Your Questions, Answered
Everything you need to know about learning to drive with How To Drive. Cannot find your answer? Message us and we will reply quickly.
Getting Started
You must be at least 17 to drive on UK roads and hold a valid provisional licence. You can apply for your provisional from 15 years and 9 months, so it is worth doing early.
Not to start lessons. You can begin practical lessons straight away, but you will need your theory before you can take the practical test, so most learners revise alongside their early lessons.
Just your provisional licence, and glasses or contact lenses if you wear them. Comfortable shoes with thin soles help, so avoid boots or heels.
Your instructor picks you up, runs through the controls and gets you moving in a quiet area. Most people are driving within the first half hour, and nobody expects you to be good at it yet.
Lessons & Learning
The DVSA suggests around 45 hours of professional tuition plus 22 hours of private practice, though it varies a lot between learners. Your instructor will give you an honest estimate once they have seen you drive.
A manual licence covers both manual and automatic cars, so it is the most flexible. Automatic is quicker to learn, less stressful and ideal if you are nervous or plan to drive electric. We are happy to advise.
Yes. We match you with a local instructor, and you can request a male or female instructor. If a particular language would help, tell us and we will do our best.
Yes. Continuity makes a real difference to progress, so you stay with the same instructor unless you would prefer to change, which is absolutely fine to ask for.
Standard lessons are one hour, but two-hour lessons are available and often better value in learning terms because you spend less of the session warming up.
Yes. We run Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm, so we can usually work around shifts, college or childcare.
Booking & Payment
Use the booking form, which sends straight to us on WhatsApp, or message and call us directly. WhatsApp is usually the quickest way to get a reply.
Bank transfer or cash to your instructor. Block bookings are paid up front and single lessons can be paid at the start of the lesson.
Please give at least 48 hours notice to rearrange free of charge. Short notice cancellations may be charged, as the slot usually cannot be refilled.
We ask that block hours are used within six months. If life gets in the way, talk to us — we are reasonable about genuine circumstances.
No. No joining fee, no admin fee and free pickup within the areas we cover. DVSA theory and practical test fees are paid separately by you to the DVSA.
Your Driving Test
We provide test booking support. Your instructor advises on timing, test centre availability and readiness, and the booking itself is made through the official DVSA service using your own details.
Usually yes, subject to availability on your test date, so arrange it as early as you can. There may be an additional charge for the car and the instructor time on test day.
Your instructor will tell you honestly, based on your progress and a full mock test on local test routes. We will not push you into a test you are likely to fail.
It happens to plenty of good drivers. We go through your test report together, work on the specific faults and get you booked back in. Many of our learners pass next time with just a few extra hours.
If you can drive a full hour with no prompting from your instructor, handle all four manoeuvres confidently, and pass a mock test with only a handful of minors, you are close. Your instructor will confirm.
Areas & Practicalities
We cover a wide stretch of Manchester, Salford and Tameside, from Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall in the north to Didsbury and Withington in the south. See the areas page for the full list.
Yes, free of charge anywhere in the areas we cover. We can also collect from work or college if that suits your schedule better.
Yes. Every instructor is fully qualified, DVSA approved and insured for tuition.
Modern, well maintained manual and automatic cars fitted with dual controls and fully insured for learner tuition.
Still Have A Question?
Message us on WhatsApp and a real person will get back to you, usually within minutes.