Frequently Asked Questions
This page answers the questions learners and parents ask most before booking with Skills Beyond, covering logbook hours, insurance, scheduling and what to expect from your first lesson. Parents booking on behalf of a teenager are just as welcome to ask on their child's behalf. If your question is not covered, get in touch and Avin will be happy to help.
Where
Lessons start from your home, school or workplace
The car
Manual and automatic, charged at the same rate
Logbook
Structured lessons can add bonus hours to your logbook
Your own car
You can use your own car for lessons if you prefer
Getting Started
Where lessons happen, when to begin, and what car you learn in.
There is no shop or classroom to visit. Skills Beyond is a mobile driving school, so your instructor drives to you.
Lessons are available across the Lower and Upper North Shore, Northern Beaches, Hills District, Mosman, Hornsby, Berowra and the surrounding suburbs, with pickup from home, school or work by arrangement.
You can begin as soon as you hold a current NSW learner licence. There is no need to complete a certain number of hours with a parent or supervising driver before booking your first professional lesson.
Many learners find it helpful to start with an instructor early. This gives you the chance to learn safe driving methods from the beginning before practising them with a parent, relative or friend.
Yes, lessons can generally be run in your own car if that is what you would prefer to learn in. Speak with Avin before booking so he can confirm that the car is suitable for the lesson.
The vehicle will need to be registered, roadworthy and appropriately insured. You should also check with your insurer to make sure the policy covers a learner driver and professional driving lessons.
Many families choose to use a Skills Beyond dual-control car for their first few lessons because it gives the instructor an additional level of control if needed.
Yes. Skills Beyond uses a dual-control cars for manual lessons. Automatic lessons are conducted in your own vehicle. The second set of controls means your instructor can take over the brake or clutch instantly if a situation calls for it, which is one of the reasons nervous beginners and parents feel comfortable handing lessons over to a professional.
There is no extra charge for choosing to learn in a manual, and availability is the same whichever you choose.
Logbook Hours and Test Preparation
How many lessons you need, how the logbook credit works, and preparing for the test.
There is no set number that suits everyone. It depends on your previous experience, confidence, how often you practise between lessons and how comfortable you are making decisions without help.
Most learners benefit from spreading professional lessons across the time leading up to their test rather than trying to fit several lessons into the final few days. This gives you time to practise what you have learned and build safer habits.
Once Avin has seen you drive, he can give you a clearer idea of the skills you need to work on and how many lessons may be helpful.
The learner driver logbook is the record of supervised driving hours a NSW learner under 25 must complete before sitting the Driving Test, and professional lessons with an accredited instructor earn bonus credit toward it. Learners under 25 must log at least 120 hours of supervised driving, including 20 hours at night, and a lesson with an accredited instructor can be recorded at three times its length, up to a maximum of 10 instructor hours, which is worth up to 20 bonus hours in your logbook.
In practical terms, 10 hours of structured lessons with Avin can be worth 30 logbook hours once the bonus is applied. Learners aged 25 or over do not need to complete the 120-hour logbook requirement, although plenty of supervised practice is still recommended before driving alone.
There is no single trick for passing the Driving Test. Good preparation comes from regular practice, safe decision-making and being able to drive without constant instructions from the person beside you.
Avin will help you work through the areas assessed during the test, including observation, speed management, road positioning, parking, reversing, roundabouts, give way rules and responding to hazards.
A warm-up lesson before your test can also give you time to settle your nerves and go over any final areas that need attention. Feeling nervous is normal, and the aim is to make the test feel like another familiar drive rather than something completely new.
Pricing and Bookings
Lesson times, insurance and what packages cost.
Lessons are generally available7 days a wekk on mornings, afternoons and evenings as required. This allows you to fit in your lessons around school, work or study. Exact availability depends on your suburb and Avin's current schedule, so the fastest way to see live times is to contact us directly if you need help finding a time that suits you.
The instructors car is fully insured for learner drivers.
If you are learning in a Skills Beyond vehicle, ask Avin if you would like more information about the insurance cover that applies during the lesson.
If you choose to learn in your own car, you should check the policy with your insurer before booking. Make sure the vehicle is covered while being driven by a learner and used during a professional driving lesson.
Skills Beyond offers prepaid lessons currently priced from $85 to $90 per hour. The hourly rate reduces when you choose a larger package.
- The 6-lesson package is $90 per hour
- The 10-lesson package is $87 per hour
- The 25-lesson Super Bundle is $85 per hour
Single-lesson and introductory pricing are available on request.
See the full breakdown and book online on the Pricing and Packages page.
Packages and Services
The test-day package, and starting with a single lesson.
The Driving Test Package covers a practice session immediately before your test, the same dual-control car you have trained in for the test itself, and pickup and drop-home on the day.
Using a car you are already comfortable driving means you do not need to adjust to an unfamiliar vehicle immediately before your test. The warm-up lesson also gives you time to settle in and go over any last-minute concerns.
The final price and total package time should be confirmed before booking.
Full details are on the Driving Test Package page.
Single-lessons can be booked, and at a discounted rate if its your first lesson with Avin.
Most learners start with a package once they know lessons with Avin are the right fit, and many begin with a short trial conversation to confirm suburb coverage and timing first. Get in touch and we can talk through the best starting point for you.
What our learners say
Still Have Questions?
If your question is not covered here, the fastest way to get a straight answer is to ask Avin directly rather than guess from a website. He will talk you through lesson times, logbook hours, pricing or test preparation before you book anything.
Phone lines may take a little longer while Avin is teaching. Leave your name and suburb and he will call you back.