Frequently ASKED Questions

Please contact Sam before booking your first lesson.  Whilst there may be lessons available on the calendar, this does not necessarily mean that Sam has enough capacity to take on new clients.

Anywhere inside zones PL1 to PL7.  Make sure you give the correct address for pick-up in your lesson booking!

Manual Fiat 500 with instructor dual controls. Some students may be able to have lessons in their own personal car, however this is strictly subject to Sam's professional judgement.

Sam recommends a minimum of two x 1.5 hour lessons, per week. Frequency and consistency is key. Learners who try to make do with less frequency invariably struggle unnecessarily.

Sam is often accompanied by his support dog Junior. Junior is always fully secured in his own seat and is completely non disruptive to driving and learning. 

Please book your theory test as soon as possible through the .gov official booking website. The more you study, the better.

The DVSA statistics are clear: the average learner at the average test centre takes 45 hours of driving lessons plus 22 hours of independent/family practice to pass. Some people will take significantly more time, some much less. You are 50% more likely to pass your driving test first time if you have regular independent practice on top of regular driving lessons. Driving once per week is not enough. If at all possible, drive multiple times per week; get a car of your own or get insured on a family car, progressively take over as many family driving responsibilities as safe and practical. You must learn for a lifetime of safe driving, not just to pass a test.

Please do not book your practical test until you are fully ready to pass. Plymouth is an extremely challenging driving test location, but it is absolutely possible to pass first time. Plymouth has the 9th lowest driving test pass rate of all 380 test centres in the UK.   Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are specifically trained to help you meet the safety standard required to pass the driving test first time. ADIs are strictly monitored and regulated by the DVSA. ADI's must maintain significantly above average pass rates and extremely low fault rates. Your ADI is not a car hire service for you to just have a go at the driving test, they can and will lose their teaching licence, job and livelihood if they do not meet and enforce the DVSA's strict standard. ADIs must refuse to take you to test until you have met all of the DVSA 'ready to pass' criteria / we are fully confident that you are 100% ready to pass.