Short answer: there are three ways. Pay online by card when you book (your card is held, not charged, until your instructor confirms the lesson), pay your instructor by bank transfer, or pay cash at the start of the lesson. The full written terms are on our payment and booking policy page.
Nine people asked us some version of this question in the last month alone, by email, chat and WhatsApp. It's one of the most common things people want to know before they'll even consider booking a first lesson, which makes sense. Nobody wants to turn up to lesson one without knowing how they're meant to pay.
How does paying by card work when I book online?
When you book through our online booking page, you enter your card at checkout, but nothing is taken at that point. Your card is authorised (held) and only charged once your instructor confirms the booking. If the booking is cancelled before it's confirmed, the hold is released and no money is taken. Card payments are processed securely by Stripe. For lessons with an instructor who takes card payments, the money goes straight into that instructor's own Stripe account: our instructors are independent franchisees, so they are the merchant. Online card payment can vary by instructor.
Can I pay by bank transfer instead of card?
Yes. You can always pay your allocated instructor directly by bank transfer, and they'll give you their details. For pay-as-you-go lessons, the transfer needs to arrive at least one week before the lesson.
Do you accept cash for lessons?
Yes. This is the version of the question we get most, word for word, so to be completely clear: you can pay your instructor in cash at the start of each pay-as-you-go lesson.
What about paying for packages or test car hire?
Hour packages (Bronze 10 hours for £465, Silver 20 hours for £920, Gold 30 hours for £1,350, all on our pricing page) must be paid in full before your lessons start. The hours then sit as credit that you use lesson by lesson. Driving Test Car Hire is £260 for existing students. Emergency Driving Test Car Hire is £455 for experienced drivers who aren't yet our students, and it's a request to book: the instructor approves it first. You can read what's actually included in test day hire in our post on what's included in test day car hire.
What if I just want to ask before booking anything?
That's completely reasonable, and it's exactly what most of the nine people mentioned earlier did. Message us on WhatsApp on 07380 399311 with your situation, whether that's a single intro lesson, a package, or test car hire, and we'll tell you plainly how payment works for your case before you put any money down.
Ready to book?
If you're new to driving or have had lessons before, the quickest next step is booking your first 2-hour lesson through our booking page, where the intro price and payment details are shown clearly before you confirm anything.
Quick answers
Do I need to pay the full package upfront, or can I pay lesson by lesson?
Packages are paid in full before your lessons start, then used as credit lesson by lesson. If you'd rather pay as you go, each lesson is paid by card when you book online, by bank transfer at least a week before, or in cash at the start of the lesson.
Can I pay my instructor directly instead of through the website?
Yes. You can always pay your allocated instructor directly by cash or bank transfer.
What happens if I need to cancel after I've already paid?
If you cancel a card booking before your instructor confirms it, the hold is simply released and no money is taken. Once a payment has been taken, the refund comes from whoever received it (for card payments, usually your instructor's own Stripe account). The full rules are on the payment and booking policy page.
Written by Mohammed Miah, DVSA-approved driving instructor (ADI). Drafted with AI assistance from the questions real students and enquirers ask us, then reviewed and approved by Mohammed before publishing.