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Learn the techniques you need to be a confident, safe driver.
Learn to Drive with Mike's Driving School
When can I start driving?
Before you can start taking driving lessons you must apply for a provisional licence. You can apply for a provisional driving licence when you're 15 years and 9 months old. You can start driving a car when you're 17. You can drive a car when you are 16 if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
To apply for your provisional licence, and obtain further details, visit the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk or obtain form D1 from the Post Office.!
Theory Test
You can start taking driving lessons once you have received your provisional licence, and reached the age of 17, but before you can take your practical test, you must pass both parts of the theory test.
You will be you'll be asked 50 questions in 57 minutes and the pass mark is 43 out of 50, followed by a test of your hazard perception skills, in which you need to score a minimum of 44 out of 75. You will need to pass both parts of the theory test at the same sitting to obtain your theory test pass certificate.
If you are ready you can book your theory test at the official site, be careful not to use an unapproved site which may charge you more then necessary.
Practical Test
The test lasts about 40 minutes, during which your examiner will want you to drive safely and competently in various road and traffic conditions. You will be given directions and asked to carry out set exercises, including; pulling up and reversing on the right-hand side of the road, reverse parking behind a vehicle at the side of the road and parking in a car park. You may also be asked to carry out an emergency stop. Additionally, you will also be asked to drive independently for about 20 minutes, using some directions or by following road signs. Apart from general driving, your test includes an eyesight test, for which you will be required to read a car number plate from 22.5 metres.
We are able to ensure that you are fully prepared for your test, and although this will not guarantee a pass, our pupils have an excellent pass rate, but it is important that you drive as you have been driving on your driving lessons.
About Us
Qualified Instructors
Qualified Instructors
Qualified Instructors
Experienced, patient and friendly Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency approved driving instructors providing lessons across much of East Surrey, West Kent and West Sussex.
We cover test centres at Redhill, Sevenoaks Tunbridge Wells and Crawley.
We are committed to providing a high standard of driver training in line with the DVSA's aim of 'safe driving for life'.
As you learn to drive, we will not only teach you to pass the driving test but give you the skills needed to drive in today's demanding traffic conditions
Courses
Qualified Instructors
Qualified Instructors
We offer a comprehensive range of high quality courses with driving lessons for complete beginners, up to advanced standard drivers, providing 1st class driving tuition at all levels in a manual car.
We also offer intensive courses geared for part trained learners or people who need to pass their test in a timely manner due to job requirements.
Courses
Qualified Instructors
Lesson Info
Defensive Driving Lessons
Driving Test
Intensive Driving Lessons
Mock Driving Tests
Motorway Driving Lessons
Nervous Driver Lessons
Pass Plus
Refresher Driving Lessons
Block Bookings Discount
Any Age Welcome
All lessons are in a manual car
Use your car by prior arrangement
Lesson Info
Lesson Info
Lesson Info
Please call for the current hourly rates. Discounts apply for block bookings.
Collection and drop-off at mutually convenient places - home, school, college or work place.
Pick-up and drop-off don't have to be at the same location.
Evening and weekend appointments available.
Covid-19
Lesson Info
Covid-19
Due to Covid-19 I will :
Clean the car as needed.
Before the lesson starts, chat with you outside of the car for a few minutes to gauge if I feel comfortable you are symptom free.
Be practicing a ‘no touch’ policy i.e. not shaking hands to greet or sharing physical visual aids.
I request:
The learner wash their hands thoroughly (for 20 seconds or longer) immediately before leaving the house for the driving lesson.
The learner wear a face mask.
That the learner be by themselves for the lesson.
Intensive courses
Which course is right for you?
5 day course (20 hours)Suitable for learners with around 30 hours of previous experience with a qualified instructor.
7 day course (28 hours)
Suitable for learners with around 20 hours of previous experience with a qualified instructor
10 day course (40 hours)
Suitable for beginners with little or no previous experience
12 day course (48 hours)
Suitable for beginners with little or no previous experience
Testimonials
MIKE WAS A FANTASTIC INSTRUCTOR, WOULD THOROUGHLY RECOMMEND.
It was a pleasure learning to drive with Mike as my instructor. He showed great patience with me throughout my time with him which lead to me eventually passing my test.
Great instructor !
Mike was a great driving instructor. He has a calm demeanour and is very patient and always takes his work very seriously. The lessons prepared me well for the driving test and I could always asks questions or go over something I was not yet confident with. Mike is also very funny and easy to talk to during the lessons. Would highly recommend!
A great teacher
It was a real pleasure to learn with Mike. He's very kind, patient and a great driving teacher. He gave me so many important tips and showed me situations that could be complicated if I didn't know how to handle them before the exam. Definitely recommend him.
Mike was a fantastic driving instructor, took me from a complete beginner to passing my test first time! He's very experienced not just in teaching you to drive but teaching you in a way that you'll learn things well, and he teaches you to drive not just pass the test. I'm very sure i would have had more trouble passing if it wasn't for all that. Would recommend to anyone!
Great instructor, helped me finally pass
I came to Mike for refresher lessons as I had learned most of my driving back in 2016. Mike was patient but efficient as I only booked around 14 hours with him and I finally passed. He got me up to speed and rebuilt my confidence after a few failed tests with other instructors and was very accommodating for my work commitments. Really recommend learning with him!
Mike is a fantastic driving instructor with incredible patience, calm and knowledge. He helped me pass first time with only 14 lessons. As well as a great instructor, Mike is a lovely guy and makes all sessions enjoyable. Highly recommended!. Really patient and with a good sense of humour.
Thank you Mike.
Perfect instructor
Mike was the perfect instructor, taught me exactly how I expected and passed first time because of him. Highly recommended, Thanks Mike.
I can't rate Mike enough! He's the 3rd driving instructor I've had and after only 4 lessons I feel more confident than I have with any other company I've been with. Excellent at explaining things, takes time to repeat if needed and continuously asks if your happy with what's happening and talks about next steps making sure your comfortable. A driving instructor who listens to his students! Wish I had got in touch a lot sooner!
I was a nervous driver to begin with, but Mike's instruction greatly helped me in building my confidence in all aspects of driving. Mike is also very patient and is happy to go over things as many times as is needed. Mike is also approachable and knows the driving test rules inside and out. I would highly recommend Mike to any learner looking to improve their confidence whilst driving and subsequently pass their test.
First class driving instructor
Delighted with Mike’s work. My daughter passed with just one minor after 20 hours of lessons. Highly recommend
Intensive courses
> What is an intensive driving course?
An intensive driving course is a condensed version of the usual learning to drive process, where instead of going out once a week with a driving instructor, you go out many times during a week in four hour driving lesson blocks. It’s a completely safe and certified way to learn how to drive, and is becoming increasingly popular with a wide range of learner drivers in the UK.
> What are the benefits of learning to drive on an intensive driving crash course?
There are a few reasons why this intensive learning to drive model is so successful. Firstly, you save a lot of time by learning to drive in a really efficient way, with no awkward gaps where you are likely to forget things. Secondly, you often save money by having all your learning to drive expenses condensed into one single course and fee. Spreading the cost of learning how to drive over a year can be very expensive, even if you don’t realise it at the time. Just a simple mathematical calculation of multiplying the price of an individual driving lesson by the likely hours of driving lessons taken over a year, should show you what we mean!
> Do intensive driving courses work?
Yes, or otherwise we wouldn’t be offering them! Truthfully, we have high driving test pass rates, but a lot of that success comes down to our learner drivers and how much hard work they put in. If you aren’t ready to work hard and commit to the intensive driving model, it’s less likely to work.
> Who takes intensive driving courses?
It really varies: we have seen a wide range of driving students over the years. Usually intensive courses are a great option for people who need to learn how to drive quickly (like for a new job) or for people who already have some driving experience from awhile back, but need the final push before the test. An intensive course is also a good idea if you started learning to drive, but then took a big break from it and are now feeling rusty. We also see a lot students who learn how to drive during their holidays. Essentially, intensive driving crash courses are suitable for any type of learner driver..
> How long does an intensive driving course take?
Our intensive driving courses last either five, seven, ten or twelve days. A five day course includes 20 hours of tuition, a seven day course gives you 28 hours’ tuition, ten days is 40 hours’ tuition and twelve days is 48 hours. These hours are spread over the week and the weekend, and all our intensive driving crash courses include 1-to-1 supervised driving tuition as well as free pickup and drop-off at work or school. After the course finishes, you will sit the practical driving test with a DVSA examiner at a test centre.
> What length of intensive driving course is best for me?
We recommend our five and seven day courses for people with some previous driving experience; respectively we recommend either 20 or 30 hours of previous driving experience is probably best. Our 10 and 12 day intensive driving courses are suitable for beginner drivers with little or no previous driving experience.
> Can I do an intensive driving course in the evening and on weekends?
Yes, we have no extra charge for evening and weekend classes. We understand that some people aren’t available in the morning or during the day for a variety of reasons, so we aim to be flexible. Just remember that you’ll have to commit to having a significant number of lessons over the period of the intensive driving course.
> Will I need an assessment lesson before starting my driving crash course?
You certainly do! This is our chance to evaluate your current driving, as well as your chance to put any burning questions to us about our intensive driving course meth