Intensive driving courses in London
Intensive courses built around your test date.
LIDT has taught intensive driving courses since 2003. With one lesson a week, the next lesson is spent relearning or readjusting. An intensive course does it in one go. Your course is built around your test date, so you go from your final lesson to your test with no gap and no refresher lessons. Choose a course length below. If you are not sure how many hours you need, start with an assessment.
Before you book
The order these happen in
You need one before you can book a theory test or take a driving lesson.
Apply on GOV.UK →Once you have a date, your course is built around it.
Register with your test date →Not passed your theory yet?
You can still start lessons. We recommend passing your theory first so there is no long gap between finishing your lessons and taking your test. See our theory test pack →
No test date yet?
Two ways to start
You can search for a test yourself, or use our assisted booking service. Find out more →
Option 1
Start lessons once your practical test is secured
- Search for a test yourself, or join assisted booking
- Once your test is secured, you are assigned an instructor
- Take an assessment if you need one, or block book your lessons. Your first lesson will be used to assess your driving
- Adjust the course length if your instructor recommends it
- Take your test
Every hour you pay for is aimed at a date that already exists
All your hours are taken close to the test, so nothing has time to fade
You will not need refresher lessons because of a gap, or because you finished your course too early
Securing a test is difficult, so you need to be open to different centres
Starting when test secured allow a schedule leading up to test with no gaps
Option 2
Start lessons now, book the test as you go
- Start with an assessment and book the hours recommended
- Take lessons at a slower pace while your test is being secured
- Once your test is booked, block book the remaining hours
- Adjust the course length if your instructor recommends it
- Take your test
You start driving straight away instead of waiting
Progress is steady rather than all at once
There may be gaps between lessons if the test takes a while to secure
Starting now, you may be training in different centre to what you end up booking
Being allocated an instructor now, you will be limited to instructor coverage for test centre
Already have a test date?
We build the course around it
Tell us your test date, test centre and how much driving you have done
You are assigned an instructor who covers your test centre
Start with an assessment if you need one
Block book your lessons leading up to your test date
Take your test in your instructor's car
Intensive courses are currently available in London only.
What is included
With your DVSA approved instructor
Included in your course price. Take the test in the car you trained in
Free. GPS tracking, DVSA syllabus, readiness score
On the morning of your test
Free Theory Test Pro access, included as part of our theory test pack
In office or remote practical test booking support if required
Your DVSA test fee is paid by you directly to DVSA. If your test is secured using our assisted booking service, LIDT charges a platform fee. Neither is part of your course price.
Automatic or manual
We teach both, at the same price
There is no extra charge for either, though some instructors set their own rate. You do not choose automatic or manual when your test is booked. The car you take to your test decides the transmission you are examined in, and with it the licence you come away with.
Automatic
One pedal fewer and nothing to change.
- Less to learn. There is no clutch and no gear changes, so no part of your course is spent learning them.
- Easier in London. Stop start traffic, hill starts, box junctions. An automatic cannot stall, and stalling is the thing most likely to rattle a learner on test day.
- More attention on the road. Everything you are not spending on the clutch goes into observation, planning and junctions, which is what the examiner is marking.
- It is what most people now drive. 92% of new cars ordered in Britain in the first half of 2026 were automatic, and every electric car is one.
Nervous drivers, city drivers, anyone in a hurry, and anyone whose next car will be electric or hybrid.
Manual
One licence that covers everything.
- You can drive both. A manual licence covers automatics as well, so nothing is ever ruled out and you never need to test again.
- Insurance can work out cheaper, even if you only ever intend to drive an automatic. Insurers look at the licence as well as the car.
- More of the used market is open to you. First cars tend to be cheap used cars, and the affordable end of that market is still heavily manual.
- Some work needs it. Trades, delivery, van and fleet driving, instructing. Hire cars abroad are more often manual than they are here.
Anyone who needs it for work, wants the widest choice of car, or already has some manual experience and only needs polishing.
If you pass automatic and change your mind
You can upgrade to a manual licence later without starting again. No new provisional licence, no theory retake, and if you do not pass the manual test you carry on driving on the automatic licence you already hold. The upgrade test has to be booked by phone rather than on GOV.UK.
Our Intensive Driving Course in London
Choose your course length
15 Hours
4 to 5 days
3 to 5 hours per day
Best for
Experienced learners or those who recently failed and want focused test preparation. Not suitable for beginners. If you want to compress your training into a working week, our 5 day intensive driving course is the ideal fit.
Focus
Polishing driving, fixing specific faults, sharpening test performance.
From
£780
Includes the test car pack
25 Hours
7 to 9 days
3 to 5 hours per day
Best for
Learners with a good base who have completed at least 25 hours and want to build consistency toward test standard. This functions perfectly as a 7 day intensive driving course for those who just need that final push.
Focus
Planning and judgement, roundabouts, meeting situations, manoeuvres, independent driving.
From
£1,200
Includes the test car pack
35 Hours
9 to 13 days
3 to 5 hours per day
Best for
Learners with some experience who can drive with guidance but need more time to build confidence and drive consistently.
Focus
Decision making at junctions, hazard awareness, independent driving, reversing manoeuvres.
From
£1,620
Includes the test car pack
45 Hours
12 to 15 days
3 to 5 hours per day
Best for
Novice learners completely new to driving or with only a few lessons. Learn step by step from basics to test standard.
Focus
Full DVSA skills journey. Build confidence and safe habits that last beyond the test.
From
£2,040
Includes the test car pack
How these prices are worked out
Hourly rate, from £42 per hour
Test car pack, from £150
What the test car pack includes
A fully insured, DVSA compliant car to take your test in, plus a 1 hour lesson immediately before the test. Your instructor is responsible for the car being right on the day.
Prices can vary according to the instructor's own rate. This is the baseline cost, and most of our instructors are on this rate.
You will take your test in the same car you take your lessons in, unless emergency cover is needed.
An assessment lesson booked on its own is charged separately and is not included in the prices above.
Course length is reviewed as your training progresses and hours may be added or removed. You must follow your instructor's recommendation on the hours needed to reach test standard. Failure to do so may result in termination of the course or withdrawal of the test car, without refund.
Assessment lesson
Not sure which course length you need? Start with an assessment.
Take a lesson with your instructor. Nothing different. It lets your instructor observe and assess your driving, and then recommend the hours you need and what to work on.
Benefits of an assessment lesson
- Get a feel for your instructor and their teaching style before committing to a full course
- Your instructor can accurately advise on the course length you need
- Your instructor can flag potential test slot availability in your area
- Direct access to someone to speak to if you have questions
Booking one
A 1-2 hour session booked on its own. Charged separately at your allocated instructor's hourly rate and paid directly to them.
If you opt out
Your first lesson can still be used for feedback. Some instructors will want to assess your driving before your course is finalised either way.
Your course is then built around your assessment result and your confirmed test date. One size does not fit all, and your final price is confirmed after your assessment.
To book an assessment before starting a course, email us with your details at info@lidt.co.uk.
On the registration form, answer Yes to “Would you like to start with an assessment lesson?” and Yes to starting lessons now. No upfront payment, no obligation.
When you pay
To register
Nothing
No payment is required to register or to receive a price.
Once your hours are confirmed
A deposit to LIDT
Paid by bank transfer. Up to around 12% of your course price, and it varies depending on your instructor's rates.
Before your course starts
The balance to your instructor
Bank transfer or cash, on the terms set by your instructor. See below.
When your instructor will want the balance
Payment terms are set by your instructor. They will confirm their terms when they are allocated to you, and those terms are the ones that apply to your course. In most cases:
- Payment is required on your first lesson, or up to 48 hours beforehand. This is the most common arrangement.
- Some instructors require payment as soon as your lessons are booked, or within a set number of days.
- Some instructors accept payment in stages as your lessons progress.
If you require a particular arrangement, please raise it before your lessons are booked.
Where your test is within 14 days, course fees are normally payable immediately, regardless of your instructor's usual terms.
Paid separately
The following are not included in your course price:
- Assessment lesson, where taken as a separate session. Paid directly to your instructor.
- DVSA test fee. Paid by you directly to DVSA when you book your test.
- Platform fee. Charged by LIDT where your test is secured using our assisted booking service.
Your course price comprises the deposit and the final payment. The deposit is not an additional charge.
Deposits are paid by bank transfer. If you are unable to pay by bank transfer, a card payment can be requested.
The deposit is refundable only as set out in our terms and conditions.
We do not offer set payment plans. Any flexibility is agreed directly with your instructor and is at their discretion.
If payment is not made in time, your course may be suspended, your instructor allocation withdrawn and your deposit forfeited.
Refunds are issued to the original payment method and can take up to 10 working days.
Cancelling a course needs 20 full working days' written notice. Lessons cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice may be charged in full.
Common questions
Do I need to have passed my theory test first?
You can start lessons without it, but a practical test cannot be booked until your theory is passed, so we cannot look for a date for you before then. We recommend passing your theory first so there is no long gap between finishing your lessons and taking your test. See our theory test pack →
Which areas of London do you cover?
Mainly East and North London. We also cover North West and West London. South and South West London are not currently covered.
South East London test centres are covered, currently Sidcup, Belvedere and Erith. For those, lessons start and end in Canary Wharf, so you would travel there and back, and the river crossing toll is paid by you directly to your instructor.
How do I pay?
Your deposit is paid to LIDT by bank transfer. Your final payment is made to your instructor by bank transfer or cash, on the terms they set out when you are allocated.
How are the lesson days arranged?
Lessons run 3 to 5 hours a day. The ideal is a consecutive block in the one or two weeks before your test, so you go straight from your last lesson into the test.
Days off in between are possible. You can also take one or two intensive lessons weekly on your days off, which is closer to semi intensive. That works, but it needs more time overall and you have to start a lot earlier.
2 hour lessons may be granted on request, subject to your instructor agreeing.
When do lessons run?
Normally between 9am and 7pm. Lessons can start earlier where a test requires it, and can run later in the summer months. This is a rough guide and depends on your instructor.
Can my course hours be reduced?
Only if your instructor agrees you can reach test standard in fewer hours, which may happen if you are progressing quicker than expected. Where your instructor agrees to reduce your hours, any unused hours can be refunded.
What if my instructor says I need more hours?
Extra hours are charged at your instructor's hourly rate. There is no penalty for adding them, and they are subject to your instructor's availability at the time you ask.
How quickly will I get an instructor?
We aim to allocate within 3 to 4 days of your test being secured. It can take longer if you do not have a test booked yet.
Can I request a female instructor?
Most of our instructors are male. Female instructor availability is limited. If this is a requirement for you, contact us before you register and we will tell you whether we can cover your area and dates.
Do you pick me up from home?
As a rule, no. Your instructor will agree a meeting point with you. If your address happens to be convenient for them they may collect you from there, but it is not something to count on when planning your course.
What kind of car will I learn in?
Mostly hatchbacks. Our instructors currently drive the Ford Focus and Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross, Toyota C-HR, Audi A3, Skoda Fabia and Nissan Note.
Your instructor will tell you which car you will be using, and you take your test in the same car you trained in.
Can I have a passenger in the car?
Please ask before your lesson. It is at your instructor's discretion and depends on the car and on what the lesson is covering.
Can I take my test in my own car?
Not on an intensive course. Every course above is a package that includes the test car pack. If you want to take your test in your own car, book driving lessons instead →
What if I do not get on with my instructor?
Contact us as soon as an issue comes up rather than waiting until the end of your course. We will look at whether alternative cover is possible.
What if I need to cancel a lesson or my course?
Lessons cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice may be charged in full. Cancelling a course needs 20 full working days' written notice.
If something has come up, tell us and your instructor as early as you can.
What happens if I fail my test?
Any lesson hours you have left stay with you, and your instructor will focus them on the faults from your test. Depending on those faults and how close you were to test standard, your instructor will usually recommend a few refresher hours before you sit it again.
A retest means booking the test car pack again, and a new DVSA test fee.
Are your instructors fully qualified?
Yes. Every LIDT instructor is a DVSA fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor, DBS checked and regularly re-examined.
Register your interest
No upfront payment required. Tell us your test date if you have one, your location and your experience level. We will be in touch to arrange your assessment lesson and build your course.
Information for existing course customers
If you previously booked an intensive course through LIDT and have an active DVSA test appointment, please read the following carefully. From 12 May 2026 you are responsible for managing your own test. Your course is organised around your test date, so any change to your test directly affects your course.
Step 1
Check your test is still booked
Visit gov.uk/check-driving-test with your booking reference and driving licence number to confirm your appointment is in place.
Step 2
Update your DVSA contact details
Log in at GOV.UK and make sure your email address, phone number and home address are up to date so DVSA can reach you directly.
Step 3
If your circumstances change, contact us first
Changing or cancelling your test without informing us will void your course. Contact us at info@lidt.co.uk before taking any action.
We strongly encourage all candidates to attend their booked test. Good luck!