The Rise of driveJohnson's from 1 Man and His Car to Over 800 Instructors Nationwide

What began with one man and a single car has, within the space of twenty years, grown into one of the largest driving schools in the UK. driveJohnson’s, founded by Anthony Johnson in Milton Keynes, has become a standout example of how hard work, innovation, and a caring, personal approach can lead to a highly successful business. This is how driveJohnson’s went from a local startup to a leading national driving school.

It all began in 2005 when Anthony started giving lessons in Milton Keynes having just qualified as a driving instructor. He worked long hours, often teaching 10 hours a day and then working into the early morning hours until 2 am. However, he soon saw this hard work bear fruit as his reputation grew and he started recruiting instructors to help him. Within three years, the company had expanded to about 10 vehicles locally through simple word of mouth, with happy learners and instructors referring their friends.

Anthony then formalised a franchise structure, expanding into Bedford, Luton and Northampton. By its 5th anniversary, driveJohnson's was offering driving lessons in Oxford and had over 50 driving instructors on its team. This was when Anthony realised that SEO was essential to the success of the business. He worked to improve the online presence of the company, ensuring that driveJohnson's appeared on internet searches for driving lessons and that the brand was well-known in the areas it served.

When a recession hit in 2008, Anthony was gaining success on YouTube, with many of his videos reaching over 1 million views, so whilst other companies were struggling, driveJohnson's was growing in popularity. The company was becoming better known locally, with more learners and instructors coming on board, helping it go from strength to strength.

Anthony started getting contacted by instructors further afield wanting to join. When driveJohnson's started receiving messages from driving instructors in Watford, Birmingham and London, growth exploded; driveJohnson's now has over 100 driving instructors in London alone.

The company diversified its offering to both instructors and learners, utilising the latest technology and an outstanding level of customer service to earn excellent reviews. Holding strong through the pandemic, it looked after its instructors through all the lockdowns and restrictions that directly affected driving lessons nationwide. As restrictions lifted, growth continued, and by 2023, driveJohnson's network of instructors had expanded to over 600 driving instructors covering over 1,000 areas across England, Scotland and Wales.

Today, the company offers instructor training, teaching tools including training apps, support and guidance, and a PDI franchise package. Learners benefit from a variety of lesson options and competitive prices, fleet training, online support, a learner app, as well as a very high level of customer care provided by the hardworking office team. When he is not working hard in the office, Anthony can also still be found supporting instructors with their training and offering learners driving lessons.

Furthermore, driveJohnson's strongly believes in giving back to the community; from sponsoring local football teams to running the London Marathon for Young Lives Vs Cancer. In 2024, Anthony set up the Drive Against Cancer scheme, which offers 50 free driving lessons to young people who have had a cancer diagnosis. This is the only such scheme in the UK.

It is this personal care and hands-on approach that has earned driveJohnson's its reputation as the driving school that genuinely cares. This is why the business continues to have high scores across all reputable review sites, including Trustpilot where it averages a star rating of 4.8 out of 5 from its learners.

driveJohnson's is an outstanding example of the success you can have with the right ethos and dedication. From humble beginnings to a national presence, driveJohnson’s has not only been shaping safer drivers but also setting the benchmark for all driving schools with its top-quality support, values and superb reputation. This year it celebrates two decades in business, and, with its growth continuing and strong foundations, the company is in the perfect position to lead the industry for many more years to come.