DRIVING lessons
Get friendly, helpful professional driving lessons in Thames, Paeroa, Waihi or Whangamata from our experienced Driving Instructor.
Have your driving lessons in our dual controlled automatic Suzuki Swift, or in your own car (manual driving lessons or automatic).
We have easy online booking, where you can see at glance what times are available and book your lesson/s in different towns and times to suit.
Find out more about...
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Here’s what I’ll do for you:
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Be honest with you. If I firmly believe you’re not ready to sit your practical driving test yet, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t want you to fail simply through not being ready. I want to see you succeed!
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Be timely. I’ll arrive a few minutes before your lesson. If you’re running late, please let me know by text. I can’t extend your finish time as that would impact unfairly on the next student’s session. Likewise, I’ll make every effort to contact you if I’ve been held up in some way.
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Give you my undivided attention during the full 60 minutes of your driving lesson. I don’t take calls while I’m teaching (which is why it’s best to text).
What I will not do:
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Waste your time and money telling you about my weekend – today is all about you. So please don’t feel neglected if I steer the conversation away from your weekend and back to helping you become a great driver!
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Share your information or any details about you with anyone else or any other business. (Except for auditing requirements from NZTA or NZ Police as directed by law).
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I will not teach you the test route. For starters, there are several routes and it’s entirely the Testing Officer’s choice which test route is used.
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I can’t guarantee you will pass your test. A driving test is conducted in a fluid test environment. Any errors, omissions or mistakes you make that are recorded by the Testing Officer, will determine the outcome of your test.
Price Increase 1st December 2025.
We understand times are very tough and we too are feeling the “pinch”. We have absorbed as much as we can so far, but unfortunately, we must now pass some of these costs on.
Over the course of the last 4 years, we have seen our operating profit reduce as a direct result of inflation. Not just inflation measured by the CPI, but real headline inflation that directly affects the operation of Thames Driver Training.
Since 2021 average CPI inflation has risen *3.1% each year. However, our actual costs, that directly affect our operation have increased close to 7%, in that same time. (*Stats NZ March 2025.)
Therefore, from December 1st 2025, the price of each retail lesson will increase from $80.00 to $90.00 incl gst.
Bookings already confirmed before this date will remain at $80.00. This increase only applies to bookings made after 1st December 2025.
This includes driving lessons, practice/simulated tests and senior driving coaching.
Defensive Driving certificate course fees and assessment fees (if applicable)
AA has already increased it's AA Defensive Driving Course to $255.00pp. Any further increases from NZ Automobile Association (AA) in the coming year will be passed on.
The individual in-car assessment is included as part of your course fee, however as per our course terms and conditions, if an assessment is missed, a fee will apply for the second assessment appointment. This fee was $65.00, and will increase to $75.00, from December 1 2025