Learn to drive with confidence.

Surrey Downs Driving Academy is a female-led driving school dedicated to empowering you to become a skilled and confident driver. Our personalised teaching techniques will help you pass your test with ease. Join us on the road to driving mastery.

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About us

Learning to drive isn't just about passing a test; it's about gaining confidence, enjoying the journey, and becoming a safe, skilled driver for life.

With over 20 years of experience, we prioritise your progress and enjoyment behind the wheel. At SDDA, it's about quality road time and personalised instruction tailored to your needs. We don't believe in stationary lessons or endless hours of theory; we believe in practical progress, fun, and safety.

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey together, where every lesson is a step closer to independence and freedom on the road.

Please note that we are only able to offer manual driving lessons at this time.

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First Lesson

£20/22.5

Weekday/Weekend per hour

  • 2 hour Initial Lesson
  • Get a feel for our teaching!
  • Manual transmission
Get started
Standard Lesson

£40/45

Weekday/Weekend per hour

  • 2 hours per Lesson
  • Learning to Drive!
  • Manual transmission
Get started
Prepaid 10hr Block

£39/44

Weekday/Weekend per hour

  • 2 hours per Lesson
  • Save £10 by prebooking!
  • Manual transmission
Get started
Driving Test Car Hire
(for students only)

£39/44

Weekday/Weekend per hour

  • Full support on test day
  • Use of instructors car in test
  • Pre-test practice session to warm up
  • Transport to and from test centre
Additional Training
(Pass Plus)

£40/45

Weekday/Weekend per hour

  • Reduce insurance premiums
  • Gain more confidence on the road
  • Refresher after not driving for a long time
  • Minimum 6 hours booking

Book a lesson!

Booking a Lesson

Call or text (not WhatsApp) to book a lesson on 07774 117112.

When sending an enquiry text about driving lessons, please include:

  • Full name
  • Provisional licence status (Please confirm you have it)
  • Preferred lesson times & availability
  • Where you are based (Please check you are within our coverage zone)
Contact Us

Phone: 07774 117112

Teaching hours: 9:00AM - 6:00PM (Please note that call and text responses may occur outside of teaching hours) 

Coverage Area

Stages of Learning to Drive:

Stage 1 
Obtain Your Provisional License

The first crucial step in learning to drive is acquiring your provisional license. You can obtain this document through various avenues, such as the DVLA website or your local post office. Ensure you have all necessary documentation and information ready to complete this process efficiently.

Stage 2 
Book Your Lessons

Once you have obtained your provisional driving licence, you are ready to begin your driving lessons. For insurance purposes, we are unable to commence lessons without a valid provisional licence.

We invite you to review our Lesson Prices page for detailed information about our services. When you are ready to book your first session, please contact us via text message (preferred) at 07774 117112. Telephone calls will be returned outside of teaching hours.

Our experienced instructors are committed to delivering comprehensive, personalised tuition to help you develop the skills and confidence needed to become a safe, capable driver.

Stage 3
Learn to Drive

Consistency is essential at this stage of your training. Attend all scheduled lessons, keep your payments up to date, and complete all requirements, including your reflective log on our Total Drive app, to ensure steady progress towards your practical test.

Please note: You must pass your theory test before you can apply for your practical exam. This is a mandatory requirement and must be completed before advancing further in your driving journey.

Stage 4
Prepare for your test

When your instructor believes you're prepared, it's time to consider booking your practical driving test. Your instructor will conduct mock exams to assess your readiness. Before scheduling the test, ensure you possess a valid driving theory certificate, and then visit the DVLA website to secure your testing slot.

Stage 5
Complete your driving test

Your instructor will provide detailed information about your test as the date approaches. In the meantime, prepare by maintaining consistent practice and attending all scheduled lessons. Ensure you have successfully completed your theory test, and remember to bring your provisional driving licence with you to the test centre on the day of your exam.

Reviews

See other pupils who have passed on our Facebook Page

I found Helen on Google, and she replied to my message quickly with lots of helpful information, which made it easy to decide she was the right instructor for me.

I was a very nervous learner, but Helen was patient and supportive throughout. She gave me lots of positive feedback and really helped boost my confidence. We practiced not only around the test routes but also in unfamiliar areas, which gave me the skills and confidence to drive on a variety of roads.

Closer to my test, Helen made time for extra lessons to make sure I felt fully prepared. On the test day, she was great, we went for a practice drive and she talked through everything step by step so I knew exactly what to expect.

Thanks to Helen, I passed first time. I would recommend Helen to anyone learning to drive, in particular those who are nervous.

Esme-Kate, 2025

Helen is an outstanding instructor who helped me not only pass my Pass Plus, but truly exceed all expectations throughout the course. She's incredibly patient, kind, and brings a warm, reassuring presence to every lesson, not to mention her hilarious sense of humour that makes the whole experience genuinely fun.

Her teaching style is engaging, clear, and confidence-boosting, and she creates an environment where you feel completely safe and supported behind the wheel. I enjoyed every single lesson and came away with life-long skills and, most importantly, confidence. I couldn’t recommend her more highly!

Samar, 2025

I couldn’t have asked for a better driving instructor. Helen made me feel so comfortable during my lessons, we had lots of fun and she is great company while driving and is an amazing teacher. I was very anxious about my first lesson but as we kept doing more lessons I got more confident. We took every lesson at whatever pace I felt comfortable with. Each lesson I gained more confidence and was surprised how each time I was doing things I was to scared to do the lesson before.

To prepare for my test we went on the possible test routes, did parking practice, practiced the questions and did mock tests she also talked through the whole test process so I knew what it would be like. The day of my test we had a last lesson and went through everything again she made sure I was calm and reassured me that I can do it.

I passed first time and was so happy and appreciative of Helen for getting me to that point. I am grateful I had her as my instructor

Eloise, 2025

Helen is a fantastic driving instructor! I started driving with another instructor before coming to Helen.

A previously nervous driver, Helen’s supportive and patient teaching style helped quickly boost my confidence. Helen’s lessons were always fun and enjoyable, even when tackling the more challenging manoeuvres. I always looked forward to my driving lessons and would wholeheartedly recommend Helen to anyone who is learning to drive.

Lily, 2025

Helen was recommended to me by a friend whose son passed with her. She taught both my daughter and son, both passed quickly under her care. I recommended her in turn to another friend, whose daughter also passed.

Helen has such a calm, composed and beautiful manner with the kids she teaches. She produces calm and composed drivers.

Both my kids loved her, both passed quickly under her care. And I now trust both my kids to be calm and competent drivers. I cannot recommend Helen highly enough. She loves her work, she genuinely enjoys teaching and she genuinely bonds with her students.

Lucy, 2025

I was recommended Helen by my daughter. I am an older driver, Helen had so much patience and understanding of my worries and concerns about driving. She took each lesson slowly, taking her time with me explaining each part of the lesson.

Before I took my test, she took me on mock tests and drove different routes around my area to get me used to different road conditions. Helen was truly amazing with all of the support, kindness and understanding of being an older driver.

I would recommend Helen to teach you to drive.

Anna, 2025

FAQ

Give us a text (preferred) or a call (won't be answered within teaching hours) at 07774 117 112 to schedule your first manual driving lesson when you're ready. We will provide you with all the information you need to book further lessons, complete your reflective reviews and make payments through the Total Drive App.

Total Drive is an award-winning app we use to manage lessons, payments, and pupil progress. It helps us keep everything organised in one place so your lessons run smoothly, payments are secure, and you can clearly see your progress toward passing your test. 

Yes. Once you become a pupil, we’ll send you a link to download the app for free on your iPhone or Android device. This allows you to view your lesson schedule, receive reminders, track your progress, and make payments easily. 

You’ll receive login details when you join us. From there, you can request lesson times via the app or contact us directly.  

You pay securely using the payment options we’ve enabled in the Total Drive app. You can purchase single lessons or lesson packages, and your payment history is stored for your records. 

Yes. Total Drive automatically sends you reminders before each lesson so you never forget. You can also check your upcoming lessons in the app anytime.

Please check the Coverage Area

Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to offer automatic transmission lessons.

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