Sunderland learners told to book driving lessons now as city set to be worst-hit

According to analysis from Rev Monkey UK, search interest for driving lessons in Sunderland is expected to rise by over 56% compared with average monthly figures, putting the city at the top of the list for seasonal demand.

High Pressure on Instructors

The data shows Sunderland typically averages around 300 searches per month for driving lessons, but this is predicted to jump to 468 searches in January 2025. With local instructors already stretched, this surge could leave many learner drivers struggling to secure lesson slots or driving test dates.

Mark Reece, motoring expert at Rev Monkey UK., warned: “Sunderland is expected to see the biggest jump in demand anywhere in the UK this January.

"A 56% surge will put huge pressure on local driving instructors, so learners should be thinking about booking lessons as early as possible.”

Why Sunderland Stands Out

While January is historically the busiest month for learner driver activity across the UK, Sunderland’s predicted increase is well above the national average.

Nearby cities, including York (+54%) and Hull (+42%), are also expected to see significant rises, highlighting a wider regional trend that could affect instructor availability across the North East.

Methodology

Rev Monkey UK analysed search data from Ahrefs for the 50 largest UK towns and cities, comparing each area’s average monthly searches for “driving lessons [city]” with projected January search volumes.

Sunderland emerged as the city with the steepest expected rise. The full dataset is available on request.

Learners in Sunderland are being advised not to wait to book lessons, as January could see local driving instructors booked up quickly.

With demand expected to surge sharply, early planning may be the difference between getting behind the wheel or facing long delays.