Frequently asked questions

What if I’m not happy with my first lesson?

If you feel that you don’t want to continue learning to drive with the instructor assigned to you, you can ask for the lesson to end and you will be dropped off either back at home or anywhere else in the area. Your instructor will not take it personally – driving instructors are professionals! As a compensatory gift, all unhappy customers will be sent a small gift by way of apology. Also, the option is there to try another local instructor.

Which areas do you cover?

We have driving instructors over the whole of the United Kingdom.

How much will I have to pay?

Each of our individual instructors charges their own price, so how much you have to pay depends on the driving instructor you are assigned to. However, Driving Lesson Prices ensures that each instructor sets a price that is fair. One of the best pieces of advice that we can give is to beware of any school advertising extremely cheap lessons. The price you pay for lessons will reflect the quality of the instruction and the reputation of the school. We only use instructors with a proven track record and who work at continually updating their skills with additional qualifications and courses. We are committed to making sure you pass your test first time and with a minimum number of lessons.

In our experience, pupils who start with one of the cheap and cheerful schools later come to us when they find that they are not enjoying lessons or making progress towards the driving test.

What cars do you use?

We ensure that all our instructors use cars suitable for learner drivers. This means they are all new models, and include such models as Mini Coopers, Toyota Aygos and Ford Fiestas.

How much of my lesson will I actually spend driving?

Your first lesson may take 30 minutes or so to get moving, but after that you will spend nearly all of your lesson on the move. In the unlikely event of your instructor running late, they will overrun the lesson accordingly.

What is your pass-rate?

The average pass-rate in the UK is around 40%, but we ask our instructors to maintain a pass-rate of at least 66%.

What if I want to cancel a lesson?

If you need to cancel a lesson, we request 24 hour notice if you would like a refund. For intensive courses, if you would like a refund we request notice in writing 7 days prior to commencing the course.

How many lessons will I need?

This really depends on the student, and can vary quite significantly. The average with our school is between 25-35 hours. The national average is (according to the DSA’s own statistics) 45 hours (correct as of 12 June 2009). Beware of instructors who says that they can get you test ready in less than 25 hours. Practising between lessons will drastically reduce the time you need to spend on lessons, but you should still take a minimum of 25 hours with a qualified instructor.

What should I think about gimmicks?

Some schools offer ‘gimmicks’ such as a ‘test pass guarantee’, where the school agrees to pay half of your nest test fee – around £30 – should you fail your first attempt. This doesn’t seem so attractive if you have to take an additional 10 hours or more of lessons, plus a further 2 hours on test day, because you weren’t trained to a good standard first time around!

Should I practise in between lessons?

Yes and no. We suggest that you complete at least 10 hours with a qualified instructor before practising with friends or family, but after that you should gain as much experience as you can. Bad habits learned early on are very hard to break, and may stay with you right up to test day, even after you’ve had proper instruction. As you approach your test you should increase the frequency of your lessons to ensure a first time pass.

How often should I take lessons?

We strongly recommend at least a two hour lesson each week – pupils who only take one hour can often take many months to pass their test. Most people can certainly cope with more hours, so if you want to pass quickly you might want to take anything up to 20 hours a week.

Should I learn in automatic?

If you prefer to drive automatic then that’s fine, but remember in an emergency you may wish you had learned to drive manual. Often, people who swap from learning manual to automatic (because they struggled with gears) have received poor instruction. Gears should be no problem for almost anybody – provided that they receive the right tuition, that is.

I’m struggling to learn – I don’t think I can ever pass my test!

We’ve heard this many, many times – you need to change your instructor now! There are no bad pupils, only bad teachers. Anybody can pass the driving test first time with the right help. Increasing your lessons to a minimum of two hours a week will also make the difference.

What will my instructor be like?

We ensure that all our instructors are friendly and enthusiastic. We only employ the very best. You may have heard stories of instructors who become frustrated or shout. We promise this will never happen with us.

I just want to pass my test – I can learn to drive properly afterwards.

This is a recipe for disaster. Your first goal should be to become confident and safe behind the wheel. Once you are there you can start working towards your driving test. There are no short cuts to learning to drive – you will need experience, knowledge and a good attitude to pass the test.

Can I start driving before I’ve done my Theory Test?

Yes, having lessons will actually help you with your theory. Learning both in parallel is recommended.

Can you book the Practical Test for me?

Yes we can, but it is usually best for students to book the test as we don’t know when you’ll be available.

What times are you available?

Our instructors are available at all time, including weekends and evenings, as we each have our own schedules. We may be able to fit lessons in at short notice, but we usually recommend booking at least a week in advance in order to avoid disappointment.

Are there any other pupils in the car?

No. We do not pick up or drop off other pupils in your time, although if you would like to share lessons with a friend that can be arranged.