Terms & Conditions

1General Terms

These terms and conditions govern all driving lessons, packages, and services provided by DriveSQ Driving School ("DriveSQ", "we", "us") to learner drivers ("you", "the learner") in Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.

By making a booking — whether via WhatsApp, our website booking form, phone, or any other method — you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms in full.

DriveSQ reserves the right to update these terms at any time. The most current version will always be available at drivesq.co.uk/terms.html. Continued use of our services following any update constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

All DriveSQ instructors are DVSA-approved. We never use unsupervised trainees or PDIs as lead instructors.

3Cancellation Policy

We understand that plans change. However, our instructors' time and income depend on scheduled lessons. Please give us as much notice as possible.

Notice Given	Charge
More than 24 hours before the lesson	No charge — lesson rescheduled free of charge
Less than 24 hours before the lesson	Full lesson fee charged (£35)
No-show (no contact made)	Full lesson fee charged (£35)
Cancellation during the lesson	Full lesson fee charged (£35)

Cancellations must be communicated directly to your instructor or via WhatsApp to 07352 932003.
The 24-hour notice window is calculated from the scheduled lesson start time, not from when the message is seen or replied to.
In genuine emergencies (hospitalisation, bereavement), DriveSQ will use reasonable discretion. Supporting evidence may be requested.
DriveSQ or your instructor may also cancel a lesson with reasonable notice. If we cancel with less than 24 hours' notice without good cause, your next lesson will be provided at no charge.
Repeated late cancellations (3 or more) may result in termination of your booking, with any remaining unused block hours refunded minus lessons already taken at £35/hr.

If you are running late to a lesson, please notify your instructor immediately. Lessons will not be extended beyond the scheduled end time to compensate for late arrival — the full lesson fee applies regardless.

4Refund Policy

DriveSQ aims to be fair and transparent with all refund requests. The following policy applies to all lesson packages and block bookings.

Important: If you request a refund for a block or package booking, DriveSQ will calculate the value of lessons already completed at the standard rate of £35 per hour. This amount will be deducted from your refund.

How refunds are calculated:

Scenario	Refund Amount
10-hour block (£330) — 0 lessons taken	£330 (full refund within cooling-off period*)
10-hour block (£330) — 4 hours taken	£330 − (4 × £35) = £190 refund

Cooling-off period: You have 14 days from the date of purchase to cancel any package for a full refund, provided no lessons have been taken yet.
Once lessons have commenced, the per-hour deduction applies regardless of the cooling-off period.
Refunds are processed within 10 working days of an approved refund request.
Refunds are issued to the original payment method only.
Any outstanding cancellation charges owed (Section 3) will be deducted from your refund before it is processed.
DriveSQ does not offer refunds for test fees, theory test preparation materials, or third-party bookings made on your behalf.
If DriveSQ is unable to provide a suitable instructor in your area through no fault of your own, a full refund of unused lesson time will be issued.

To request a refund, please contact us via WhatsApp at 07352 932003 or email. We aim to respond to all refund requests within 2 working days.

5Block & Package Bookings

Block bookings and packages must be used within 12 months of purchase. Unused hours after this date will be forfeited with no refund.
Block hours are personal to the named learner and are non-transferable to another person.
DriveSQ reserves the right to adjust package pricing. Any price change will not affect packages already purchased.
If your assigned instructor becomes unavailable (illness, departure from DriveSQ), we will make every effort to assign a replacement instructor within 7 days. Any unused paid hours are protected.
Packages purchased under a promotional offer (e.g. Summer 2026 discount) are subject to the terms of that specific promotion in addition to these general terms.
Hours in a block booking cannot be split across multiple learners or used by anyone other than the named learner.

6Lesson Conduct & Safety

The safety of our learners, instructors, and the public is our absolute priority. The following rules apply during all DriveSQ lessons:

You must arrive for every lesson in a fit and legal state to drive — sober, rested, and not under the influence of any substance.
Your instructor has the right to terminate a lesson immediately if they believe it is unsafe to continue. A full lesson fee will be charged in this event.
You must bring your valid UK provisional or full driving licence to every lesson. DriveSQ cannot lawfully allow you to drive without sight of your licence.
Mobile phones must be stowed away and not used during lessons. Hands-free use is not permitted while in control of the vehicle.
Verbal or physical abuse towards instructors will result in immediate termination of all bookings with no refund of unused hours.
Any damage to the DriveSQ vehicle caused by reckless or deliberate conduct may be charged to the learner. Normal driving errors during lessons are not charged.
You must wear a seatbelt at all times during lessons.
If you hold a full licence and are taking refresher lessons, you remain legally responsible for your driving at all times.

7Learner Eligibility

You must hold a valid UK provisional driving licence before your first lesson.
You must be at least 17 years of age to take driving lessons in the UK.
You must meet the legal eyesight requirements — you must be able to read a standard number plate from 20 metres. If you need glasses or contact lenses to do so, you must wear them for every lesson and for your test.
You must declare any medical conditions or DVLA notifications that may affect your ability to drive. DriveSQ is not liable for any consequences arising from undisclosed medical conditions.
Non-UK residents must hold a valid provisional licence entitlement valid in Great Britain.

8Practical Test Bookings

DriveSQ can assist with practical test booking as a courtesy service. However, the learner is solely responsible for ensuring their test is booked correctly and on time.
The cost of the practical test is not included in any DriveSQ package price and is paid directly to DVSA.
DriveSQ will provide the use of the instructor's vehicle for the practical test where agreed in advance. A vehicle hire charge of £120 applies for test day use, unless otherwise stated in your package.
If you book your test without consulting your instructor, DriveSQ cannot guarantee vehicle availability on that date.
Any DVSA test cancellation or rescheduling fees are the learner's responsibility.

9Referral Scheme

For every friend you refer to DriveSQ who then books a minimum lesson package, you will receive 1 FREE lesson hour credited to your account.
The free hour is credited only after the referred friend has completed their first paid lesson.
Referral rewards are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
3 successful referrals = 1 free mock test session. 5 successful referrals = 1 additional bonus lesson hour.
DriveSQ reserves the right to withdraw or modify the referral scheme at any time for new referrals. Existing earned but unused credits will be honoured.
Self-referrals or referrals of household members are not eligible for rewards.
Referral credits expire 12 months after being issued.

10Liability

All DriveSQ vehicles are fully insured for learner driver tuition. In the event of an accident during a lesson:

DriveSQ carries full business motor insurance for tuition purposes. Learners are covered under this policy while in the instructor's vehicle.
DriveSQ is not liable for any personal injury, property damage, or consequential loss arising from accidents caused by the learner's own negligent driving.
DriveSQ is not responsible for any loss of earnings, missed appointments, or other consequential losses arising from lesson cancellations or rescheduling.
The pass rate figures quoted (90%+) represent historical performance and are not a guarantee of individual outcome.

11Payment Responsibility

It is important that you understand who is responsible for payments depending on how and to whom they are made.

Payments made directly to your driving instructor are a private arrangement solely between you and that instructor. DriveSQ is not a party to such transactions and accepts no responsibility for any payment made directly to an instructor — including disputes, non-refunds, or loss of funds.
Payments made to DriveSQ (via our website, bank transfer to DriveSQ, or any DriveSQ payment link) are the responsibility of DriveSQ. If you have a payment dispute relating to a DriveSQ booking, please contact us directly.
If you are unsure whether a payment request is from DriveSQ or from an instructor personally, please contact us before making payment.

Important: DriveSQ strongly advises all learners to make payments only through official DriveSQ channels. We cannot be held responsible for any funds paid directly to an instructor outside of a DriveSQ booking.

12Data & Privacy

DriveSQ takes your privacy seriously and complies with UK GDPR.

We collect your name, phone number, email, and postcode for the purpose of booking and providing driving lessons.
Your data is never sold to third parties or used for any purpose other than providing our services and communicating with you about your lessons.
We may send you WhatsApp or SMS messages regarding your bookings, lesson reminders, and relevant offers. You may opt out at any time.
Pass celebration videos or photos shared by learners may be used on our social media and website with the learner's explicit consent. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us.
To request deletion of your personal data, contact us via WhatsApp at 07352 932003.

13Contact Us

If you have any questions about these terms, or wish to make a complaint or refund request, please contact us:

WhatsApp (fastest): 07352 932003 — replies within minutes
Phone: 07352 932003
Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–8pm · Sat–Sun 9am–6pm

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Back to DriveSQ Home Ask Us a Question

Greater Manchester Road Network — Educational Guide

Greater Manchester's road network covers over 4,500 miles of road managed across ten metropolitan boroughs. The network includes motorways (M60, M62, M56, M61, M63), A-roads of regional importance (A6, A34, A56, A57, A580), and an extensive local road grid of B-roads and unclassified roads. Understanding the network hierarchy — and the different driving demands at each level — is a key part of driver education.

Manchester's city centre road network is managed by TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) using a SCOOT adaptive traffic signal system that responds to real-time vehicle detector data. This means signal phases can be shorter or longer than expected — learners should always approach signals prepared to stop rather than accelerating in anticipation of a green phase.

Emergency Stop and Control

The emergency stop is a controlled, maximum-effort braking manoeuvre that must bring the vehicle to rest in the shortest possible distance while maintaining steering control. On modern vehicles with Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS), the correct technique is to press the brake pedal as hard and as quickly as possible and maintain full pressure — ABS prevents wheel lock by pulsing brake pressure automatically, so do not pump the brake. Without ABS, the threshold braking technique — pressing to just before lockup point and holding — is optimal for straight-line stopping. Steering control during an emergency stop allows the driver to maintain their lane position even when braking at maximum effort — this is a significant safety advantage over uncontrolled stops. The emergency stop may be requested by the examiner during a DVSA practical test by raising their hand and saying 'stop' — one in three candidates are asked to perform an emergency stop. After an emergency stop, before moving off again, check mirrors, signal and check both blind spots, as following vehicles may have pulled around or beside you during the stop.

Observation Skills

The two-second rule for following distance is measured from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed point to when your front bumper passes the same point — if the count reaches two before you, you are too close.
Scanning in front of the vehicle should cover the full field of view, not just the vehicle ahead — hedgerows, parked cars, driveways and junctions should all be monitored simultaneously at lower speeds.
Anticipation — predicting what other road users will do before they do it — is the defining skill of an experienced driver. Watching for brake lights 3 vehicles ahead, monitoring pedestrians approaching crossings, and tracking cyclist body language all contribute to effective anticipation.
Mirror checks before every speed change are not optional — reducing speed from 40mph to 30mph at a speed limit change requires a mirror check before braking to assess whether it is safe to decelerate.

DVSA Practical Test — What You Need to Know

Driver fault accumulation is not linear in its impact on test result. A candidate with 14 driver faults (one below the fail threshold) passes with the same result as a candidate with zero driver faults. However, the driver faults recorded provide useful feedback — any category with three or more driver faults recorded by the examiner is typically highlighted for post-test improvement even when the test is passed.

After You Pass — What New Drivers Need to Know

After passing your driving test, your journey as a driver is just beginning. The first year of independent driving carries the highest collision risk of any stage of a driver's career — new drivers are involved in road incidents at four times the rate of experienced drivers. Post-pass programmes including Pass Plus, motorway lessons with a qualified ADI, and telematics (black box) insurance all demonstrably reduce first-year risk. DriveSQ offers post-pass sessions specifically designed to build the additional skills that DVSA testing cannot fully assess: motorway driving, night driving, rural roads and adverse weather confidence.

DriveSQ Student App & Learning Resources

Everything You Need to Pass — Manchester Driving Guide

DriveSQ students in Manchester (M1) don't just get lessons — they get a complete learning ecosystem built around passing first time at Manchester City Driving Test Centre.

Driving in Manchester — Local Knowledge

Manchester's Northern Quarter has narrow cobbled streets that test low-speed vehicle control and observation skills. DriveSQ instructors in Manchester cover Oxford Road and Deansgate in every lesson plan, ensuring students develop genuine local road confidence before test day. Your instructor's knowledge of M1 roads, pedestrian patterns, and local junction behaviour gives you a measurable advantage over learners who have simply followed a generic syllabus. The Trafford Centre, opened in 1998, is the UK's second largest indoor shopping centre with over 35 million annual visitors. Its road network — Trafford Way and the A56 — is one of Greater Manchester's busiest non-motorway driving environments.

The DriveSQ Student App — Your 24/7 Learning Companion

Every DriveSQ student in Manchester gets full access to the DriveSQ student app from the moment they book — at no extra cost. The app works on any device (phone, tablet, laptop) with no download required. It connects directly to your instructor's dashboard, so your progress updates in real time after every lesson. Here are the features our M1 students use most:

Hazard Perception Tips

The DriveSQ student app includes a dedicated hazard perception coaching section with tips drawn from real DVSA test data. Learn exactly when to click, how to identify developing hazards versus static ones, and how to avoid the most common scoring mistakes. Hazard perception is one of the most underestimated parts of the theory test — the app gives it the attention it deserves.

Daily Streak Tracker

The DriveSQ app rewards consistent study with a daily login streak counter. Every day you engage with the app — whether completing a theory mock, reviewing topics, or checking your progress — extends your streak. Research shows spaced repetition and daily engagement significantly improves theory test scores.

Progress Tracker

Your DriveSQ student dashboard tracks every lesson you complete, showing total hours done, topics covered, and an automatically calculated test readiness score. Your instructor updates your progress after each lesson — you see exactly what you have mastered and what still needs work, so every lesson has a clear purpose.

Theory Test Guide & Mock Tests

According to DVSA statistics, the most common reasons for failing the practical driving test are: not making effective observations at junctions (11.9% of all fails), inappropriate speed (10.3%), and poor positioning at roundabouts (8.2%). The DriveSQ student app includes a complete theory mock test engine with DVSA-style questions, instant scoring, and detailed answer explanations. Students can run unlimited mock tests before their theory test date — the app tracks scores over time so improvement is clearly visible.

The theory guide section covers all 14 subject areas assessed by the DVSA: alertness, attitude, safety and your vehicle, safety margins, hazard awareness, vulnerable road users, other types of vehicle, vehicle handling, motorway rules, rules of the road, road and traffic signs, documents, accidents, vehicle loading, and environmental responsibility.

Access Theory Mocks in the App

Practical Driving Test Guide

A candidate can request their test in Welsh at any DVSA test centre in Wales. In England, tests are conducted in English only, though written guidance is available in multiple languages. DriveSQ serves learners from diverse backgrounds across Greater Manchester. DriveSQ's practical guide is built into the student app and covers every element of the Manchester City test routes. From the moment you sit in the car with the examiner to the independent driving section and final manoeuvre — the guide prepares you for exactly what to expect, eliminating surprises on test day.

The guide includes step-by-step instructions for all three possible manoeuvres (reverse bay parking, parallel parking, pulling up on the right), the Show Me Tell Me vehicle safety questions, emergency stop procedure, and independent driving using both sat-nav and road signs — so whichever combination your examiner chooses, you are ready.

Access Practical Guide in the App

Life at DriveSQ — On the Road in Manchester

DVSA Approved

Book Your Lessons in Manchester Today

New students receive access to the DriveSQ student app immediately after booking — giving instant access to theory mock tests, the practical guide, and progress tracking before the first lesson even begins.

Book Online WhatsApp Us

Local Road Knowledge and Driving Education

Key Driving Knowledge for Greater Manchester