Frequently Asked Questions

Before your instructor can legally take you out on the road, they must conduct a mandatory driving licence check. You will need to bring your physical photocard provisional licence to your first lesson. You must also generate a temporary driving licence “check code” via the GOV.UK website and share it with our team so we can verify your driving record.

Before you even start your vehicle’s engine, your instructor will ask you to read a standard UK car registration plate from a distance of 20 metres. If you require glasses or contact lenses to read the plate, you must wear them every time you drive. Failing to meet this legal eyesight standard means your lesson cannot go ahead, and you will fail your practical driving test instantly if you cannot complete the check on test day.

Yes, and we highly encourage it. Practising with a family member or friend is an excellent way to gain extra road experience between your professional lessons. However, your supervisor must be at least 21 years old and have held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years. The car must also be clearly fitted with ‘L’ plates and covered by a specialist learner driver insurance policy.

According to the DVSA, the average learner requires roughly 45 hours of professional driving lessons combined with 22 hours of private practice to pass their test. However, everyone learns at a completely different pace. Your instructor will continually track your progress against the official syllabus to ensure you are fully prepared without booking more hours than you actually need.

No, you do not need to have passed your theory test to begin your practical driving lessons. Learning to handle the car on real local roads actually makes understanding the theory topics and hazard perception scenarios much easier. However, you must pass your theory test before you can legally book your final practical driving test appointment.

Our team specialises in client-centred coaching, which means the lesson revolves around your emotional comfort, not just a rigid syllabus. We never shout, lecture, or force you into stressful traffic situations before you are ready. Your instructor will break down complex tasks into tiny, manageable steps and will continually check in on your stress levels. You are always in control of how fast or slow we progress through the training.

Your very first lesson will always start in a quiet, low-traffic residential area or an empty car park. Your instructor will drive you to this safe location themselves if you live near a busy main road. We will only focus on basic car controls, moving off, and stopping safely. You will only move onto busier local roads, roundabouts, or dual-carriageways once you explicitly tell us you feel confident and ready to try them.

Yes, absolutely. Many of our instructors have extensive experience and specialised training in coaching neurodivergent learners, including students with ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, and general learning differences. We adapt our communication style to match how you learn best—whether that means using visual route diagrams, delivering shorter, hyper-focused instructions, or breaking the lesson down with frequent, structured breaks.

Please note: Because we want to ensure you get the absolute best support for your needs, these specialist lessons are subject to instructor availability in your specific area.

Yes, consistency is incredibly important for conquering driving anxiety. You will be matched with one dedicated instructor who will stay with you from your very first drive all the way through to your practical test day. Learning with the same familiar face allows you to build a strong professional relationship, and ensures your instructor knows exactly which roads, junctions, or maneuvers trigger your anxiety so they can support you through them.

Test nerves are completely natural, but you will never be forced or pressured into an exam before you are ready. Your instructor will continually track your progress and run you through realistic local mock tests to prove to you that your skills are up to standard. If you still feel overwhelming anxiety as your test date approaches, your instructor will sit down with you to discuss whether rearranging the DVSA booking to a later date is the best choice for your mental well-being.

Yes, for most students, automatic is significantly easier. Because you do not have to master clutch control or coordinate gear changes, you can focus 100% of your attention on steering, road positioning, and navigating busy junctions. This often reduces first-lesson anxiety and allows you to build confidence much faster.

No. If you pass your practical test in an automatic vehicle, your full UK driving licence will restrict you to driving automatic cars only. If you ever want to drive a manual car in the future, you will legally have to retake and pass the practical driving test in a manual vehicle. Passing a manual test, however, covers you to drive both manual and automatic cars legally.

Because there is no clutch or gearbox management to learn, most automatic students reach test-ready standards in fewer hours than manual learners. This means you can often fast-track your route to getting your full driving licence, saving you time and the cost of extra weekly tuition blocks

No, at Alfies Driving School, our automatic lessons are priced exactly the same as our manual lessons. While most driving schools charge a higher premium for automatic tuition due to vehicle costs, we believe in keeping our pricing fair and accessible for everyone. Furthermore, because automatic students typically require fewer overall hours to reach test-ready standards, choosing automatic with us can often save you money on your journey to a full licence.

If you want a simpler learning process, struggle with multi-tasking, or want to pass your test quickly to drive a modern electric vehicle, automatic is the perfect choice. If you enjoy having complete mechanical control over the vehicle, want to drive older budget cars, or want a licence that covers every type of car by default, you should opt for manual.

Yes, an initial assessment lesson is mandatory before we can book any intensive programme. It is impossible to accurately guess how many hours a student needs without seeing them drive. During this session, an instructor will evaluate your natural steering, coordination, and road awareness, allowing them to recommend the exact package size (such as our 20-hour or 40-hour course) required to get you safely past the finish line.

No, due to official regulation changes introduced on March 12th, driving schools across the board are no longer permitted to book practical tests for students.

Only the pupil can book their own driving test now, so you will need to secure your own test date.

Yes, complete beginners can absolutely pass using an intensive framework. Our 40-hour full intensive course is specifically designed for individuals with zero prior driving experience. It takes you through the entire DVSA syllabus step-by-step but in a highly focused, compressed timeline. However, you must be prepared for a demanding and mentally tiring week of training.

While our intensive programmes boast exceptionally high pass rates, tests can be unpredictable on the day. If you do not pass, your instructor will debrief you on the examiner’s feedback. We will then help you secure a new fast-tracked test date and arrange a short block of top-up lessons to maintain your skills and correct those specific errors before you retake the exam.

You can book your assessment lesson and start your practical intensive training before passing your theory test. However, we cannot legally book a practical test date with the DVSA until your theory pass certificate number is logged in the system. To get the maximum benefit from a fast-track course, we strongly recommend passing your theory test before your main intensive week begins.

Standard learner lessons rarely cover motorways due to local geographical limits and test constraints. Our dedicated motorway coaching sessions help you overcome high-speed road anxiety safely. Your instructor will teach you advanced lane discipline, the art of safe overtaking, how to manage high-speed slip-road junctions, and how to read matrix warning signs, ensuring you feel completely calm when travelling long distances alone.

Refresher lessons are perfect for a variety of full licence holders who want to boost their confidence on the road, including:

International Licence Holders: Drivers who need to quickly adapt to UK road layouts, highway code rules, and local driving standards.

Nervous or Out-of-Practice Drivers: Anyone who hasn’t driven in a long time—perhaps since passing their test years ago—and wants a safe, supportive environment to get back behind the wheel.

Drivers Tackling New Roads: Those who are uncomfortable with specific driving conditions, such as busy motorways, night driving, or complex multi-lane roundabouts.

Experienced Drivers Changing Vehicles: Anyone switching from a manual to an automatic car for the first time who wants to get a feel for the new controls with an instructor.

Our mock test package is a strict exam rehearsal designed to conquer test-day nerves. Your instructor will step out of their teaching role and act as an official DVSA examiner. They will take you along known local test routes, conduct the mandatory eyesight check, ask the official “Show Me, Tell Me” safety questions, and mark your drive using a realistic DVSA marking sheet. Afterward, you will receive a detailed verbal and written feedback breakdown.

Because everyone’s past experience and anxiety levels are entirely different, there is no fixed number of hours for specialised training. Some drivers only require a single 2-hour session to master a specific local roundabout or junction, while others prefer a 10-hour block booking to steadily rebuild their motorway and independent driving confidence. Your instructor will evaluate your skills on day one and help you decide.

You can choose to use either your instructor’s vehicle or your own personal car, provided your car is fully roadworthy, taxed, has a valid MOT, and is explicitly insured for professional tuition. Most pupils prefer to start their first session in the safety of the instructor’s vehicle  and then transition to their own vehicle once their baseline confidence has been successfully restored.

Yes, our female instructors provide premium driving tuition across both manual and automatic training vehicles. Because automatic lessons are currently in exceptionally high demand across Greater London and Romford, Essex, we strongly recommend checking our live availability early to secure a slot in their diaries.

Our female driving instructors specialise in working with highly anxious, nervous, or neurodivergent students. They use gentle, client-centred coaching techniques designed to lower your stress levels and eliminate first-lesson nerves. Every lesson is conducted at a relaxed pace, ensuring you never feel rushed or pressured when mastering difficult road skills.

No, at Alfies Driving School, our lesson rates are completely uniform across our entire team. We never charge a premium based on an instructor’s gender. You will pay the exact same standard hourly rates, block booking deals, and intensive course prices whether you learn with a male or a female specialist.

Because our female team members are incredibly popular, their diaries can occasionally fill up fast. If there is a temporary waiting list for your specific postcode, our office team will advise you of the exact waiting times. Alternatively, we can recommend an equally patient and highly rated male instructor if you prefer to get on the road immediately.

Yes, absolutely. You can view them on our master Reviews page where you can read real success stories and view pass photos from students who learned with our female team. Many of our reviews come from local pupils who specifically praise our female instructors for their patience, clear communication, and supportive teaching style.

The test is split into two distinct parts, and you must pass both of them during the same session to get your certificate:

Multiple-Choice Questions: You will have 57 minutes to answer 50 questions based on the highway code, road signs, and essential driving skills. You need at least 43 correct answers to pass.

Hazard Perception: You will watch 14 video clips containing everyday driving scenes. You need to spot the developing hazards as early as possible, requiring a minimum score of 44 out of 75 points.

Absolutely. You can start your practical driving lessons as soon as you have your provisional driving licence in hand.

In fact, combining your practical lessons with your theory revision is highly recommended, as experiencing real road situations makes it much easier to remember road signs and understand hazard perception concepts.

Points are scored by clicking as soon as you see a developing hazard—which is something that would cause you, the driver, to change speed or direction.

Each clip contains one developing hazard (with one clip containing two), and you can score up to 5 points per hazard depending on how quickly you react.

Important Note: You won’t lose points for clicking on regular, static hazards, but you will score zero if you click continuously or in a rhythmic pattern, as the system will flag it as cheating.

Your passed theory test certificate is valid for exactly two years from the date you passed it.

You must take and pass your practical driving test within this two-year window. If your certificate expires before you pass your practical test, you will need to book, pay for, and sit the theory test all over again.

For our standard weekly driving lesson blocks, pupils usually book their own practical tests directly through the official GOV.UK website once their instructor confirms they are test-ready. However, if you opt for one of our intensive or semi-intensive fast-track packages, our office team can completely manage the administrative process and actively hunt for fast-tracked test slots on your behalf.

No. The test fee you pay on the GOV.UK website goes entirely to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to cover the cost of the driving examiner. It does not secure your training car. You must arrange a separate test-day hire package with your instructor. This package covers their time, travel to and from the local test centre, a crucial warm-up drive right before the exam, and specialist insurance for the duration of the test.

At the start of your practical test, the examiner will ask you two vehicle safety questions: a “tell me” question before you start driving (e.g., how to check your tyre tread depth) and a “show me” question while you are on the move (e.g., how to operate the horn). You cannot fail your test simply for giving an incorrect answer; getting one or both questions wrong will only result in a single minor driving fault, provided you keep safe control of the car.

We want you to pass your test first time and remain safe on the road. If your mock test results or general progress tracking indicate you are not yet at a safe, independent standard, your instructor reserves the right to withhold the use of their vehicle for the exam. In this scenario, we will work with you to rearrange your DVSA booking to a later date and structure a short top-up programme to correct any weak areas.

You must bring your physical, valid UK provisional driving licence photocard to the test centre. If you do not have your photocard with you, the examiner will cancel your test on the spot, and you will lose your booking fee. We also recommend bringing your theory test pass certificate just in case, though your theory record is usually checked digitally by the system on arrival.

Our standard lesson rates apply across the majority of our network. However, a £2 per hour surcharge applies strictly to the RM15, RM16, RM17, RM18, RM19, and RM20 postcodes, as well as all CM and E postcode districts. This surcharge will be clearly itemised and applied to your booking based on your training address.

Yes, to keep our instructors’ diaries running smoothly and ensure consistent training, all block booking packages and promotional introductory offers carry a 6-month expiry date from the exact date of purchase. Any driving lesson hours that are not used within this 6-month timeframe will automatically expire and become non-refundable.

Absolutely. Our driving lesson gift vouchers make the perfect birthday, Christmas, or celebratory surprise for any aspiring learner driver. Vouchers are available in various flexible cash increments starting from £50. They are processed securely and delivered instantly via a digital email PDF, which can be printed out or forwarded straight to the recipient. All gift vouchers are valid for 6 months. Contact us to enquire about a gift card.

If you pass your practical driving test first time and still have remaining, unused hours left on a prepaid 10-hour block booking package, do not worry. We can calculate the value of your leftover hours and issue a full refund back to your original payment method, or you can choose to transfer those hours to a friend or sibling who wants to learn with us.

Prepaid block booking deals and promotional starter offers are strictly non-transferable and are designated to a single student’s training profile. This allows your instructor to accurately track your individual progress against the official syllabus. If a friend or family member wishes to start lessons, they will need to purchase their own block or introductory package.

If you cancel, alter, or miss a scheduled lesson with less than 48 hours’ notice, you will be charged for the full duration of that session. If you are currently training on a prepaid 10-hour block booking package, the missed hours will automatically be deducted from your remaining package balance.

If you are running late, please contact your driving instructor directly as soon as possible. Your instructor will wait for you at the agreed pickup point for up to 15 minutes. However, because instructors have tight daily schedules with other pupils immediately after you, any lost time cannot be added to the end of your lesson, and the missed time will be charged at your standard rate.

While our team works exceptionally hard to maintain 100% consistency, short-notice cancellations can occasionally happen due to mechanical vehicle breakdowns, severe weather warnings, sudden instructor illness, or unexpected DVSA practical test schedule changes. If your instructor has to cancel, you will not lose your fee, your lesson hours will be carried forward to a rescheduled date at no extra cost to you.

If you need to change your pickup or drop-off spot (for example, starting at home but finishing at Romford Station), you must clear this with your instructor well in advance. Your instructor schedules their day based on travel times between different pupils across the RM, CM, IG, and E postcode areas. Short-notice changes that disrupt their broader diary routing may unfortunately be declined.

Yes, you can request a refund for any outstanding, unused hours on a standard block booking package, provided the request is made within 6 months of the original purchase date. Refunds are calculated by charging for the hours you have already taken at our standard single hourly rate, and returning the remaining balance back to your original payment method.

Your instructor is legally required to ensure you hold a valid licence before you sit in the driver’s seat. If you forget to bring your physical photocard provisional licence to a lesson, your instructor cannot legally allow you to drive. The session will have to be cancelled on the spot, and it will be charged at the full standard rate as a short-notice cancellation.