Driving lessons in Stevenage

Before you start

Learning to drive is one of the most exciting and responsible challenges you could ever take on as a life skill, but before you start please ensure that you are aware of the following:

• You must have a provisional driving licence. You can apply for a provisional driving licence three months before your 17th birthday, but you can't start driving a car until you are 17 years old.
• You must be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres away (you can wear glasses or contact lenses).
• You must have an “L” plate on the front and back of any vehicle you drive. My car complies with this rule.
• When driving you must be accompanied by a qualified driver such as a qualified driving instructor or a family member or friend who is over 21, and has held a full driving licence for at least three years.

The rules are changed regularly. Click here to visit the Safe Driving for Life website.

What will it cost?

There are two elements to consider: the hourly rate for a lesson and the number of lessons you need to pass. There’s no minimum number of lessons you must have, or hours you must practise driving. How many lessons you need will depend on how quickly you learn. The table below shows how much time the average pupil needs to pass with Hello Driver Training compared to the national average:

National average	47 hours
Hello Driver	30 hours
Saving	17 hours

Take the average cost for one hour's driving tuition as being £35, learning with Hello Driver Training could save you up to £595 compared to another school that matches the national average in terms of the hours required to pass your driving test.

Hello Driver Training lesson charges:

Pay as you go: £35 per hour

The Hello Driver Training Block Booking - 10 prepaid lessons for £280 (saving £70 on the equivalent pay as you go price).

Pass rate

See the table below so you can assess Hello Driver Training's pass rate:

Driver faults
National average	6.41%
Hello Driver	5.43%
Serious faults
National average	0.92%
Hello Driver	0.62%
Dangerous faults
National average	0.09%
Hello Driver	0.00%
Pass rate
National average	47.40%
Hello Driver	66.67%

Hello Driver Training's candidates pass rate is 52% above the local test centre average.

Why is Hello Driver's pass rate so high?

I can adapt the coaching to accommodate you using (CCL) Client Centred Learning this has transformed the rate at which our pupils learn to drive. We give you the opportunity to choose what you want to learn. This way you learn what you want to learn because you know when you’re ready.

If you require additional support we can provide you with a coaching programme using the 3 Principles, Mind, Thought & Consciousness. This is brilliant for, confidence, anxiety, nervousness, the list is endless.

You will need to be independent on all the subjects listed on the syllabus to pass the DVSA driving test.

We offer you:

• Free online revision for the Theory Test.
• Free online revision for the Hazard Perception Test.
• Free pick up point from home, school, college or from work. (Stevenage only).
• Client Centred Learning (CCL). • Free lesson plans and feedback on progress via email.
• Free booking service for your Practical Driving Test.
• Free email about the Practical Driving Test.
• No surcharges for your driving test.
• My treat. The option to have a tea break before your test.
• Personal development using The 3 Principles.

Tips to help you save money

• Pay for your lessons in advance, normally in blocks of ten hours at a time, this can save you £100’s.
• Book your theory test as soon as you can.
• Be on time for your driving lessons, if your late you will be paying your instructor for sitting outside waiting for you.
• Inform your instructor as soon as you can if you can’t keep an appointment. The instructor might be able to move it and not charge you.
• Get up early for your lessons and be ready at least an hour before it starts. Having a woolly head will make your learning hard work and unenjoyable.
• Start off with two hour lessons until you can drive off from home and back. This will save you about 20 minutes of lost driving time on every lesson.
• Consider a 5 or 10 minute recap of the last lesson to make sure are happy with what you have learnt.
• If you are doing Client Centred Learning make sure you know what you want to learn next. Make sure it is realistic but challenging for you.
• When you have passed your theory test, start to learn the Show me, Tell me questions and car controls demonstrations on the move that you will be asked on the driving test.
• Book your driving test immediately after you have completed the theory test. Make sure you do this with your instructor so you are both happy with the date and time.
• Only take the driving test if you feel you are ready. Be honest with yourself. You can put the test back if you feel the need to. You might be able to exchange your test with another pupil that your instructor has on their books.

Nervous about driving?

Building your confidence is a vital part of learning to drive. As an option, to help you I provide free of charge to all my pupils Neuro-Lingistic Programming (NLP). It helps to keep you focused and calm for any challenge in your life as well as learning to drive. We not only welcome nervous drivers we can actually help you.

Check out my testimonials page for references from pupils I've worked with.

Preparation for theory test and hazard test

I subscribe to Theory Test Pro website and offer this service free of charge to all my pupils. Theory Test Pro is a highly realistic online simulation of the UK's driving theory tests. It contains all the official revision test questions licensed from the DVSA, the people who set the tests. I also offer 1-2-1 support to pupils that need additional guidance at the standard driving lesson rate.

Preparation for the practical test

As soon as the test candidate has passed their theory test I do the following:

• Email them the Show Me Tell Me questions.
• Work with the pupil to book their driving test so nothing clashes with my diary and your commitments.
• Confirm your lessons up to and including the driving test so you know your budget well in advance so you can plan your finances.
• Invite client to drive on the Motorway before their driving test.
• Give the test candidate a clear explanation of the test procedure.

 I offer to start the pre-test drive half an hour earlier so that the pupil can relax in a cafe with a cup of tea or coffee. Most pupils take up this offer. I don’t charge for this service. I go to the test centre and sit with the pupil until the examiner arrives.  I also give the pupil the option of having me sit in the back of the car on their driving test. This is optional - I would never impose myself on a pupil. It is their test.

I always drive them home from the test centre regardless of the result.

Additional tools to help the learner

I use some animated Apps on my iPad for virtually all the syllabus. This is very good as each manoeuvre can be broken down in to sections and discussed in detail if required. They are also very engaging for the pupil.

When the theory test has been passed I send a email explaining what will happen on the test day. Many of my test candidates have copied this to their friends that are about to take their test.

Terms and conditions

Please read our comprehensive terms and conditions.

Terms and conditions

If you'd like to know more please call me for a chat on 01438 233079

Optional: Independent Driving lesson

I also offer a two hour of Independent Driving lesson which involves the learner driver planning their route from home to a well signposted land mark such as a Hospital or Airport. The next part is unplanned and they have to read direction signs that I give them with no advanced planning.

This prepares the driver for driving in the real world once they've passed their driving test. We then go in to normal lesson mode and I show the learner driver some unusual junctions. Then we go back to independent driving to find our way back home. Thankfully we have always found our way back home!!!

The lesson is challenging and great fun and is one of the most talked about lessons between pupils and is mentioned loads of times in our testimonials.

Optional: Pass Plus

Pass Plus is a practical training course that takes at least 6 hours and is for drivers to improve their skills and drive more safely. It consists of six practical modules which cover driving in town, in all weathers, on rural roads, at night, on dual carriageways. The course is recognised by some insurance companies and can reduce car insurance premiums.

Optional: Motorway Driving

Qualified DVSA instructors (ADI’s) are now legally entitled to invite pre-test learners to drive on Motorways, provided the car has duel controls fitted. This has improved the confidence of pre-test learner drivers driving skills for life.

Please note only qualified ADI’s can take learners on a Motorway. It is illegal for parents, friends and family to take a learner on any Motorway in the UK regardless of any other qualifications you may have.

If you'd like to know more please call me for a chat on 01438 233079

John Billingham, Hello Driver Training