Drive Intensive Reviews 15

I paid just under £1,000 for a driving course with this company and they never booked me a driving test as promised. In the end, I had to book the test myself.

After this, I requested a full refund, which they refused. I then asked for just the deposit back – again refused. I later requested a refund of my test fee, but despite sending four separate emails, I have been completely ignored.

Communication has been extremely poor. Lisa, who works as the receptionist, was particularly unhelpful and unprofessional throughout my dealings with the company.

Overall, I feel misled and disappointed. The service did not match what was advertised, and once payment was taken, customer support disappeared. I would not recommend this company to anyone. I could write further about this company but given all of the bad reviews I should hope no one chooses to book with this Company.

Would like to give it no stars but that’s not an option!
I paid £262.00 for an intensive driving lessons plus practical test in Nov2024
We were told to download an app and that we wd receive info on instructor allocated and test date. After 6 months of waiting with no useful updates we requested a full refund but are being stalled and ignored via email communication and no offer of a refund despite no service of any kind offered
Do not use this company

After carrying out considerable research on intensive driving courses. I settled on Drive Intensive as they looked the best, with only a small amount of bad reviews. However, disappointingly  it has been nothing but a waste of money. I booked my 25 hours intensive crash course on the 10th February with lessons starting on 10th March. Which gave Drive intensive a month to find me a practical test for the 14th of March, which I was told wouldn't be a problem despite the current back-log as they have a "Fast track booking system" for booking practical tests. I contacted them on a weekly basis to see if they had found me a practical test and was told on each occasion that they hadn't. As they said that they are going so quickly which was confusing because I was told that they had a "Fast track booking system". In the interim I remained hopeful that I would get a last minute test for the 14th March so completed the crash course which I had booked a week off work for.

I completed 20 hours of my crash course, therefore had 5 hours remaining for the day of my test which I believed would be a very close date away after completing the course as I was promised by Drive Intensive "On the rare occasions where we cannot find a driving test for the last day of the course, we will book it as close as we can to the end of your intensive driving course" after asking Drive intensive if they had booked me a practical test at the end of my intensive course/test week. Which was repeatedly ignored. The only communication I had with them was through the Drive Intensive third party instructor, who  said they would book me a test (What happened to the "Fast track booking system"). At this point I didn’t believe they were even looking for one, but I still remained hopeful as I had paid £1,057 for the intensive course and test. I decided to spread the remaining 5 hours into weekly lessons to get myself test ready for a last minute test to be sorted by Drive intensive/Instructor. I was repeatedly told there are no tests available anywhere and it will go in the diary when there is one. 

In the interim period I decided to continue my driving lessons with a previous instructor still remaining hopeful I would get a test. My brother and I began looking for practical driving tests on the Testi app to see if they were appearing and each day there were several new tests. I explained this to Drive intensive and just got told ‘if a test was found it would go in the diary’. On 14th April via the Testi App I got a test for a later date in the year after only having the app for one day.

 I then emailed drive intensive on 1st May asking for £62 back for my practical driving test which they said they would send me. Two weeks later on the 15th May I still haven’t received my refund so I sent another email saying I haven’t received the money and still no response, so sent another email explaining I am taking this further and still no response. I believe all the good reviews must be fake and nobody is even looking for a test. I feel like I have wasted so much money on Drive Intensive. This has been a horrible experience and I would certainly not recommend them as they are full of false promises and ignore you when you challenge them over poor performance and refunds. My next step will be to report them to Trading standards/DVLA along with the small claims court should the refund fail to materialise. 

Unfortunately we have had a similar experience to others in respect of being unable to secure a test at the end of intensive lessons. The fast track system that was described to us seems to be the cancellation system that anyone can access. We secured a test for my daughter ourselves which she took in her own car as the instructor ( who incidentally was very good) was not available at short notice. We too are waiting for a refund for the test fee and were advised on 9 August that it had been sent for payment ‘in line with terms and conditions’. I have sent a number of messages and emails since, but I am guessing that I will not see the refund now and it’s not really worth pursuing via the small claims court.

I booked an intensive course for April, they were aware that I only had a few days to do it. My driving instructor Craig was great! The company did not find a test, then said they would look for July (the next time I was back) which they did not do. In some of my email correspondses have felt quite rude and not professional. They then stopped replying to my emails.

I have been trying to get a refund on the test fee for the last month and have had no response to my emails.

Would not recommended this company, they do not provide the service they advertise.

UPDATE:
7 weeks on I am yet to receive my refund that was apparently authorised. I have sent multiple emails in the time with no response.

UPDATE 2:
Still have not got a refund and they are ignoring all my emails and calls. Very unprofessional. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!

Do NOT book with this company.
I placed an order on the 25th March for my son to do his lessons.
I’d not heard anything from them till I emailed in July to see if his lessons would be starting in August.
They said they’d not received the order, thankfully i had my confirmation email.

They then told me he’d need to do a theory test before he had lessons.
No information has been sent even now.
I’ve been trying to get a refund since August and I am still waiting for one.

I’ve been emailing most weeks and nothing.
I’ve just spoken to someone who’s yet again fobbed me off.

Can I just get my refund, thanks

my wife registered with them. The instructor was lovely and fun to be with, unfortunately that sweet experience was soured by the behaviour of the company.

they refused to book her for her test after the completion of the driving instructions and further more refused to refund her back her test money for her to book it herself. In addition they threatened her with legal action (boo hoo), to make her scared, because she dared speak her mind about her experience and they lied that she spoke badly of the instructor.

total disregard for truth, honesty and trying to muscle a woman. putting her under emotional and mental issues throughout the refund process and now as well, rather than addressing the main issue which so so many have complained of a similar issue.

i will now also begin to consult the family solicitor as this needs to be taken up. i have also reported this issue to the relevant governing bodies.

BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY!!!!!!! They are quick to take your money and when refund arises , they do not keep to their words …. I registered a 10hr intensive course with this company, they told me they will do a 2days course and they would book my test for the 3rd day . Only for me to finish the course and they told me I wasn’t ready I needed more tests. I told them I can’t afford it and they should refund my booking test money so I can book it myself. They told me 30days , this has passed and I haven’t still received anything . they are not picking my calls anymore … I can’t believe there are people and companies out here who still scam people and not keep to their words.
BEWARE GUYS!!!!!!!!!RUN

I booked a 25 hour course with Drive Intensive. The communication was good from the outset, and my instructor Jon was really helpful and supportive. I'm pleased to say I passed my test at the first attempt. Thankyou for all your help😀

Prompt and detailed communication at the start of booking an intensive driving course with them. Swiftly provided opportunity for theory training and they booked my theory test. However, they lost their automatic driving instructor about two weeks before my intensive course was due to start, which meant they were unable to fulfill my course.

This is when communication dropped. I then asked for my deposit back in order for me to find another company to fulfill the intensive course. I was asked to email my request, which I did, and followed this up again when I got no reply. I was then told it would take 30 days, fast forward 139 days to mid-December, I have still not had my deposit back (£300+), nor any further communication from them as to why the lengthy delay. I have now emailed the DVSA to raise a complaint to help enquire about this further.

The driving instructor Tammy was fantastic. My daughter felt at ease with her and she gave her the best tuition throughout her course.
With my other teens instructors have held back with tuition. But Tammy could see my daughter’s potential and built on this to give her the skills to pass her driving test first time.

In response to the company saying my review is untrue.. it’s not :) I’m using my sisters account and you know exactly who I am. I had an awful experience and I’m allowed to share that. They take your money and can’t provide what they’re selling. As for the name, Tanveer Mahmood is the name I was given and the person who I paid. I can only advise of my experience and he didn’t teach me anything, he obviously works for this company as it’s easy money where he gets away with doing nothing.

I have only done the review today as the company have been ignoring me since the date of my test. I reached out to them on the day and tried multiple times after and have just received a response from them today.. 8 days later as the lady said she forgot to reply to me. I mentioned at the time I wasn’t happy with finishing the lessons earlier and the instructor got defensive about it. I obviously didn’t make an official complaint as it would be very awkward to sit in a car with someone I’ve complained about. As for the test, no effort was made to get this on the week of my lessons, it was over a week after my start date so the driving lessons I did weren’t as fresh in my memory. Which is the whole point of doing an intensive course. It’s a complete scam, just find yourself a cancellation and make a block booking with your own instructor in the days leading up to your test. This company can’t provide what you’re paying for. They were quick to take my money but won’t respond once they have it, and the excuse that she forgot to reply to me is unacceptable.
I will feedback my experience to the DVSA however I’m entitled to give my review. The instructor was absolutely shocking. I was told before booking that the company have their own drivers on file as previously I was let down by a course provider who didn’t have an instructor available. Therefore the company are happy to have these instructors represent their business. Tanveer Mahmood the instructor sat there on his phone the whole time I was in lessons. No mock tests or anything. He asked the areas I felt I needed more practice I said roundabouts and manoeuvres. I asked for more support on manoeuvres and requested he give me reference points for his car for bay parking. He outright said no because each bay is a different size. Parallel park again no help or direction, I knew the basics but was fluking it every time, he didn’t advise on the process like turning full turn to the left and what reference to look for and when to turn back right etc. I said I didn’t feel confident on roundabouts and he just said that I’ve done loads of roundabouts absolutely fine, I don’t need to do anything differently. It didn’t matter that I felt I needed more practice on those, i could’ve gained confidence by going over them more.
He was lazy, finished each lesson 25-35 minutes early. Took a 20 minute break each day - including the last day that he said he wouldn’t need to take a break as it was only 3 hours. I was concerned that if the test was 8am I’d have no time to fit in a lesson before hand, he said no problem he would come the night before. Low and behold the test was 8am I asked him to come the night before and he said he couldn’t.
There was no flexibility on the lesson time. I booked annual leave for the 3 days and was told the lessons will start at 9 for 5 hours, with the test on the 3rd day so obviously lesson time may change to accommodate that.
The instructor said I can either start at 7am or 12.30pm - which didn’t work with childcare. The company didn’t start looking for tests until the week my lessons started so there was no test on the 3rd day, it was the following week, again completely messing up the childcare / annual leave I had booked off.

Save your money and look for cancellations yourself. They do come up.

PLEASE...Don't waste your money! Quick to take my money, wasn't offered 1 driving test in 4 months, not what I thought an intensive course would be. Still waiting to be refunded for my test money after two months when Lisa agreed, *STILL NO REFUND - disgusting service... Very poor communication.

our daughter had an intensive 45 hr driving course booked, but unfortunately really didn't go as expected, her instructor was ok and fitted poppy in her work. unfortunately we have now had to have another driver instructor because this firm never booked her a test that i have paid for and now her test is in sept, absolutely ridiculous they haven't reimbursed us for this test or the theory that they never booked that we paid for also. Communication is diabolical, they take your money leave you high and dry! Try somebody else you will be glad you did

Having booked a 35 hour driving course with Drive Intensive for February half term it was unfortunately cancelled due to them being unable to find a driving instructor. They now refuse to respond to emails requesting a refund and we are having to take action in the small claims court to obtain a refund.

Edit - Their reply says that we received a refund. This is correct, but only after sending a 'letter before action' and being prepared to take the matter to court. It is correct that they were unable to find an instructor, for the dates we booked. Due to it being a half term booking, we were unable to wait until future holiday periods to take the course. I'm sure they would have found someone to complete the course several months later, but who books an intensive course and isn't in a rush to get the course completed? Could not recommend this company and their customer service is awful. It's taken them over 18 months to even respond to this review!