1753794756
I just passed my driving test this morning and I honestly couldn’t be happier! A massive thank you to my instructor, Ciaran at Shift Driving School — he made the whole learning process so easy and completely stress-free. Compared to other instructors I’ve had in the past, learning with Ciaran was like night and day. He’s calm, patient, clear with his instructions, and always made me feel confident behind the wheel.The lessons were always well-structured, and Shift’s booking system through their app is super convenient and organised — no hassle at all. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish, and I never had a single issue.I genuinely couldn’t have done it without Ciaran’s support and guidance. If you’re looking for a great instructor and a reliable driving school, I highly recommend Ciaran and Shift. Thank you again!
Tarek H.
Tarek H.
1714456784
Great service. Alex showed a lot of commitment.He is highly recommended as a driving instructor. Follow his directions and get you pass the test.
Adz
Adz
1711642767
Can't rate shift highly enough. My instructor Alex was exceptional. He always motivated me and fully had my best interests at heart. Highly recommend!!!
Benjamin M.
Benjamin M.
1756246276
Lewis is a great instructor very patient, clear, and encouraging he made learning to drive feel easy and enjoyable highly recommend.
Abbie R
Abbie R
1689940052
Alex was a fantastic driving instructor. He was always calm, and gave clear, easy-to-follow instructions which made me feel confident when driving. I passed first time so I would definitely recommend Shift.
×
js_loader