Lee Moore - Professional Driving Instructor

09/06/2026

My gorgeous wife, Kate, has a wonderful family whom I’m very close to and love them all very dearly. They’ve all been very kind and welcoming to me over many years.

I feel very privileged to be trusted enough to teach the great Alfie Wileman to drive, Kate’s cousin.

Alfie passed his test today around Aston (not very near Trent) Shardlow (on Trent but doesn’t brag about it) Boulton Moor and Alvaston.

Alfie has been a superstar to teach, we’ve had a lot of fun. Now he is free to get himself to work at Rolls Royce and to rugby in Melbourne. Thanks pal, I’m right proud of you.

Top job Alfie, another safe driver making his way around the mean streets of Melbourne.

03/06/2026

Update on finding a driving test -

The DVSA have a campaign website called Ready to Pass

https://readytopass.campaign.gov.uk

There are details on this site about how to book and manage your test.

Within the documentation are warnings about the illegal use of a third party to book or swop your test.

There is also a warning that the use of apps or bots to find a cancellation, it is against their terms and conditions and may result in you being sanctioned.

My advice is that you shouldn’t use them and risk having your test cancelled and your account sanctioned.

I can help find a swap but the administration of it must be done by the student.

Get ready to your driving test, find out why people fail, practise ‘show me, tell me’ questions and learn how to manage driving test nerves.

26/05/2026

On Friday, amongst the busiest of rush hours, people were making their way home, rushing to get to the best bank holiday weather ever!

Amongst them was Alfie Carnell. He fought his way up Raynesway, through Spondon,
Ockbrook, Borrowash, Elvaston and Thulston. He braved Thulston Roundabout at a time when gaps are few and far between.

He finished with just one fault and a flying pass in challenging conditions.

I’m blummin delighted for him. What a fantastic driver. The only fault was when moving away and having fun with a driver behind him. Between them they couldn’t decide who was going and when.

Great job Alfie! You’re a top man and I’ve had such a great time. Thank you so very much for choosing me.

Another safe driver on the mean streets of Melbourne.

15/05/2026

Perfect!

Edward Lyons has completed his training and during rush hour this morning he was able to take his examiner along Raynesway, through Spondon, Ockbrook, Borrowash, Elvaston, Thulston and Alvaston without picking up a single fault.

My word, that’s an achievement!

What it really means is that Edward was able to think for himself. He navigated all of the traffic entering Rolls Royce, the treacherous exit off of the A52 to Spondon, the school run through the villages amongst impatient drivers all desperate to get to work, dustbin lorries, road works, delivery drivers and mums and dads abandoning their cars without a care.

Teaching Edward to pass a test would not have worked. He has learned to think for himself, to have the confidence to be the captain and to navigate with careful consideration for the safety of himself, his passengers, other road users and pedestrians.

In the opinion of an expert in safe driving, Edward was perfect!

I’m not surprised, just delighted to recognise the achievements of this man and the maturity he shows when given captaincy of a one tonne death machine.

Superb! Go have a wonderful life and, no doubt, this will be just one of many incredible achievements that we will enjoy celebrating with you. Bravo Edward!

Another safe driver on the streets of Melbourne.

14/05/2026

Today I would like to celebrate three of my incredible students, ladies who have recently passed their test and have each done so in their own cars.

Up until two weeks before her test, Enya was a capable driver but anxiety and self doubt got the better of her. We switched lessons to her car and she passed first time.

Evie had already had the experience of going on test in my car. The lack of test availability forced her to book a test in Burton on a day I was away. We practiced in her car in Burton and she passed.

Leah had tried her test twice in my car in two different locations and each time she was so close to a pass. Third time, she was successful in her own car.

The car isn’t significant.

What is significant is the psychological effect of owning your own space, your own domain, having your own mobile sanctuary.

Each of these ladies has spent hours being trained and was able to demonstrate safe driving independently.

What made the difference for these people is that they invited an examiner into their personal domain.

Owning a car provides the freedom to travel when and where you want, fostering a sense of control over your life and destiny.

Driving offers a space for daydreaming, thinking, or escaping, which can act as a "time-out" from daily stressors.

Car ownership is associated with higher feelings of mastery and safety. The car acts as a protective, private shell, offering a sense of security while moving through public spaces.

Many owners develop a strong emotional attachment to their car, seeing it as an extension of their personality or a "trusted friend".

I too have great pride in my car, there is no greater importance to me than providing the best safe learning environment that I can for my students.

But, if it is better for them to use their own car, great! I have no vanity, no ego, I serve my students for their benefit and the benefit of all road users. I choose to celebrate their success, their choices, their independence and I am so proud of them. They are incredible!

Well done Enya!

Well done Evie!

Well done Leah!

The roads of Melbourne are safer with you, and your gorgeous cars, on them.

12/05/2026

Driving Test Update

It’s the 12th May which means that from today only a student may contact the DVSA to swop their test with another student.

In theory, this should cause the number of cancelled appointments to increase as students struggle to find a swop.

Apps and automated bots will still work for swopping your test from its current date, time and location to another available appointment.

What has changed?

“Sellers” were able to use a sophisticated system to book tests for catalogue of people who had not passed their tests, had no interest in driving, and made their licence available to the seller. These appointments would then be sold for up to ten times the online cost.

This can still happen. The difference is that the DVSA will be having a conversation with both parties in the hope that it puts people off getting involved.

As an instructor, I’m in touch with other instructors from Derby and Burton in a very large WhatsApp group. I believe this will be a great source for legitimate students to arrange a swop.

Please don’t swop your test until you are ready to pass. Deadlines create unnecessary stress.

To book your first test - once you have passed your theory you will still need to go online. The DVSA release a batch of tests weekly over night on a Sunday / Monday, these are available when the system goes live at 6am, first come basis.

To swop for a cancelled appointment for free - go online and search for an available appointment using your DVSA log in, the same one used to book your first test. This is all automated and free.

To swop for a cancelled appointment using an automated bot - search the App Store, there are many available but it is not a guarantee.

To swop with another student - I will help to find one using local instructors - zero cost!
You can already find Apps that introduce students to each other for a fee.

I’m not convinced that we are going to see a significant improvement in getting tests either quicker or more conveniently.

Stay patient please, each student is different and requires an amount of time behind the wheel that can vary dramatically.

Here is a link to read the government’s guidelines -

You may be able to swap your car driving test with another learner driver by phone if you both already have a test booked and want each other's test slot.

29/04/2026

I have had tests taken and passed on the last few weeks but respect the students preferring not to have publicity.

I’ve also had some students be unsuccessful. They have each driven really well and I’m so proud for the bravery they show to even turn up but things happen and ultimately they’ll benefit from being held back slightly.

On another note there are changes coming up to how tests are managed.

From 12th May 2026 tests can only be managed directly by students. The ability to carry out swops by bots, instructors or company representatives has been removed.

In theory, more cancellations should happen and more times will become available. Students will be able to find and take these cancellations by logging on to the DVSA web site.

https://www.gov.uk/change-driving-test

https://www.gov.uk/book-driving-test

As instructors we have been very successful talking to each other and swopping tests for students. Not any more!

I have just had a call with the DVSA about the changes to how tests are managed by students in May.

There are currently no hard and fast answers as to how two students can exchange appointments.

The call handlers have been made aware that it will be possible and will probably involve one student calling and passing on all the details. The DVSA will then call the second student to confirm the swop.

The call handler I spoke to has many “what if” questions that haven’t been answered by the managers.

There is training taking place at the beginning of May.

There is no procedure or policy currently issued to the call handlers.

I’ll follow this call up in May and keep you posted

Find an earlier practical driving test, move it to a later date, or change the test centre you take it at.

28/03/2026

Freya Miller deserves a sore head this morning after a night out with her friends celebrating the passing of her driving test.

We had a ride around Oakwood, Hill Top, Breadsall, Sir Frank Whittle Way and then the A52 and ring road.

This really wasn’t made easy for Freya. A number of other drivers were clearly out to get her with some challenging driving coming towards her, one of them doing their best to take our front end off.

Despite the sat Nav not knowing where it should be going Freya still safely delivered the examiner and I back home and with a couple of driving faults Freya was declared safe for independent driving.

What a great time I’ve had helping Freya to become independent. Her ideas to pass on and enrich other young lives sound wonderful.

Have a great life Freya and thank you so much for choosing me.

Another great driver making the streets of Melbourne safer.

06/03/2026

The lovely Lottie Sabin took us for a drive around Oakwood, Locko Park and Spondon today bringing her a very comprehensive pass with just one driver fault.

Lottie has been supported with lots of hours driving with dad Karl who must take credit for everything he’s done to help us.

Lottie has no longer got the need to jump on the bus to get to college but on the other hand she will be turning out the horses all alone 😂.

Well done Lottie, we’ve had a so much fun, you’ve made me belly laugh so many times.

Thank you and well done!

Another great, safe, driver on the streets of Melbourne

19/02/2026

Jack Allit isn’t going down to London to be a chauffeur to the rich and famous. He’ll probably be one of the rich and famous. The way he drove us around his test through the streets of Chaddesden, Hilltop, Oakwood and Raynesway was like taking a ride on the back of a swan.

A near perfect test. Blummin lovely it was.

I know what Jack’s ambitions are. I’m certain he will succeed at whatever he turns his hand to. He’s been a fantastic student and has really applied himself.

I feel very privileged to have taught him and a number of his friends. I’m looking forward to bumping into them in the future and having a beer.

Well done pal, you delivered.

Taking the standard of driving to a new height on the mean and aggressive streets of Barrow Upon Trent.