Airport Driving School

What Airport Driving School does

Airport Driving School Ltd is a privately held Irish driving instruction company headquartered in Finglas, Dublin, founded in 1968. It provides driver training across all major vehicle categories in Ireland — car (EDT, manual, automatic, pretest), HGV (Category C rigid, CE artic), bus and coach (Category D, D1 minibus), jeep and trailer (BE), ambulance C1, motorbike (IBT for AM/A1/A2/A), forklift (RTITB-certified), tractor, and Driver CPC modules — alongside specialized programmes including RSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) qualification support, advanced driving (IAM/Rospa), manual handling, driving-for-work, junior driving for ages 14-17, multilingual lessons, and limited-mobility adapted training. The company operates from physical training centres in Dublin (Finglas HQ, Churchtown, Motorcycle Training Centre in The Ward) and Cork (Ovens), and delivers nationwide coverage through a network of instructors across all 32 counties of Ireland.

The company employs over 80 people, all of whom are RSA-licensed ADI instructors, with select staff holding Rospa Gold & Silver and IAM credentials. There is no proprietary technology platform; the business is fundamentally human-instructor-led with dual-control vehicles and what the company claims is one of the most modern training fleets in Europe. Payment integrations include Humm (installment finance), Revolut, An Post, and credit cards, supporting an e-commerce channel for gift vouchers and confirmed bookings.

Commercially, the company runs a phone-first, sales-led go-to-market: customers call 01 806 8000 or request a callback, the booking team confirms course type, location, vehicle, instructor, date, time and price, and payment is taken online for confirmed bookings. Pricing is unit-based per lesson hour (€43 motorbike up to €89.50 bus/coach) with gift vouchers from €50 and Humm installment finance available on eligible courses. Customer segments are primarily B2C learner drivers, with secondary B2B exposure through employer driving-for-work programmes and forklift certification. The company is independently owned with no disclosed parent, investor, or funding history; CEO Tom Murphy is a member of the Institute of Master Tutors of Driving.

Name

Airport Driving School

Legal name

Airport Driving School Ltd

Website

https://airportdrivingschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Airport Driving School is a privately held Irish driving school, founded in 1968 and headquartered in Finglas, Dublin, that provides car, HGV, bus, motorbike, forklift, and professional driver training across all 32 counties of Ireland through a network of 80+ RSA-licensed instructors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Finglas

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Driving Lessons and Training Services: Revenue from providing driving lessons, EDT, pretest preparation, HGV training, bus and coach training, motorbike IBT, forklift training, manual handling courses, driving instructor courses, and other professional driver training. Fees charged per lesson hour or course package.
2. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers for driving lessons and training courses, available from €50 upward.
3. Finance Plans: Partnership with Humm providing installment payment options for eligible customers to spread cost of training courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Airport Driving School provides paid driving instruction and professional driver training across Ireland, including car lessons (EDT, manual, automatic, pretest), HGV categories (C, CE, C1), bus and coach (D, D1), motorbike IBT, forklift, manual handling, tractor, Driver CPC, ADI instructor qualification, and workplace 'Driving for Work' programmes. Services are delivered via in-vehicle tuition with dual-control vehicles by RSA-licensed instructors, supplemented by mock tests and a Test Pass Guarantee programme.

Product overview

Airport Driving School is Ireland's most successful driving school providing comprehensive driver training since 1968. The company operates a multi-module training platform offering vehicle-specific driving courses across car, truck, bus, motorbike, forklift, and tractor categories, supplemented by professional training services including driving instructor qualification (ADI), Driver CPC courses, workplace safety training (manual handling, driving for work), and specialized programmes (limited mobility, junior driving, advanced driving with IAM/Rospa). Core products include Car EDT/Manual/Automatic lessons, HGV Rigid Truck (Category C), Artic Truck (Category CE), Bus & Coach (Category D), Minibus (Category D1), Jeep & Trailer (Category BE), Ambulance (Category C1), Motorbike IBT, and Forklift (RTITB-certified) training. The company also provides supporting services such as mock tests, a Test Pass Guarantee Programme, online payment processing, finance options through Humm, and gift vouchers. With a team of over 80 people, training is available nationwide with locations in Dublin (Finglas, Churchtown), Cork, and selected counties across Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Car Driving Lessons (EDT, Manual & Automatic) Essential driver training for learner drivers including EDT (Essential Driver Training), manual and automatic lessons, pretest preparation, refresher courses, and driving test car hire for drivers of all experience levels.
• HGV Rigid Truck Training (Category C) Category C rigid truck lessons for drivers preparing for HGV work, professional driving roles, or truck licence upgrades.
• Artic Truck Training (Category CE) Category CE artic truck lessons for qualified drivers preparing to tow trailers with Category C vehicles and progress into artic truck driving careers.
• Bus & Coach Training (Category D) Category D, D1, DE bus and coach driving lessons for drivers preparing for passenger vehicle licence categories and professional driving roles.
• Minibus Training (Category D1) Category D1 minibus lessons for drivers preparing to carry passengers safely in minibuses for school transport, community transport, or professional roles.
• Jeep & Trailer Training (Category BE) Category BE jeep and trailer lessons for drivers needing to tow horseboxes, livestock trailers, caravans, boats, and larger trailers.
• Ambulance/Paramedic Driver Training (Category C1) C1 ambulance and paramedic driver training for customers preparing to drive larger emergency-service, ambulance-style, or patient-transport vehicles.
• Motorbike Lessons (IBT) Structured motorbike lessons and Initial Basic Training (IBT) for riders working towards AM, A1, A2 and A motorcycle licence categories.
• Forklift Training RTITB-certified forklift training including Counterbalance, Reach and Power Pallet Truck courses for individuals and companies in warehouse, logistics, and manufacturing roles.
• Manual Handling Training Manual handling training for individuals and companies covering safer lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and moving techniques for workplace safety.
• Tractor and Works Vehicle Training Tractor driving course covering health and safety legislation, controls, pre-start checks, operating, manoeuvring, mounted implements, PTOs and front-end loader operations.
• Driving Instructor Courses (ADI) RSA ADI qualification training support for candidates wanting to become Approved Driving Instructors across car, motorbike, truck and bus categories.
• Driving for Work Training Driver assessments and safer driving programmes for employers whose employees drive as part of their job, including company car drivers, van drivers, and grey fleet drivers.
• Driver CPC Courses Approved CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) training modules for truck and bus drivers, available for up to 16 participants nationwide.
• Limited Mobility Driver Training Driving lessons adapted for learner drivers with limited mobility, using adapted vehicles and specialized instruction.
• Junior Driving Programme Off-road driving experience for young people aged 14-17 at Navan Adventure Centre, providing safe introduction to driving before public-road lessons.
• Advanced Driving Courses (IAM/Rospa) Advanced driver training for qualified drivers seeking IAM and Rospa certification, potentially reducing insurance premiums and improving driving skills beyond test standard.
• Multilingual Driving Lessons Driving lessons with language support for foreign licence holders and international drivers, including Reduced EDT guidance for eligible candidates.
• Test Pass Guarantee Programme Guarantee programme where pupils who follow the training program and fail the test receive credit for the test application fee value, subject to eligibility and terms.
• Gift Vouchers Gift vouchers available from €50 for car driving lessons, EDT, pretest lessons, motorbike training, HGV lessons and other selected courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Test Pass Guarantee - credit for test fee if following training programme and failing test

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AA Driving School: AA Driving School leverages the AA's iconic UK motoring brand to deliver car lessons and instructor training. Comparable as a brand-anchored, multi-instructor driver training operator at scale, though operating in the UK.
• BSM (British School of Motoring): BSM is the UK's oldest and most established national driving school brand, offering car and instructor training. Comparable in heritage-driven brand positioning, multi-instructor structure, and broad learner-driver curriculum, though primarily UK-focused.
• RED Driving School: One of the UK's largest driving school chains with hundreds of instructors offering car lessons, intensive courses, and instructor training. Comparable as a multi-category, multi-instructor driver training brand — though operating in the UK rather than Ireland.

Direct peers

• Bill Plant Driving School: Long-established UK driving school offering structured car lessons, intensive courses, and instructor training across multiple regions. Comparable as a heritage-branded, multi-instructor driving school with similar consumer and ADI training revenue mix.
• Irish School of Motoring (ISM): ISM is one of Ireland's longest-running and most recognisable driving schools, offering car lessons, EDT, pretest, and instructor training nationwide. It competes head-to-head with Airport Driving School across virtually the same consumer learner-driver segments in Ireland.

Emerging players

• PassMeFast: UK-based digital-first driving school specialising in intensive crash courses with online booking and dynamic pricing. Comparable as a competing consumer-learner offering, but differentiated by a tech-led, app-based booking model that contrasts with ADS's phone-first approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/airportdrive
• Facebookfacebook.com/airportdrivingschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airport-driving-school

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airport Driving School