Can a Beginner Do an Intensive Driving Course?
Yes. You do not need to have had driving lessons before to book an intensive course. If you are starting from scratch, the important thing is giving yourself enough time to learn properly rather than trying to fit into a course that is too short for your experience.
Our 36-hour course is an option for beginners and learners with less than around 10 hours of previous experience. If you have never driven before, the 42 and 48-hour courses give you more time. There is no single course that will be right for every beginner, because people learn at different speeds.
Which Intensive Driving Course Is Best for a Beginner?
If you are a complete beginner, it can be tempting to ask how many hours it takes to learn to drive. There is not one answer that fits everyone. Some people pick things up quickly, while others need more time to practise before they feel comfortable doing it without help. These are the three courses we would normally look at for someone with little or no previous experience.
36 Hour Intensive Course
Six training days. Designed for beginners or learners with less than around 10 hours of previous driving experience.
View 36 Hour Course →42 Hour Intensive Course
Seven training days. Provides complete beginners with additional tuition time to build skills and confidence from the basics.
View 42 Hour Course →48 Hour Intensive Course
Eight training days. Our longest intensive option for complete beginners who want more time to develop their driving at a more gradual pace.
View 48 Hour Course →What Does a Complete Beginner Learn?
You are not expected to know how to drive before the course starts. Your instructor begins with the basics and builds on them as you become more confident and capable.
Vehicle Controls
Understanding the car, preparing to drive, moving away safely, stopping and developing accurate steering and control.
Road Position & Junctions
Building observation, positioning and decision-making skills for junctions, crossroads and different road environments.
Busier & Faster Roads
Once you are ready, you can move on to roundabouts, busier roads and higher-speed driving instead of trying to tackle everything on day one.
Manoeuvres & Driving Independently
You will also work on manoeuvres and learn to make more of your own decisions on the road as you work towards practical test standard.
What Makes Learning Intensively Different?
The main difference is that you are not having one lesson and then waiting another week to drive again. Your training is kept close together over consecutive days, with up to six hours of driving tuition per day. That gives you the chance to come back to what you learned while it is still fresh.
- Skills are practised again quickly
- Less time between training sessions
- Structured progression over consecutive days
- One-to-one tuition with a fully qualified ADI
- Manual and automatic options where available
- Training tailored to your developing ability
Can a Complete Beginner Learn to Drive in One Week?
You can learn a lot in a short space of time, but nobody can promise that every beginner will be test ready in one week.
Our 36-hour course is completed over six training days and our 42-hour course over seven training days. The 48-hour course provides eight training days for learners who want additional time.
Completing an intensive course does not automatically mean your practical driving test will take place on the final day. Your course is arranged according to the booking option you select and your practical test arrangements.
For more detail, read Can You Pass Your Driving Test in a Week?
Intensive or Semi-Intensive for a Beginner?
Both formats can work for beginners. The better choice depends on how you prefer to learn and how much time you can commit.
Learning Over Consecutive Days
This is the better fit if you want to get on with your driving, can keep several consecutive days free and are comfortable doing several hours of tuition in a day.
More Time Between Lessons
This may suit you better if several hours of driving in one day sounds too much, or if work, college or other commitments mean you cannot keep consecutive days free.
Compare both formats in our Intensive vs Semi-Intensive Driving Courses guide.
Should a Beginner Learn Manual or Automatic?
Beginners can take either manual or automatic intensive driving courses, subject to instructor availability in their area.
Learning in an automatic removes the need to operate a clutch and manually change gears, while passing in a manual car gives you a licence that allows you to drive both manual and automatic cars. Passing in an automatic restricts your licence to automatic vehicles.
See the differences in our Automatic vs Manual Driving Lessons guide.
Do Beginners Need to Pass the Theory Test First?
You can begin learning to drive before passing your theory test. However, you must pass the theory test before you can book a practical driving test.
If you have not yet passed, your course includes access to student materials to support your theory test preparation, alongside tailored OneWeekDrivingCourse.co.uk guidance covering the theory and practical test journey.
What Happens With the Practical Driving Test?
Under the current DVSA booking rules, the learner books and manages their own practical driving test. We provide expert guidance through the practical test booking process and access to our Student Test Swapping Process, providing additional opportunities to secure an earlier practical test.
You can book your course before you have a practical test or choose to structure your course around an existing practical test booking. See How Our Booking Process Works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beginner Intensive Driving Courses
Can I do an intensive driving course with no driving experience?
Yes. Complete beginners can take an intensive driving course. You should choose a course that provides enough training time to learn from the basics rather than selecting a shorter course designed for an experienced learner.
How many hours does a beginner need for an intensive driving course?
There is no fixed number that applies to everybody. At OneWeekDrivingCourse.co.uk, the 36-hour course can suit beginners or learners with less than around 10 hours of experience, while the 42 and 48-hour courses provide more training time for complete beginners. Read our guide to choosing your driving course hours.
Is an intensive driving course too hard for a beginner?
Not necessarily. It is a lot of driving in a short space of time, so you do need to be prepared for that. Some beginners like being able to drive again the next day instead of waiting a week between lessons. Others find several hours in a day tiring and are better suited to a semi-intensive course. There is nothing wrong with choosing the format that suits the way you learn.
Can a beginner pass their driving test after one intensive course?
Yes, some learners do, but simply completing the hours does not mean you are automatically ready for the test. By the time you take your practical test you need to be able to drive safely and make your own decisions without relying on your instructor. Some beginners reach that point faster than others.
Is 36 hours enough for a complete beginner?
The 36-hour course is designed for beginners or learners with limited previous experience, but it cannot be guaranteed to be enough for every complete beginner. Learners wanting more training time should compare the 42 and 48-hour options.
Can beginners take an automatic intensive driving course?
Yes. We offer manual and automatic intensive driving courses, subject to instructor availability in your area. Remember that passing in an automatic car results in an automatic-only driving licence.
Can I book an intensive course before passing my theory test?
Yes. You can book and complete driving tuition before passing the theory test. You must pass your theory test before you can book your practical driving test.
Does a beginner intensive course include a practical test?
The learner is responsible for booking and managing their practical driving test under the current DVSA rules. We provide guidance through the booking process, and your course can be arranged according to the booking option you select and your practical test arrangements.
Starting From the Beginning?
Use our Course Recommendation to compare your experience and circumstances and find the intensive driving course most suited to you.
