Driving Lesson FAQs — Crawley & Horsham

Dan Stagg is an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) registered with the DVSA, and a member of the Driving Instructors Association (DIA). He grew up in Croydon, passed his test the day after his 18th birthday, trained through BSM for nine months, and has been teaching full-time ever since. He founded Stagg Motoring School in June 2015. He has 18 years' teaching experience and teaches in Crawley and Horsham only. Read more about Dan →

Yes. Every lesson is with Dan — there are no other instructors at Stagg Motoring School. Dan knows your name, your progress, and where you got to last time. That continuity matters and is harder to find than it should be at national driving schools.

Yes. Dan holds a current Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) registration issued by the DVSA. You can verify any ADI's registration at gov.uk/find-driving-instructor. Dan is also a member of the Driving Instructors Association (DIA).

A manual driving licence covers every car on the road — manual or automatic. An automatic-only licence restricts you permanently to automatics. Dan teaches manual because it gives pupils the most flexible and useful licence. Learn more about manual vs automatic →

The honest answer is: it varies. The DVSA estimates most learners need around 45 hours of professional tuition before they're ready to test. Some need fewer; some need more. Dan will be straightforward with you about where you are throughout your lessons. He won't inflate lesson numbers, and he won't underestimate what you need.

Lessons follow a structured progression: cockpit drill, moving off, gear changes, junctions, roundabouts, progressively busier roads, parking, dual carriageways, rural roads, sat-nav use, emergency stop, and finally a mock test before the real thing. Dan shows you diagrams and video before each new skill so you know what's expected before you try it.

A mock test is a full practice driving test on real roads, assessed by Dan to the same standard as the official DVSA test. Dan requires a passed mock test before booking your real test. It's how he knows you're genuinely ready — not just roughly ready. Being pushed to test too early is one of the most common reasons pupils fail.

Dan teaches Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm. This means you can fit lessons around school, college, or work without losing momentum between lessons.

Dan doesn't offer intensive courses in the sense of a week-long crash course. He can teach up to five days per week for pupils who want to progress quickly. What Dan won't do is book your test prematurely to fit an artificial schedule. Progress takes the time it takes.

Lessons take place in Dan's dual-control teaching car. Dual controls allow Dan to take the brakes, steering, or clutch at any point — so you're always in a safe environment from the very first lesson.

Crawley's first-time pass rate is around 36% — one of the lowest in the South East and well below the national average of around 46%. Dan prepares every pupil specifically for Crawley's roads and the Crawley DVSA test centre routes. He won't book your test until he's confident you're ready.

All Crawley and Horsham learners test at Crawley DVSA Test Centre, Brighton Road, Crawley, RH11 9BJ. Dan has taught on every test route from this centre for 18 years.

Dan will tell you. Throughout your lessons he'll be clear about where you are and what still needs work. When you're approaching test standard, you'll complete a mock test. If you pass the mock comfortably, you're ready. If not, Dan will be specific about what needs more practice before booking.

Dan charges £80 for a 2-hour lesson (weekdays) or £84 for a 2-hour lesson (weekends). Block bookings: £380 for 10 hours (weekdays) or £400 for 10 hours (weekends). All lessons are a minimum of 2 hours. There are no cut-price introductory offers that jump up after the first lesson — pricing is consistent throughout.

Call Dan directly on 07720 920759 or email dan@staggmotoring.com. No online booking form, no call centre. You talk to Dan directly, he answers his own phone. Contact page →

Dan aims to respond to all calls and emails within 24 hours. If he's teaching, he'll call back as soon as the lesson ends.

Yes — and he's been doing it for 18 years. Dan starts nervous learners in quiet areas, goes at whatever pace feels right, and never creates pressure. Many of his pupils have come to him after a bad experience elsewhere. Read more about nervous driver lessons →

Yes. Dan has over 11 years of experience teaching learners with autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, and other processing differences. He uses a structured step-by-step approach with pre-lesson iPad briefings, mid-lesson processing stops, and specific feedback. Read more about autism and ADHD lessons →

Dan hears this regularly. Bad experiences with previous instructors — instructors who shout, rush, or make pupils feel inadequate — are unfortunately common. Dan's approach is the opposite: calm, specific, patient, and honest. The difference is usually apparent within the first lesson.