Learn to drive in a Mini in Poole & Bournemouth
Driven By You - Your Road To Safe Driving For Life
About Us
Welcome to The Driven By You Driving School website.
MANUAL driving lessons are conducted in the Iconic and ever popular Minis, in Poole, Bournemouth and the local surrounding areas.
There are many choices at the beginning or even part way through your driver training journey, so we aim to simplify things for you with informative professional guidance.
Using your personal driver training plan, which we will set up at your first lesson, after each training session we will ask you to record your progress made during the lesson. This shows us how 'you' feel, not what we think of your driver skill set, then we can discuss which areas you would like some help with to improve your overall confidence and competence when we next meet.
We will also ensure you not only learn new, but also improve existing driving skills, at your own pace so most importantly, you enjoy your learning experience and go on to be a competent, courteous and safe driver for life.
After starting out training motorcyclists, then moving across to train car drivers with a well known national driving school, Paul founded the 'Driven By You' driving school in 2011 and is a Grade 'A' DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) Approved Driving Instructor.
Paul was then joined by Kristyen who, like Paul, is also a Fully Qualified (Green Badge) DVSA Approved Driving Instructor, in order to cope with demand and then additionally Karen (Admin), who will deal with your initial enquiries whether by phone, text or email, then allocate you to the appropriate Instructor as necessary.
For your peace of mind your Instructors, Paul and Kristyen, hold CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) Enhanced Disclosure Certificates which are issued as part of the DVSA checks for their suitability to hold the position of Driving Instructor.
Your driver training starts right here, right now, so scroll through the website where you will find additional information to help you make an informed decision about how we can help you on your driver training journey to 'Safe Driving For Life'.
If you have any other questions after reading through the information on our website then please contact us but please remember if phoning, your call is important to us, so if we are unable to take your call at the time, be sure to leave a message to include your name, contact number and brief details of your enquiry and Karen (Admin) will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for taking the time to log on to the 'Driven By You' website, your first step to developing and improving your driving skills through Professional Driver Training.
Your Instructors Paul and Kristyen look forward to meeting you soon.
Pricing - Manual Lessons Only
AUGUST 2026 UPDATE - LESSON RATES STILL HELD FOR DAILY LESSONS SINCE FEBRUARY 2023 DESPITE FUEL PRICE INCREASES AND GUARANTEED NOT TO INCREASE DURING YOUR TRAINING
PAY AS YOU GO - 1.0 Hour - £45.00
PAY AS YOU GO - 1.5 Hours - £60.00 (£7.50 Saving)
PAY AS YOU GO - 2 Hours - £80.00 - (£10 Saving)
Recommended In Order To Achieve Meaningful Improvements During Each Lesson
Block Of 'Pre' Paid Manual Lessons - 10 Hours - £400.00 - (£50 Saving)
Please note: To Be Taken as 5 x 2hr Lessons Only
'Intensive' Training Course - Updated August 2026
Still 'On Hold' - With the proposed changes for new drivers, Intensive training may be affected if they implement minimum learning periods of 3 or 6 months?
Also as from May 12th 2026, only you the trainee will be able to book a test and at most,change the date etc two times as a maximum before having the only option to cancel and search for a new test date, possibly 5 months later? Watch This Space
Post Test - Take Your Driving Skills To The Next Level With Tailored Advanced Specific Training such as:
Refresher Lesson - 1.5 Hours - £60
PASS PLUS course, Appproved By The DVSA - No Test Involved and Training is usually taken over 2 x 3 hour sessions - £360
(This includes Motorway Driving around Southampton, Eastleigh, Basingstoke etc and after completion could save money on your Insurance Premium)
Motorway Driving - 3.0 Hours - £180
Payments are accepted by;
Cash
Bank Transfer (BACS)
or
Credit / Debit Card (Card Payments Only Available In Person Not Online)
Gift Vouchers
Birthday? Christmas? Special Occasion? Why not surprise them with a 'Driven By You' Gift Voucher which we will create, personalise, print, laminate then deliver or post out to you so it's ready to pop inside their card?
Each one is tailored to your personal needs and can cover part, full or a block of lessons.
Call or e-mail to order yours now - The perfect practical gift that will continue to give, for life.
Please note: 2026 onwards
Gift Vouchers are currently only available once we have confirmed that one of our Instructors would have availability that matches yours, as spaces continue to be very very limited.
Areas We Cover
The Poole and Bournemouth areas we cover include:
Lytchett Matravers and Minster, Corfe Mullen, Broadstone, Wimborne, Colehill, Canford Magna, Canford Heath, Oakdale, Upton, Hamworthy, Poole, Parkstone, Lilliput, Branksome Park, Penn Hill, Canford Cliffs, Westbourne, Sandbanks.
Bournemouth, Charminster, Winton, Talbot Woods, Wallisdown, Moordown, Alderney, Kinson, Northbourne, East and West Howe, Bearcross, Castle Lane, Townsend, Throop, Muscliffe, Queens Park, Kings Park, Lansdowne.
We also pick up from all the major schools including:
Q.E, Parkstone Grammar, Poole Grammar, Bournemouth School & BSG, Bournemouth & Poole Colleges plus Bournemouth University.
If your school or home town isn't listed, please call and check.
Training Plans
Beginner / Novice
Just starting out, feeling excited but nervous, don't worry, that's quite normal.
Training for beginners starts out in a quieter area where we familiarise you with basic safety, the car and it's controls, then get you driving on the road for the first time and yes, you will be driving the car on day one!
The training is then structured to bring in new information and skills at a pace suitable to you so whilst there are new challenges in each lesson, it will always be enjoyable.
We then discuss and agree what to do in the next lesson which will be realistic and achievable.
Lessons are recommended in 2 hour sessions to achieve meaningful improvements to new skills as they are introduced however, your training can be tailored to meet your own personal commitments so please feel free to talk to us about your individual requirements.
Foreign Licence Holder
Initially when we meet, we need to familiarise you with the car and controls then carry out an Assessment of your current driving skills, after which, we can discuss and agree the training required to prepare you for the Practical Driving Test.
Often, if Foreign Licence holders have done the Theory test already, we would be looking to book your Practical test just after our first session, then set out times and dates to get together to familiarise you with the local Test Routes and requirements for the test, whilst improving your driving skills as discussed and agreed at the Assessment.
We can look for 'Cancellation Test Appointments', which could bring your Practical Driving Test forward to a date earlier than the standard waiting time. Intensive training leading up to that test appointment is an option that can be offered and considered subject to availability.
Note: Currently, January 2023, Intensive Training is not being offered as the waiting time for driving tests in BCP is 5 months!
We will of course update this should the waiting time improve.
Assessments for Mature Drivers
Are you a mature driver or do you have a family member who has driven for years now?
Would you like some re-assurance that you / they, are still safe out there on today's busy roads?
With our 'Assessments For Mature Drivers', we will show you respect as a driver of some years standing and in assessing your driving skills and general road safety, offer our professional advice on any aspects that should be considered for improvement to enhance your already substantial driving ability with a view to keeping you driving safe for life.
This has sometimes resulted in just the assessment session and in other cases one or two additional sessions. There is no test involved in this assessment.
Intensive Training
(Currently On Hold Due To The Extended Waiting Times For Tests)
Need your full driving licence sooner rather than later?
Passed the Theory test already?
Let's do the first training session and then talk through if Intensive training will work for you?
Working towards a pre booked 'Practical Test Date' certainly focusses the mind and intensive training does work well as it affords enhanced learning, soon after new skills being introduced.
It can however, be exactly as it says, 'intense', so we can do several sessions per week which gives you a break but very soon after, re-enforces skills learnt a day or so before, or double sessions with a 30 minute break in between, whichever suits you best and in line with getting you fully prepared for the test date we have booked.
Mock Test
This is available to anyone, even if learning to drive privately or with another driving school but included in the usual training for all trainees taking regular driving lessons with us.
Mock Tests will give you a realistic assessment of your current driving skills, give you confidence in just how much you can do well and focus future training in areas requiring improvement so you will be ready for your forthcoming Practical Driving Test.
Re-taking your Driving Test after losing your licence perhaps through points top up?
No problem, an initial assessment is recommended then we can arrange training leading up to your Practical Driving Test. No additional pricing here, lets get you ready and back on the road, so call now and don't delay as the lead time for standard practical tests are currently running at a 5 month wait!
Pass Plus
Highly recommended.
This 6 hour course is usually completed over two 3hr sessions
There is no test required at the end of the course.
Many insurance companies offer a good discount on the cost of your insurance policy on production of this Pass Plus Certificate.
Did you know that the Pass Plus Certificate is valid for 2 years so if you complete the course now but are not getting your own car yet, the insurance companies will offer the discount when you do, up to 2 yrs after the course completion?
The course modules cover driving skills in much greater depth than your initial driver training and Practical Test that you took and covers the following areas;
Introduction & Town Driving, All-Weather Driving, Out Of Town Driving & Rural Roads, Night Driving, Major Dual Carriageways and of course Motorways.
This course can be completed in one of the 'Driven By You' driving school cars or your own car if you have one and would prefer, as it is the car you will be driving daily and in these situations anyway, so just let us know which car you would prefer to use.
Motorway Driving, Night Driving, Driving on Snow & Ice, Reversing, Parking & Refresher Training - Boost your confidence
Not as confident as you would like to be in certain situations?
Been off the road for a while and just need some time in a car to boost your confidence?
We offer sessions covering specialised training in any specific area of driving, be it just one or a few, no problem, you will be surprised how good you feel afterwards when you realise you can do it and do it well!
If you are reading this section in the winter time with snow & ice on the ground, pick up the phone and give us a call now, you really will enjoy it out there and we get so few opportunities to train people in these conditions so come on, pick up that phone, this is a really important element of driver training often missed here in the south due to our climate.
Contact Us
Please contact us between 09.00hr and 17.00hr using either of the following numbers:
Office landline with answerphone service: 01202 700 554
Admin's Mobile, with voicemail service: 07769 288994
Please remember your call is very important to us, so if we are unable to take your call, please leave a message speaking clearly, leaving your name, contact number and brief details of how we can help, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Alternatively please e-mail us: Hello@DrivenByYou.co.uk