Best Driving Schools in Halifax for New Drivers
Getting your license in HRM? Here's where Halifax, Dartmouth, and Sackville go to learn to drive—from road test prep to full courses.
Alex T.
7 min read
Learning to drive in Halifax means dealing with rotaries, winter conditions, and the Halifax-Dartmouth bridge merge. You want instructors who know the local roads and the specific test routes. Here’s who delivers.
Sackville & Bedford Area
FL Sackville Driving Academy
With over 18 years of driving instruction experience, FL Sackville Driving Academy has built their reputation on personalized training and road test preparation. They train students specifically on potential road test routes—knowing what the examiner looks for on familiar roads matters.
They also help book earlier road test dates for their students, which in Halifax’s busy testing system is genuinely valuable.
Serves: Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville
Best for: Students wanting route-specific test prep, experienced instruction.
Sackville Driving School
Self-run online theory or in-person classes combined with 10 hours of in-car training. They also offer the Defensive Driving course for removing the N restriction or adding points back to your license.
Best for: Flexible scheduling, defensive driving certification.
NORTHSTAR Driver Training
Family-owned and based right in Sackville. Their full New Driver Education program runs $700 including tax, covering online/in-class theory, in-car training, and road test prep.
Best for: Complete packages, Sackville-based students.
Halifax & Dartmouth
High School Driving Academy
The longest-standing Nova Scotia driving school, operating since 1996. Locally owned, locally operated, and the kind of longevity that only comes from consistently doing good work.
Serves: Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville
Best for: Established reputation, proven track record.
Halifax Driving School
Nova Scotia approved online course with 25 hours of asynchronous theory, 10 hours in-car, and vehicle use for your road test—all for $650 tax included. Language support in English, French, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Chinese, Korean, Bengali, Arabic, and Italian.
Best for: Multilingual students, complete online theory option.
Brave Driver Training
Family-operated since 2016, Brave focuses on first-try road test success. Their full 35+ hour program is Nova Scotia approved, covering Halifax, Dartmouth, and Sackville test locations.
Best for: First-time test takers, family-run service.
Artin Driving School
Operating since 2018, all instructors carry a decade or more of instruction history. They emphasize safety techniques and defensive driving across Halifax, Sackville, Dartmouth, and Bedford.
Best for: Experienced instructors, safety-focused training.
Professor Driving School
Founded by Ali Nazari with over 10 years of driving experience and government certification since 2016. Specializes in defensive driving and road test preparation across Halifax, Dartmouth, and Lower Sackville.
Best for: Defensive driving specialization, road test prep.
Full HRM Coverage
High Class Driving School
They show students the most common road test areas in Halifax, Dartmouth, and Sackville—test-specific preparation that matters when you’re facing the examiner. Their 6-hour defensive driving program is certified by the Department of Transportation.
Best for: Road test area familiarity, defensive driving certification.
Green Zone Academy
Unique programs for both new drivers and internationally licensed drivers working toward Nova Scotia certification. Instruction available in English, Punjabi, Hindi, Persian, and Arabic.
Serves: Halifax, Dartmouth, Lower Sackville, Bedford
Best for: International license conversion, multilingual instruction.
Marc’s Driving Academy
Professional driver education across the HRM area—Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and Sackville. Emphasis on high-quality, professional instruction.
Best for: Professional approach, HRM-wide coverage.
What to Know
Nova Scotia requires 25 hours of theory and 10 hours of in-car instruction for new drivers. Most schools package this as their standard program, but pricing and scheduling flexibility vary.
Road test wait times in Halifax can stretch long—schools that help with booking or have relationships with testing centers offer real value.
Winter driving instruction matters here. Ask if your training includes winter conditions or if that’s separate.
Prices and availability change. Contact schools directly for current program costs and scheduling.
Written by
Alex T.
Alex T. is a local Halifax writer covering the best businesses and experiences in Nova Scotia's capital city.
