First Drive South West - Exeter - Exeter

Shemeka T.

I recently passed my driving test with massive thanks and praise to my instructor Rich and the admin team at First Drive South West! From initially contacting them, I was assigned with an instructor rather promptly and everything thereafter felt like a breeze. The FDSW app was particularly helpful and user friendly for booking lessons, reflecting on lessons,
highlighting areas of improvement and tracking progress. My instructor Rich was incredibly helpful, patient and created a safe space, whereby no question or fault seemed silly. Furthermore, Rich easily adapted to my learning style and as a result, I feel as though, I have gained the knowledge and skills required to be a safe driver. Lastly, Sharon is a real asset and was incredibly helpful in booking my test and even rescheduling it! Thank you again 🙂

Mitchell T.

I cannot praise First Drive Southwest enough! I had two previous instructors (one independent, and one from a driving school) and for a plethora of reasons I didn't feel any real progress or benefits from my time with them.

However, from my initial conversation over the phone with David at First Drive Southwest I felt like a valued customer and I was soon assigned an instructor. Terry Dormer is the man!

From that first lesson he puts you at ease and wants to know exactly where you're at with your driving abilities to ensure the best possible outcome for lessons and to ensure not a single moment is wasted. He's thorough and explains things so simply that it makes you determined to drive at your best. Every week I've learned from a mistake and I have felt improvement every lesson. If you want fun, relaxed, beneficial, flexible lessons then Terry and indeed First Drive Southwest is the way forward!

Jam S.

I took 10 hours of lessons with this company, and everything initially went according to plan. Since obtaining a UK driving license was a priority for me, I requested them to book a driving test for me as soon as possible. On the day of my last lesson, I even paid the amount for the test booking, specifically requesting them to prioritize it due to my urgent need. However, despite this, I later received an email asking me to pay the booking fee, which forced me to follow up on the process myself. This made it feel like there was a lack of communication within their team.

Eventually, after waiting too long, I decided to book the test myself. To my disappointment, they then refused to provide me with a car, stating that they only offer a vehicle and instructor if they handle the booking themselves.

I also felt that communication could have been better. After my first lesson, there was little follow-up from their side, and I had to take the initiative to reach out and ensure I was making progress toward getting my license. On the first day, I had asked the instructor to focus on UK driving patterns, as I already had years of experience driving abroad, but this was not addressed in the way I had hoped.

In the end, I passed my driving test on the first attempt—not because of the lessons I took here, but thanks to a friend who guided me on UK driving patterns on the day of my test. While the lessons themselves were fine, the lack of communication and support made the experience frustrating. A more organized and responsive approach would have made a huge difference.

Alice D.

I would definitely recommend Joe to anyone wanting to learn to drive in Exeter (particularly if you're especially shy or nervous to get driving!). I always looked forward to my lessons and not only did my confidence in my driving ability increase, but it's definitely helped my confidence to grow in day to day life which is something I'll take with me. By the time of my test, I felt ready and comfortable which meant I passed first time! Thank you so much again Joe! Ps. I would also recommend using the first drive test route videos to help familiarise yourself with the area as I believe these also helped a lot and were worth the extra money

Alexander S.

Joe was an excellent instructor, who helped me to pass my test first time. I feel that with each lesson I had always learned something new and had noticeably improved my driving ability. Joe was genuinely invested in my development as a driver, and I would definitely recommend him to anyone wanting to learn to drive in the area.

iona G.

I passed my test back in August with Will as my instructor. Will was so kind, patient, and always up for a laugh. No matter how many times we had to go over things he stayed optimistic and calm. He made me feel at completely at ease during the lessons, and when it came to test day (despite expected nerves) I felt ready for whatever challenge would come my way. A big thank you to him & I would 100% recommend First Drive to anyone 🙏

eve W.

Ash at First Drive was a great instructor who I would highly recommend to anyone. His instruction was individualized; he aimed to adapt his ways of teaching to my style of learning. Ash always advocated open communication in the lessons and he was supportive throughout. He makes it easy to schedule lessons and accommodates changes when he can. I felt really prepared for the test, and I have emerged as a safe and confident driver under his instruction.

Lewis L.

Joe was an excellent instructor, he made me feel safe to make mistakes and not pressured to be perfect every time. He made me feel very confident before my test and I’m glad to say I passed first time. Brilliant instructor