How the two surfaces differ structurally
Both paving and tar rely on a properly compacted base course underneath — that part of the build-up is broadly similar for either surface, and just as important either way. The difference is in the wearing layer on top: paving is a set of individual interlocking units bedded in sand, while tar (asphalt) is a continuous, bonded layer laid hot and compacted into one seamless surface.
Appearance and design flexibility
Paving comes in a range of paver shapes, colours, textures and laying patterns, which gives more room to match a driveway to a home's architecture or to define zones (a parking bay versus a walkway, for instance) within the same surface. Tar offers a cleaner, more minimal, monolithic look with essentially one finish — useful where a simple, uniform surface is the goal, less useful where a more decorative finish is wanted.
Repairability
This is one of the more practical differences. A section of paving — disturbed for a utility repair, stained, or damaged — can usually be lifted, the base corrected if needed, and the same pavers reset, with the repair blending in reasonably well. An asphalt surface generally can't be lifted and reused; a repair typically means cutting out a section and patching it with fresh asphalt, which is more likely to remain visible as a slightly different colour or texture, at least initially.
Installation time and site size
For larger, simpler driveway areas, asphalt can often be laid relatively quickly once the base is ready, since it's placed and compacted as a continuous layer rather than unit by unit. Paving installation time scales more directly with area and the complexity of the laying pattern, since each paver is individually placed.
Cost considerations
Relative cost between the two depends on the specific project — driveway size, site access, paver or asphalt specification, and regional material and labour costs all play a role. Rather than assume a general rule, an accurate comparison for a specific driveway is best done through a like-for-like quote covering both options.
Which one fits your project?
If design flexibility, the ability to repair a section invisibly, or a specific decorative finish matters most, paving is usually the stronger fit. If a clean, continuous, low-detail surface over a larger area is the priority, tar is often the more practical choice. Site conditions, budget and the driveway's exact shape can shift that balance either way — which is exactly what a proper site assessment is for.