Driving Lessons in Santry
Santry lessons, from someone who knows every road and test route in Dublin 9.
Which lessons suit you in Santry?
Total beginner - Santry
Starting from scratch? Your EDT begins in the estates around Santry Demesne. You build to Swords Road and Shanowen Road once your basics are in place.
Start EDTPretest ready
Test booked? Focused sessions on the Swords Road junctions, DCU area traffic, and the Finglas test centre routes through Santry.
Book Test PrepAutomatic preference
Prefer automatic? Our automatic instructors cover Santry and know the Finglas test routes. Same roads, no clutch worry.
Automatic LessonsDriving in Santry teaches you the hard stuff
Swords Road is one of the busiest routes on the northside, with traffic flowing between the city and the airport. Santry Avenue has school traffic from DCU and the local schools. Shanowen Road is residential but connects to the Ballymun Road and carries heavy through-traffic. Learning in Santry means busy dual carriageways, university traffic, and major junction work.
Nearby Test Centre
Finglas, 4km away (10 mins). Often includes Santry routes in test itinerary.
Key Local Roads
Swords Road (R132), Santry Avenue, Shanowen Road, Coolock Lane, Lorcan Drive.
Your 12 EDT lessons on Santry roads
From Lorcan Drive estates to the Swords Road (R132). Each EDT lesson builds on the last.
L1-2: Controls and Positioning
First lessons cover seat position, mirrors, and getting the car moving smoothly. Lorcan Drive through the Santry estates gives you a wide, quiet road with gentle bends to find your feet on without pressure.
Learn about EDTL3-4: Direction Changes and Speed
Turning left and right at junctions, managing speed through residential areas. Santry Avenue runs east from the Swords Road and the parked cars either side teach you to hold your position and judge gaps early.
EDT detailsL5-6: Complex Positioning and Hazards
Reading hazards ahead and positioning correctly at multi-lane junctions. Coolock Lane mixes residential with light industrial and the narrow older sections put your hazard awareness to the test.
Test preparationL7-8: Sharing the Road and Traffic
Interacting with buses, cyclists, and pedestrians at shared spaces. Shanowen Road is busy during DCU term time with students walking, cycling, and cutting across junctions. Good preparation for sharing the road.
Test preparationL9-10: Complex Junctions and Speed Management
Higher-speed road work and multi-lane junctions. The Swords Road (R132) dual carriageway puts everything together. Lane discipline, mirror checks, and filtering through busy bus lane sections near the Omni Park roundabout.
View optionsL11-12: Calm and Night Driving
Consolidating all skills and building consistency. Evening lessons on Swords Road heading south past Morton Stadium give real low-light driving experience on a road that is still live but manageable at that hour.
Book nowDriving lessons in Santry on the Swords Road corridor
The Swords Road (R132) runs straight through Santry and it is one of the busiest northside routes in the city. Dual carriageway sections, bus lanes, and fast-moving commuter traffic make it the kind of road you need to be comfortable on before test day.
We pick up from Omni Park Shopping Centre, Santry Demesne car park, the Dublin Bus stop on Swords Road, or DCU main entrance depending on where suits you. Female instructors are available on request.
Your EDT works outward from the quieter estates on Lorcan Drive, where you build clutch control and basic manoeuvres. From there your instructor moves you to Santry Avenue, then Shanowen Road, then the Swords Road itself.
Single Manual lessons cost €53.27. A 6-pack is €52.50 per lesson and a 12-lesson EDT is €49 per lesson, totalling €587.95 for the full programme. Automatic lessons start at €61.41 single, or €54.94 per lesson on a 12-pack. Pretest packages are €183.63 for manual (including car hire) and €193.81 for automatic.
Your test is at Finglas Test Centre on Jamestown Road, about 10 minutes from Santry. The routes from Finglas cover the Swords Road corridor, so you will know them well before you sit.
Pickup points in Santry
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Omni Park Shopping Centre
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Santry Demesne car park
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Dublin Bus stop on Swords Road
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DCU main entrance
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Your home, work, or college
Passed at Finglas. Here is what they said.
My instructor was Richard and I did lessons 3-12 with him. I had a great experience learning with Richie. He is calm, patient and focused on teaching me to drive safely and confidently over trying to rush the process which I really appreciated. I split my lessons between the instructors car and my own and feel confident in my driving now. When I had issues with my log book from my previous instructor, Richie helped me get this resolved and logged all my lessons promptly which can be an issue with other schools/instructors. I would highly recommend anyone to learn with Richie and feel like I got great value for my money working with him and I am now able to drive safely and confidently now.
Nsikak took driving lessons with RSA School of Motoring. Had my 12 EDT lessons with Andy O’Shea. Being a beginner, he was patient and took me through all the basics with no rush and repeated things if he needed to. His concern was helping me become a safe and competent driver than just ticking test tips and tricks boxes. All round good experience.
Prend took driving lessons with RSA School of Motoring. Driving lessons - I had lessons with Shane (based in the Rush area) who really knew his stuff and I would highly recommend. He was very friendly and could explain everything in detail and I have since passed my test.
Cian took driving lessons with RSA School of Motoring. my instructor was Richard and i did all my lessons with him. i now feel extremely confident in my driving skills after my 12 lessons with richard. he doesn’t rush you and is always very calm and understanding during the lessons. i would highly recommend richard to anyone looking to learn how to drive.
Lesson prices for Santry drivers
Pay by the lesson or book a full 12-lesson EDT package. No hidden fees.
€53.27 Manual €61.41 Automatic 3 Lessons
€158.17 €52.72/ea Manual €180.57 €60.19/ea Automatic 6 Lessons
€315.01 €52.50/ea Manual €353.71 €58.95/ea Automatic 12 Lessons (Full EDT)
€587.95 €49.00/ea Manual €659.24 €54.94/ea Automatic Pretest (1 hour)
€183.63 Manual €193.81 Automatic
4.7 stars from 814+ reviews
Pretest Preparation
Once your EDT is complete, book a one-hour pretest lesson to assess your readiness before Finglas test centre.
FAQs from Santry learners
How much do driving lessons in Santry cost?
Manual lessons start at €49 per hour when you book the 12-lesson EDT package, or €53.27 for a single lesson. Automatic lessons start at €54.94 per hour (12-pack) or €61.41 for a single lesson.
Where will I do my driving test?
Santry learners test at Finglas Test Centre. Routes come through the Swords Road and Shanowen Road. We practise those routes in your lessons.
Do you offer automatic driving lessons in Santry?
Yes. We have automatic instructors in the Santry area. Same EDT programme, same routes along Swords Road and Santry Avenue.
How do I book driving lessons?
Call us or book online. We will match you with an instructor who knows Swords Road, Santry Avenue, and the Finglas test routes.
What is the EDT programme?
EDT (Essential Driver Training) is 12 compulsory lessons for learner drivers. It covers hazard awareness, defensive driving, and the skills for your driving test. In Santry, the busy roads mean you get real-world experience from early on.