Driving Schools are one of the most popular businesses min Kenya today. Anyone who aspires to become a legitimate driver in Kenya has to undergo a driving course, learn how to drive, and most importantly acquire a driving license.
Similarly, driving trainees are required to undergo and pass a driving test after which they are certified by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), giving them a ticket to drive on Kenyan roads.
There are hundreds of driving schools in Kenya today, certainly not every driving school offers good training for new drivers. Some schools will just teach you the basics and leave it at that, others will take you through a vigorous and in-depth exploration of what driving entails.
This explains why you need to choose an upright driving school to train with when you want to learn to drive.
This article looks into a list of the best 10 driving schools in Kenya, highlighting key features such as infrastructure, equipment, quality of training, skills and experience as well as cost.
Top ten driving schools in Kenya:
1. AA of Kenya (Automobile Association of Kenya)
AA Kenya is the largest and oldest automobile association in Kenya. The firm has over 30 branches countrywide, most of which are located in major urban centers. With its head office located at RCP Building, Upper Hill Nairobi, the company has been in operation in the country for more than one hundred years.
AA PREMIER DRIVING SCHOOL is the brand name of the company’s driving school. Established in 1962, it takes credit as the oldest and the best driving school, not only in Kenya but the whole of East Africa. AA Driving School shares its expertise with other automobile clubs in entire Africa.
The school is widely known for its competence when it comes to training drivers and instructors. The school champions safe and responsible driving through its competent and responsible instructors certified by the government of Kenya.
AA Kenya has trained students both at the local and international levels and is recognized by the government of Kenya, East African Countries, international organizations, and cooperate private sector. If you want to become a competent and respected driver in Kenya, then AA Kenya is the best school to train with.
A typical driving course (Saloon car) at AA of Kenya costs approximately Ksh 20,000 inclusive of other charges including the NTSA fee. A motorbike driving course costs approximately Ksh 8000 inclusive of all other charges.
Apart from driving, AA Kenya offers other Automobile related services such as insurance, Towing and Recovery, Touring and Licensing, Training of Instructors, Driver recruitment, Vehicle Valuation, and driver assessment.
AA Driving School Contacts:
Tel: 0709933011
PO Box 40087- Nairobi
Email: aak@aakenya.co.ke
Website: www.aakenya.co.ke
2. Pettans Driving Schools.
Pettans driving school is arguably the most widespread driving school in Kenya with its head office located at Capital House in Moi Avenue, Nairobi. The school has over seventy branches distributed across nine different counties with most of them located in the Nairobi Metropolitan area in all Nairobi Estates.
Upcountry branches are found in central Kenya and eastern regions including Murang’a, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu, and Meru. The school has a fleet of over 300 vehicles that they use to train students in their widespread branches across the country.
A typical driving course at Pettans (saloon car) costs Ksh 13500 while a motorbike cost is Ksh 7500 exclusive of NTSA charges. A plant operator course costs Ksh 45000.
Pettans Driving Schools Contacts:
Head office: Capital House- Moi avenue
P.O Box 1583-00621 Nairobi
Tel -0705050504
-0721328383
Email: info@pettansdrivingschool.co.ke
Website: www.pettansdrivingschool.co.ke
3. Rocky Driving School.
Rocky is another widespread driving school but most of its branches are located in Nairobi City. It is one of the oldest driving schools in Kenya and has trained thousands of drivers countrywide, gaining a good reputation in Nairobi city.
When looking for one of the best driving schools in Nairobi, Rocky should appear among the priorities as it has trained professional drivers to different entities. Rocky has also been entrusted as one of the best trainers for Truck drivers in Kenya, having trained several competent truck drivers.
Rocky charges approximately Ksh 10000 for a typical driving course that consists of 20 lessons. Its head office is located at Factory street in Nairobi city.
Rocky Driving Schools Contacts:
Head Office: Industrial Area, Nairobi.
PO Box 4493-00300, Nairobi.
Tel- 0702552222
Email: info@rocky.co.ke
4. Seniors Driving School.
Seniors is another driving school located within Nairobi CBD and its environs. If you want to Train with Seniors, as they say, then this is the best-fit place. The school has been in existence for a long time and has an upper hand in driving experience and training.
Seniors has its branches spread out across most of the estates in Nairobi and neighboring metropolitan regions, Western and eastern Kenya. The school serves all these regions with its head office located in Roysambu, Kamiti Road, Jeda plaza.
Seniors charge approximately Ksh 12000 to undertake a normal course in driving, which is exclusive of NTSA charges.
Seniors Driving Schools Contacts:
Head office: Kamiti Road, Nairobi.
PO Box 23469-00625, Nairobi.
Tel- 075429461
5. Holiday Driving Schools.
Holiday is a driving school that offers defensive training for its students, therefore if you want a defensive training course in driving, then Holiday is the way to go. Its head office is located in Kiambu Town with branches all over Nairobi City and up-country branches in central and eastern regions.
Holiday offers a variety of courses in driving including beginner courses, advanced courses, endorsements, and many more. A full typical driving course at Holiday cost approximately Ksh 12000 exclusive of NTSA charges.
Holiday Driving Schools Contacts.
Head office: Kiambu Road.
Tel- 0712515151
6. Heltz Driving School.
Heltz is one of the oldest driving schools in Kenya with its head office located in Tom Mboya Street Nairobi. It has other branches across Nairobi city and its environs including the Nairobi Metropolitan areas.
Having trained drivers for more than 37 years, it has gained a reputation as one of the best training centers in Nairobi. It is one of the institutions known to uphold integrity, transparency, efficiency, and accountability in its service delivery.
A typical and normal course at Heltz goes for Ksh 9500, making it one of the cheapest driving schools without compromising the learner’s competence.
Heltz Driving School Contacts.
Head office: Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi.
PO Box 71300-00622, Nairobi.
Tel- 0202223325
7. Top Gear Driving Schools.
Top Gear is a driving school in Nairobi with its head office located at Muthanje House, Kagundo Road. It also has a few branches in several estates in Nairobi. It offers driving courses in all distinguished categories.
Top gear is known to have a very supportive staff who fully support their clients in the application of driving licenses and NTSA online services. They have a high reputation that qualifies their trainees for various driving jobs openings.
However, their charges relatively differ from other driving schools with a typical driving course going for Ksh 18000for a total of 30 lessons.
Top Gear Driving Schools Contacts.
Head office: Kangundo Road, Nairobi.
Tel- 0722784235
Email: info@topgeardrivingschool.co.ke
8. Sony Driving School.
Sony is an unheated driving school located in Nairobi at Mageso Chambers, Mezzanine Floor, Moi Avenue. Very little insider information is known of Sony driving school as it is a resilient one.
Their charges are not well known to the public but it is still affordable. The school does not run a website but they have an active Facebook page that you can visit for more information.
Sony Driving School Contacts.
Head Office: Mezzanine floor, Moi Avenue.
PO Box 7563-00100, Nairobi.
Tel- 0734013338
9. Glory Driving School.
This is another reputable driving school located in Murang’a road. Although the school is not that widespread like Pettans and Holiday, it is reputable with notable alumni who are doing marvelous on Kenyan roads.
The school offers training in all categories in Kenya and has produced a number of competent drivers. To undertake a full course at Glory, it costs around Ksh 12000 which is exclusive of NTSA charges.
Glory Driving School Contacts.
Head office: Mezzanine floor, Moi Avenue.
PO Box 66969-00200, Nairobi.
Tel- 0202221611
Email: sales@glorydriving.com
10. Wings driving School.
Wings driving school has its head office located at Victoria House, Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi. It has other few branches including one at Urumathi House, North view road. The school has sizeable alumni though it is not as famous as others listed above.
They provide a variety of courses in driving and expedite the process of license acquisition for their students. However, what they charge is not available in the public domain but you can visit one of their offices for more information.
Wings Driving School Contacts:
Head office: Victoria House, Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi.
Tel- 0722309415