Built around the car, not a desk
A driving instructor's day moves from one address to the next. Ask for the pick-up address on the booking form and it travels with the booking. Buffers after each lesson keep time to drive between pupils, and minimum notice stops anyone booking a lesson you can't reach in time. Mobile services that work out travel between addresses automatically are on the roadmap.
Pupils' progress, privately
After each lesson, add an appointment note: what was covered, what to practise next. Each pupil's profile shows every lesson and note in one place, so you can pick up where you left off. Notes are for you only, and all of it is stored in your own WordPress database. See customer profiles.
Lessons paid for in advance
Choose "payment before the lesson" and learners (or their parents) see your bank details with their booking reference. On Solo and Pro, a payment link gives them a Pay now button. Record payments with Mark as paid, and see who still owes under To be paid. On Solo and Pro, learners can also pay by card, in full or as a deposit, through your own Stripe, PayPal or Mollie account.
Test dates and the run-up to a test
The weeks before a practical test are when learners want more lessons. Ask for the test date on the booking form, so you can see who is close to their test and plan their lessons. Mock tests can be their own service with their own length and price. If you hold evening or weekend hours only at certain times of year, add them as special dates rather than changing your normal week, and remove them when they are no longer needed.
Some instructors like to meet a new learner first. A free 30-minute assessment drive, with no payment step, lets you judge where they are before you agree a plan, and their answers and your notes stay on their profile. See free and paid bookings.
Packs, payments and popular slots
On Solo and Pro, learners buy lesson packs and pay by card, a waiting list fills popular evening slots when someone cancels, and two-way calendar sync keeps your own calendar in step. Text reminders are on the roadmap. See every feature and its plan on the features page.
