Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — you'll need a valid provisional driving licence before your first lesson. You can apply through the DVLA website; it usually takes about a week to arrive, so it's worth sorting early. Bring it to every lesson.

Most complete beginners should start from around 20 hours. That's enough to build a confident foundation before moving on to test preparation. Every learner is different, though, so we'll tailor a recommendation after an initial chat or an assessment lesson.

Your instructor picks you up from home, work or college, checks your provisional licence, and starts somewhere quiet. The first lesson covers the cockpit drill, the controls, and usually moving off and stopping. You don't need to prepare anything.

Yes — lessons start and finish wherever suits you within our coverage area, at no extra cost. Most learners are picked up from home; students often prefer college or work.

You can start driving lessons at 17, or at 16 if you receive the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment. You can apply for your provisional licence up to three months before your 17th birthday.

Most learners need 40–50 hours of professional instruction to pass. The DVSA figure is around 45 hours of lessons plus 22 hours of private practice. If you have someone to practise with between lessons, you will usually need fewer paid hours.

Choose weekly lessons if you're fitting learning around work, college or family and are in no rush; choose an intensive course if you need to pass quickly for a job, a move or a booked test. Weekly lessons run 2–4 hours a week; intensive courses concentrate 5 to 45 hours into consecutive days.

Most intensive courses run over one to three weeks, depending on the number of hours. A 5-hour test-ready refresher can be done in a couple of days; a 30-hour beginner course typically spreads across two to three weeks so there is time to absorb each session.

Yes, but start at 25 to 30 hours rather than a shorter package. Beginners taking a 30-hour course have a good chance of being test-ready, though some need around five more hours. Your instructor will tell you honestly where you stand as the course progresses.

Yes, completely. We work around your schedule, with lessons available between 8am and 8pm. Some learners prefer two-hour sessions spread over a fortnight; others want a shorter, more concentrated block.

Yes. If you need more practice than your original course covers, extra hours can be added — speak to your instructor or the office and we'll fit them in around your test date.

You can add extra hours at the standard rate. No honest instructor will put you in for a test you're not ready for, so if you need more time your instructor will say so early enough for you to plan around it.

Every intensive course includes a DVSA-qualified local instructor who knows the test routes, and use of a suitable, well-maintained car throughout your training. Theory and practical test fees are never included in any of our courses — you book both tests yourself with the DVSA and pay their fee directly.

The DVSA theory test costs £23 and you book it directly with the DVSA. Book it for roughly two weeks before your practical lessons start — you must pass the theory before you can take your practical test.

You book the practical test yourself on the DVSA website, using your provisional licence number and your theory test pass certificate number. Waiting times vary by test centre, so book as early as you reasonably can and talk to your instructor about timing first.

Yes — you take your test in your instructor's car, which is insured, dual-controlled and meets the DVSA's requirements. Your instructor will normally take you to the test centre and be there afterwards.

Bring your provisional driving licence and your theory test pass certificate number. Without your licence the test will be cancelled and you will lose the fee. Arrive about ten minutes early.

You can book another practical test, though the DVSA requires you to wait at least 10 working days before retaking it. Your instructor will go through the examiner's marking sheet with you and focus the next few lessons on whatever caused the faults.

You can, provided it meets the DVSA's requirements — properly insured for the test, taxed, MOT'd, fitted with an extra interior mirror and L plates, and with no warning lights showing. Most learners use their instructor's car, because it is already set up correctly and they have trained in it.

Manual lessons are £35 per hour and automatic lessons are £36 per hour. A block of ten is £330 manual or £340 automatic. There is no deposit on hourly lessons — they are paid in full when you book.

You pay a booking amount online by card, which secures your booking. We'll then call you to confirm your dates and match you with an instructor. Every course shows its full price alongside the amount payable today, so you can see both before you book. Beginner offers and hourly lessons are paid in full at the time of booking.

Not for intensive courses — the amount charged online is the booking amount, and the full course price is shown next to it on every course. Beginner offers and hourly lessons are the same figure either way, because they are paid in full when you book.

Yes. A block of ten hours is £330 manual or £340 automatic, which works out cheaper than paying hour by hour. Intensive course packages are priced per package from 5 to 45 hours.

Lessons can be rearranged with your instructor as long as you give at least 48 hours’ notice; inside that, the lesson is chargeable. Beginner offers and block bookings are non-refundable except in exceptional circumstances, which are considered case by case. See our terms for the full position.

You book and pay securely online by card. For intensive courses the amount collected online secures your booking, and we confirm your dates and instructor with you afterwards; beginner offers are paid in full at the time of booking.

Yes — we run lessons and full intensive courses in both manual and automatic cars. A manual licence lets you drive both; an automatic licence covers automatics only, but automatics are usually quicker to learn in.

Learn manual if you want a licence that covers both types of car; learn automatic if you want to pass sooner or find clutch control difficult. Automatic lessons cost slightly more per hour here, but learners often need fewer of them.

We cover 311 towns and neighbourhoods across 89 postcode districts — the M, OL, SK, BL and WN areas plus WA14–WA16 — and teach at all 13 DVSA test centres in that area, including Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Sale, Chadderton and Macclesfield. See our areas page or call us to confirm your postcode.

Yes — every instructor is DVSA-qualified and works the local test routes regularly. We specialise in nervous learners and complete beginners, starting in quiet areas and building up.

Our learners pass at over 80%, against a national average of 49.1% for men and 42.8% for women. That comes down to structured training and instructors who work towards test-day readiness from the first lesson.

Let us know when you book and we'll match you with a female instructor where one covers your area. Availability varies by area, so ask early — call us on 0161 881 1701 and we'll tell you straight away what we can do.

The office is open 9am – 9pm, seven days a week, on 0161 881 1701. Lessons themselves run between 8am and 8pm, including weekends.