Driving Lessons Shaftesbury

732 Driving Test Passes in 2025

More than 1600 Customer Reviews

You Can Ask Us Questions Via WhatsApp

Welcome to our driving school 

Shaftesbury Dorset is a fantastic place to live and work with its rich local history and quaint sleepy streets and of course the famous Gold Hill, but at the same time for many it can be a bit remote and a challenge to access the nearby towns and villages and this is where learning to drive in Shaftesbury can really help you access the outside world with ease. 

Not far from the A303 being able to drive will allow you to gain easy access to the nearby city of Salisbury or the towns of Wincanton or Yeovil and even further afield via the many adjoining routes such the A30 to Sherborne or A350 to Dorchester, Weymouth or Poole for some decent shopping.

Our local team of driving instructors based here in Shaftesbury are able to help you become a safe, considerate and confident driver; we are here to help you gain your much desired freedom and independence. 

It doesn't matter what your previous driving experience is or even if you are a complete beginner, you're driving instructor will treat you as an individual and tailor your driving lessons to help you progress. 

Your First Driving Lesson

If this will be your first driving lessons then please relax, you're driving instructor will pick you up from the arranged meeting point and take you to a quiet suitable area to start your driving lesson, this could be somewhere like Heathfield's Way / Sweetman's Road or Lower Blandford Road by the high school. You're driving instructor might even take you to the Peashmarsh area in nearby Gillingham, but don't worry, if you're driving instructor has to drive you to Gillingham from Shaftesbury for your first driving lessons then they will use this time to talk to you about driving a car and to demonstrate the correct procedure. No time will be wasted. 

If you have had driving lessons before then again please don't worry, all of our driving lessons start off with Q&A, we want to know your history or back ground of driving experience or knowledge, and don't worry as this isn't a test, we just want to know where you are at with your driving lessons so we know where to start off with your driving lessons. We don't want to waste time unnecessarily trying to teach you what you already know. 

If your still having doubts about starting your driving lessons with us and feel a little nervous, please take a look at our great collection of over 1600 customer reviews left for our team of driving instructors here at 2nd2None Driving School. 

Driving Instructor Training in Dorset

Become a local driving instructor in Shaftesbury with 2nd2None Driving School

Are you planning a career change? Start the journey to becoming an approved driving instructor in Shaftesbury today.
Ask our team for more details

Manual Driving Lessons Shaftesbury

Taking your driving lessons in a manual car is still very much the most popular option, passing your driving test in a manual car will give you the most options with your driving licence and allow you to drive all Category B vehicles including automatic cars. 

With our local manual driving lessons our driving instructors will be happy to give you regular weekly driving lessons at a time that suites your own availability, this can be the same time each week or you can mix it up a little and have your driving lessons at different times of the day. This can prove useful especially as your own driving progresses as it will allow you to experience many different traffic conditions that often change throughout the day. 

Manual Driving Lessons in Shaftesbury will cost you the following:

2hr Driving Lesson £90 / 10hr Block Booking done in 2hr sessions £425

Keane Neill

lorraine was a very helpful and easy going instructor who easily adapts and will teach you the way you will learn best you will have a great chat with her and enjoy her lessons and if your planning on going yeovil she is in-fact a yeovil gally so she knows the ins and outs better than any.

second2none driving has been a massive help and very organised holly was able to rebook and find a new test faster than i ever could have granted was trying to kill me off with a 6.45 leave but i passed in the end so i am grateful

i would recommend this company if you are wanting to get through the test fast and not overly priced and won’t make you overpay for lessons you don’t need.

once again book with lorraine she is a legend

Maddie Vincent

My experience with Lorraine at 2nd2none has been amazing , from the first lesson I had with her she was supportive , kind and understanding , her warm personality made the experience so easy. Lorraine goes above and beyond for her students she tailors every lesson to that individual and makes them feel at ease whilst leaning . Her patience and and encouragement had a massive role in my success boosting my confidence and being a perfectionist. Lorraine's dedication to her students is exceptional , whilst squeezing me in whenever she could even giving up her own weekends to make sure I felt ready and confident . I couldn’t recommend her more thank you so much for everything and ( Holly and Zoe for finding me loads of test )

Abbie Farris

I couldn’t recommend 2nd 2 none enough they have been amazing! Learning with glenn has been great, throughout my journey glenn has never given up and had a good level of patience with me i’ve really enjoyed my lessons and Holly has been amazing at finding tests which i’m really thankful for. Thank you all!

Maddison Main

I can highly recommend anyone to 2ND2NONE they have been highly organised with booking lessons, taking payments and always putting in 100% to my driving. A special thanks to Glenn for his time, flexibility and patience with teaching me to drive. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with you

Kat Walker

I haven’t driven for 5 years but having James as my instructor has really helped me considering I’ve been a nervous wreck most of my lessons! I can’t fault james at all he’s been amazing with everything and helping me calm down when I’m panicking or worrying. Thank you so much James you’ve been great.

Bryony Sherlock

I passed today first time with two minors in Dorchester after an intensive driving course with James. I’ve suffered with extreme driving anxiety and found that James put me at complete ease. He focused on the things I was struggling with and anything I felt less sure of. He explained things so that I could easily understand. He was very reassuring and helped build my confidence up tremendously. We even took a trip on the motorway after I expressed my concerns about them. I couldn’t thank James enough for all he’s done, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without him.

Rhianna Cowdy

I had my very first lesson ever on June 20th, and I passed today on October 21st! Pete was a fantastic teacher, he was calm, friendly and relatable with his teaching. He adjusted his teaching style to fit the person, and always open to try new ways to make it work. He was extremely generous with his schedule, working early mornings and late nights, and I never felt I was being rushed towards my test, or being held in lessons for too long. Getting my license was a difficult thing for me to deal with but Pete did everything on his end to reduce those worries

Tarrick Hastings

I can’t thank Pete enough for all the help and support he gave me throughout my driving journey. Even though I didn’t pass my first test (totally my own fault!), Pete never made me feel like a failure. Instead, he helped me get straight back behind the wheel, boosted my confidence, and got me booked in for another test as soon as possible.

As someone with ADHD, learning new things can be a challenge — especially something as complex as driving. But Pete always explained things in a way that made sense to me. He was patient, calm, and knew how to adapt his teaching style to fit how I learn best.

If you’re looking for an instructor who actually cares and takes the time to understand you, I highly recommend Pete. Genuinely one of the best out there

Poppy Rowell

I had a great experience with this driving school and couldn’t be happier with my lessons. From the start, they made me feel comfortable, confident, and genuinely happy behind the wheel.

My instructor, Kevin, was excellent. He was patient, calm, and very encouraging, which made a huge difference in my confidence. He explained everything clearly and always made sure I felt ready before moving on to the next step. Even when I was nervous, Kevin stayed supportive and helped me believe in myself.

Thanks to this driving school and especially Kevin, I now feel confident and capable as a driver. I would highly recommend them and Kevin to anyone looking for a driving instructor

Ellen Mutton

My instructor Kevin Adams was amazing, he taught me everything I needed to know in a way that worked for me and always had the patience to go over anything I needed more practice on. He really helped me build my confidence and he always believed in me !!😆 I would 100% recommend. Thank you again Kevin and also everyone at 2nd2none for being so helpful.

Valentine Foote

I first came to Wayne a day after my 17th birthday, with basic driving ability and a small amount of road knowledge. We chatted for a while about my prior experiences and then decided - under a watchful eye - that I would be fine with taking the wheel and embarking on our first session. For the majority of our first lesson I was left to drive the way I saw fit, with Wayne frequently offering crucial advice and guidance, as well as reassurance that I was doing the right thing.

His 10+ years as a driving instructor meant that I could be confident that I was in safe hands; and as a new driver, having an instructor who is as knowledgeable as himself put me massively at ease when confronted with new and difficult situations. Each week I was met with a smile and compliments about my previous drive, helping to put me at easy before I’d even switched on the ignition.

I found that having someone who is not only passionate about their job, but is also a kind and friendly person helped me massively during my whole learning experience. I ended up passing my test 1st go, with 10 hours of lessons with Wayne

Jude Greyner

Having started with their under-17 lessons, and then moving onto full lessons with Wayne Laurence, 2nd2NONE have been excellent throughout the whole process. Wayne is an excellent instructor, being very supportive and encouraging, but also very clear on where I needed to improve, getting me to pass within 5 months of lessons. I would highly recommend Wayne as an instructor for anyone in or around Yeovil, and 2nd2NONE as a whole.

Joshua Parkman

Passed today thanks to my lovely Instructor Sarah. It’s been a joy to learn with her over these past few months and she is a top tier instructor. Every lesson felt like I was learning something new and was structured well whilst at the same time always cementing the basics and core skills needed to drive. I feel very lucky to have had an instructor like her and would recommend her and 2nd to none to anyone learning to drive.

Seth Collis

My instructor was Sarah Brown and she was incredibly supportive throughout my learning, we worked at a good pace for me and explored loads of Dorset and Somerset and when we decided to go to test getting a test was really easy through the company. It was a great experience so thank you!

Automatic Driving Lessons Shaftesbury

So why take your driving lessons in an automatic car? 

Learn to drive in and automatic car is becoming more and more popular and not just from people that have struggled learning to drive in a manual car. 

Learning in an automatic is so much simpler, it takes away a lot of the stress and greatly speeds up most peoples progress when learning to drive. There is no clutch of fidgety gear stick to worry about, you dont have to worry about over revving that noisy engine as the car changes to the appropriate gear for you as you speed up or slow down. 

Automatic Driving Lessons in Shaftesbury will cost you the following:

2hr Driving Lesson £90 / 10hr Block Booking done in 2hr sessions £425

Ebony Farrant

I can’t recommend John Park enough. Thanks to his patience, support, and excellent teaching, I passed my driving test first time.

As someone with dyslexia, I was quite nervous about learning to drive, but John was incredibly understanding and adapted his teaching style to suit me. He explained everything clearly, never made me feel pressured, and always made sure I fully understood before moving on.

His calm, professional, and encouraging approach really helped build my confidence, and I always felt comfortable during lessons. I’m very grateful for his support and would highly recommend John Park to anyone looking for a fantastic driving instructor

Matilda Stone

I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better driving instructor. From day one, John was incredibly patient, friendly and supportive, which made learning to drive feel calm and stress-free. Every lesson helped me build real confidence behind the wheel.

Mistakes were treated as learning opportunities, not failures, which made a huge difference to my confidence.

Thanks to John’s guidance, I felt fully prepared and confident for my driving test. If you’re looking for an instructor who genuinely cares about your success and makes learning to drive an enjoyable experience, I couldn’t recommend John more highly

Brian Holloway

2nd2NONE Driving School is, in my opinion, just the best outfit in the land. My instructor, Dan, was patient, friendly and most helpful, all the while being humourous and understanding of my age (76). I would highly recommend them.

Vijai Pathmanathan

Thank you so much, Dan, and everyone at 2nd2None Driving School.

I truly appreciate Dan’s humbleness, kindness, and endless patience throughout my learning journey. Your support and guidance made a huge difference, and I couldn’t have achieved this without you.

Thank you once again! 🚗🎉

Intensive Driving Courses Shaftesbury

Pass your driving test fast with one of our intensive driving courses here in Shaftesbury.

  • Courses to suit your needs, from 18 hours to 48 hours

  • The option of manual and automatic cars

  • Your driving test booked and guaranteed for the final day of your course

  • Free re-test just in case you don't pass first time

  • Pay a deposit when you book and pay the remaining balance later on

  • Courses run Mon-Fri between 9-4

  • A great local reputation with great results from our courses

  • Over 1600 customer reviews from local passes

PRE-17 Driving Tuition

Get off to a head start with your driving lessons from just 10 years of age at one of our private training areas. The driving lessons are held once a month at Motcombe Turnpike Showground in Shaftesbury and West Woodlands Showground in Frome

Our Under 17's have proven to be very popular with local teenagers and each month we welcome more and more regular pupils back to further their driving experience. 

To book you place at our PRE-17's, please follow the button link below

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C1 Driver Training Shaftesbury

James did an amazing job teaching me for my C1 over a couple of days. I managed to pass first time! After James support, I would 100% recommend 2nd2none for anyone!

Mikey Frost

C1 AMBULANCE TRAINING Dorset
C1 Driver Training in Dorset

I’ve just passed my C1 driving license with 2nd2none. James was a great instructor, the course is well organised. Would recommend 2nd2none to anyone looking to do their C1 license.

Megan Gosney

Become A Driving Instructor in Shaftesbury

Have you got what it takes to be a driving instructor?

  • Local driving instructor training
  • Train around your current commitments
  • All training will be done on a one to one basis
  • Flexible payment option
  • Option to earn while you learn
  • Guaranteed position here with our driving school once qualified

Give our team a call today to discus becoming a driving instructor here in Shaftesbury.

Driving Instructor Training Dorset

Our head office is based in Shaftesbury, please feel free to call in to our office anytime between

Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm to speak to us about your driving lessons.

Our office can be found at 

Unit 40a Wincombe Business Park

Shaftesbury

SP7 8FS

01747 440500

How many lessons will I need?

The number of driving lessons you will need will vary depending on many things, including distance to the driving test centre, how often you have a driving lesson, and of course, your own ability to learn and master your driving skills. The DVSA recommends an average of 45 hours with a driving instructor and around 20 hours of private practice. This, of course, can vary, as no two pupils are ever the same, but your driving instructor will do their best to make sure you become a safe and confident driver.

Is one hour of driving lessons enough?

In our experience, a 1-hour driving lesson isn't enough for a learner driver to master the skills being taught, especially at the beginning of their driving lesson journey. Your location can also be a big factor, as the more rural you are, the more time it can take to reach suitable training areas and driving test centers.

A 1-hour driving lesson each week could mean you are learning to drive for over 18 months, and we would normally recommend a 2-hour driving lesson each week, which will reduce your overall learning time down to around 6–8 months.

Can I pass my driving test in Two weeks?

With our intensive driving courses, it is possible for you to pass your driving test in around 6-7 days. Because you are learning intensively, you will normally require fewer hours than you would with weekly driving lessons.

My friend passed in 10 hours

Learning the skills required to not only be a safe and considerate driver but also to reach the driving test standard is extremely unlikely to be achieved with just 10 hours of driving experience.

Sometimes our friends like to impress us by boasting of their own achievements. If a friend did indeed pass their driving test after just 10 hours of driving lessons, what other driving experience had they had previously before taking the driving lessons?

How many hours of driving lessons should I take each week?

The more hours you have, the quicker you will reach the driving test standard and the quicker you will be driving safely and independently. We would recommend a minimum of 2 hours of driving a week, ideally done in one driving lesson. If you did 2 hours of driving lessons twice a week, so 4 hours a week, you would of course progress quicker and save money on the cost of learning to drive.

How will an intensive driving course save me money?

The best thing about intensive driving courses is the time they save you when learning to drive. Because you are taking driving lessons each day for 1-2 weeks, you will remember the skills being taught, and you will actually get more time to practice them than you would with weekly driving lessons. The average amount of time needed for someone learning to drive with weekly driving lessons is 45 hours with an instructor and another 20 hours of private practice. With an intensive driving course, we often find a 36- or 42-hour course is more than enough for a complete beginner to become a safe driver because the training is compacted into 1-2 weeks with a driving test on the final day of your course.

Which is better, Manual or Automatic driving lessons?

It's a personal choice. Manual driving lessons will give you a greater choice of cars that you can drive once you have passed your driving test, but at the same time, manual driving lessons can be a challenge for some as you have to master the clutch and gear selection while also doing everything else. This, of course, can mean learning to drive takes longer and can cost you more.

Automatic lessons can take away a lot of the stress of learning to drive because the car changes gear for you and you only have two pedals, basically a go and stop pedal. Driving can be so much easier and more relaxing. The downside to learning to drive an automatic is that you are somewhat restricted in what you can drive once you pass your driving test; there are not currently as many secondhand automatic cars on the market, and therefore, for anything decent, the price for an automatic car can be higher, although this is likely to change in time as more and more new cars are only being sold as an automatic option, and that is only likely to increase with the arrival of more electric cars on the market.