Driving lessonsSantry
Finglas test centre is about eight minutes from Santry by road, so you can prepare on roads you come to know well. We come to you, and every hour you pay for is an hour of driving.
Why Santry learners choose us
There is no rail station in Santry, so getting to a lesson can take longer than the lesson itself. Our driving lessons in Santry skip that step, because the car comes to you.
The car comes to you
Your instructor picks you up from home, from Saint Aidans CBS or from your job in Santry, then drops you back. It costs nothing extra, so you get a full hour at the wheel.
Taught by tester-trained ADIs
Our instructors hold RSA approval as Approved Driving Instructors and were trained by former driving testers. They know what a tester looks for, which helps when you get ready for Finglas, the centre closest to Santry.
No raised voices
Lessons are calm, and nobody in our cars shouts. Nervous drivers get time to settle in, and the dual controls mean your instructor can step in quietly when needed.
Told when you are ready
If you are ready for the test, we say so. If you are not, we tell you exactly what is missing instead of booking hours you do not need.
Clutch or no clutch
Pick manual or automatic for EDT and pretest in Santry. A manual pass covers both kinds of car, while an automatic pass is limited to automatics, shown as code 78 on your licence.
Your choice of instructor
We match you with an instructor who suits you, and a female instructor is available on request. Just mention it on the form or when you ring us.
Manual driving lessons Santry
In a manual, the first lessons are about clutch control: moving off, stopping smoothly and not stalling when you pull away from a junction. Once that clicks, lessons take in Santry Avenue and the Swords Road, where you practise matching your gear to your speed, and later the Ballymun Road. A manual licence lets you drive manual and automatic cars, so you will never be stuck if the only car available has a gearstick. Single manual lessons are €53.27.
Book manual lessons ↗Automatic driving lessons Santry
Automatic driving lessons in Santry suit learners who want to focus on observation and road position without juggling gears. You still learn every skill the test asks for, and pick-up works the same way. Keep the licence rule in mind, though: pass in an automatic and you can only drive automatics, which is what code 78 means. A single automatic lesson is €61.41, and the automatic EDT course is €659.24.
Book automatic lessons ↗
Santry driving lesson prices
These are the same prices you would pay anywhere we teach, Santry included. No booking fee, no stored card, and you can pay online or by phone.
EDT lessons in Santry
Before your test, the RSA requires you to complete Essential Driver Training, 12 set lessons with an Approved Driving Instructor. You do them while on your learner permit, and each one gets signed off in your logbook. Some foreign licence holders do a shorter version of six lessons.
In Santry, your EDT lessons can start at your door or at a pick-up point such as Saint Pappin's Hall. You pay €587.95 for the manual course or €659.24 for the automatic one. Extra lessons beyond the 12 are only suggested if something is genuinely missing.
What the EDT covers ↗Three test centres close to Santry
Santry is well placed for the test. Finglas is the nearest centre at 4.2 km, about 8 minutes by road. Killester is 5.9 km and about 10 minutes, and Raheny is 6.5 km and about 11 minutes. If none of those has a date that suits, Churchtown is 13.5 km away, around 24 minutes, and may have an earlier slot.
Whichever you book, the pretest lesson is an hour on that centre's routes, followed by the test in the same car. Finglas is the obvious first choice, but a couple of extra minutes to Killester or Raheny costs little if it gets you tested sooner. Pretest with car hire is €183.63 manual or €193.81 automatic.
Lessons on the roads around Santry
Your first lessons in Santry begin wherever you are collected. That might be home, or a spot that suits you better, like Santry Community Resource Centre, rather than your front door. From there your instructor picks roads that match where you are, starting simple and adding more as your confidence grows.
As you progress you will drive Santry Avenue and the Ballymun Road, and later roads further out. Students can be met at Dominican College of Eccles Street when class ends, which saves a trip home before the lesson. It also saves a parent the drive, since pick-up is part of every lesson we teach here.
Ballymun is the next area over, little more than a kilometre away, and Beaumont and Whitehall also have their own pages on this site. If you split your week between Santry and one of them, say so when you book and we can collect you from whichever place suits on the day.
Find an instructor in Santry ↗We also teach near Santry
The EDT: a guide
Your EDT logbook is the record of all 12 lessons, signed by your instructor each time. Bring it to every lesson. When the last box is signed and your instructor says you are ready, you can book Finglas, Killester or Raheny knowing that nothing in the logbook is left undone.
What we teach ↗ All lesson prices ↗A few good questions.
Where can I be picked up in Santry?
At home, at school or at work, and you are dropped back at the end. If one of the shops on the Swords Road is easier, such as Tesco or Lidl, that works too. Pick-up is included in the €53.27 lesson price.
Which centre suits a learner from Santry best?
Finglas is nearest, 4.2 km and about 8 minutes away. Killester and Raheny are 10 and 11 minutes. Go with whichever offers the date you want, and book a pretest lesson there so the routes are familiar.
Can a female driving instructor teach me in Santry?
Yes. Ask for a female instructor on the form or when you call 01 902 3100, and we will match you with one for your lessons in Santry. All our instructors are RSA approved, whoever you are matched with.
What do I need before booking lessons in Santry?
Pass your theory test, then apply to the NDLS for your learner permit. Once you have it, fill in the form on this page or ring us, and we will set you up with an instructor and your first EDT lesson.
Start your lessons in Santry
Ring 01 902 3100 or send the form. We will find you a driving instructor in Santry and arrange your first pick-up.