Learn to drive in Barking with MS Driving Academy, a DVSA-approved driving school based right here in the borough. We run manual and automatic lessons, intensive courses for learners in a hurry, and we back every lesson with our own MS Smart Drive app so you can see exactly how you are progressing. Lessons are £35 an hour, or £320 for a ten-hour block. We are rated 4.9 on Google and have helped more than 500 learners pass. Ready to start?
We are local. Our office is on Alfreds Way in Barking, and our instructors teach on the roads you will actually be tested on, not roads two towns over. Plenty of the big national schools take your booking through a call centre and then hand your lessons to whichever instructor happens to be free that week. That is not how we work. You get a DVSA-approved instructor who plans your learning around you and sticks with you until you pass.
who teach patiently and adapt to your pace, whether this is your first time behind the wheel or your third attempt at the test.
and over 500 learners passed, with pass photos to prove it.
so you learn in the car that suits your plans.
which tracks your progress lesson by lesson and includes a 30-day free theory trial.
from 9am to 9pm on weekdays and Saturday mornings, so lessons fit around college, uni or shifts.
You will see what a lesson costs before you book, not after a phone call.
A manual licence keeps every door open. You will get comfortable with the clutch, gears and biting point, then move on to junctions, roundabouts and busier roads around Barking. Most learners find the first couple of hours are all about the clutch, and then it clicks. Our instructors have taught hundreds of people through exactly that stage, so nerves about stalling at the lights are nothing new to us.
No clutch, no gear changes, no stalling. Automatic lessons let you put all your attention into steering, observation and road position, which is why a lot of learners pass a little quicker in an automatic. If you have started and stopped learning before, or you get anxious about the mechanical side, automatic is well worth considering. Bear in mind an automatic licence only lets you drive automatic cars.
If you need your licence fast, for a new job, a university place, or a work role that depends on driving, an intensive course condenses your learning into days or a couple of weeks instead of spreading it over months. It suits confident, committed learners who can give it full days. We will assess where you are first and build a course that gets you test-ready without cutting corners. Get in touch and we will put together a plan and a price for you.
/ per hour
Everything you need to get started:
/ for 10 hours
Everything in Standard plan plus:
/ per learner
Fast-track pass tailored to your pace:
The DVSA closed the Barking (Tanner Street) test centre on 3 January 2026. If you are learning in Barking now, you will sit your test at a nearby centre such as Goodmayes, Wanstead, or Hendon. We make sure your lessons cover all the local roads including the A13, A124 Ripple Road, North Circular (A406), and Barking town centre so test day feels familiar.
On the manoeuvres, slow right down. Most learners rush the reverse because they worry about holding other cars up, and that is when the observations slip. Take your time, keep the car creeping, and give yourself space to look properly.
— MS Driving Academy Senior Instructor
Patient, step-by-step guidance for beginners or returning drivers
I couldn’t have asked for a better driving school in Barking. My instructor was patient, friendly and explained everything clearly, which really helped build my confidence. Every lesson was well organised and focused on improving my weaknesses. I passed my test first time and would happily recommend MS Driving Academy to anyone learning to drive.
MS Driving Academy made learning to drive much less stressful than I expected. My instructor was always on time, calm and encouraging, even when I made mistakes. The lessons around Barking and the local test routes prepared me really well, and I felt confident on the day of my practical test. Brilliant service from start to finish.
I started as a complete beginner and was quite nervous behind the wheel. Thanks to the structured lessons and excellent guidance from my instructor, I improved with every session. The flexible lesson times fitted perfectly around my work, and I passed with only a few driving faults. I highly recommend MS Driving Academy to anyone in Barking looking for professional driving lessons.
It varies, but the DVSA’s guideline is around 45 hours of professional lessons plus 22 hours of private practice. Complete beginners often need a bit more, and learners with some experience less. Your instructor will give you an honest steer after the first lesson or two, and you can follow your progress in the app.
£35 an hour, or £320 for a ten-hour block, which saves you £30. Intensive courses are priced to suit the learner, so ask us for a quote.
Manual gives you a licence for any car. Automatic is often quicker to learn and ideal if you will only drive automatics, including electric cars. We offer both and can talk it through with you.
At a nearby centre, most likely Goodmayes (the closest), Wanstead or Hendon. You choose when you book on GOV.UK, and we will make sure your lessons cover the roads around it.
Yes, just tell us when you book.
ook online through our contact page, call 07417527916, or message us on WhatsApp. Once you are set up, you can manage everything in the MS Smart Drive app.
Starting is the hard part, and it takes two minutes. Book your first lesson online, give us a call on 07417527916, or drop us a WhatsApp message. Tell us whether you want manual or automatic (or that you are not sure and want some advice), and we will get you booked in with a local, DVSA-approved instructor who will have you test-ready.
Contact Us
Business Hour
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
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