Starting the car was easy but stirring the wheel in the right position and lane was a little difficult, instead me going in circles, I went in square. He could see that I was very nervous, so he lovin... See more
Company replied
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
I did an intensive course, limited time, lot to cover, it was hard, Lindy was very tough and firm, she pushes you to go above and beyond your driving skills, you get to test standard and she pushes yo... See more
Company replied
Had a call semi out the blue from this company after googling intensive tests. Received a call from YAD who was very informative, he took time to explain why he was calling that it wasn't to push m... See more
Company replied
I spoke to Yad, today and he was very knowledgeable on the UK driving system and how to go forward and book a driving test. He gave me all the information that I needed to help my daughter on her way... See more
Company replied
Company details
Written by the company
We are amongst one of the largest established providers of intensive driving courses in the UK, We have a hardworking and dedicated team, who arrange the administration while the instructor and yourself have the time to prepare properly for your driving test. You can book anything from 5 - 45 hours with us and include tests if required + other optional training services such as theory training and pass plus scheme.
Our Aim
Written by the company
- We are committed to delivering fast-track Intensive Driving Courses for all learner driver experience / abilty. Offering courses in England, Scotland & Wales with home pick up.
100% Refund Guarantee
Book with confidence
If we fail to allocate a driving instructor within 45 days of making the booking you would be entitled to a refund.
Contact info
Cheadle Place, Stockport Road, Cheadle Point, Cheadle, SK8 2JX , Manchester, United Kingdom
- 0161 204 3790
- office@nationalintensive.com
- www.nationalintensive.com
10% OFF ANY DRIVING COURSE DEPOSIT
4.3
Excellent
8K reviews
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This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 24 hours
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Way too overpriced in terms of what you get.
Way too overpriced in terms of what you get, paid for a rushed test however found an even faster 1 after looking for a minute, bought 20hrs worth of driving tests however passed with only 3minors after 10hrs. Instructor was decent enough until you made a mistake then would start shoutig.
2 July 2026
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're sorry to hear you feel our service was overpriced. Our course prices are clearly displayed before booking, allowing customers to make an informed decision about the option that best suits them.
Congratulations on passing your driving test with only three minors. That's a great result and suggests the tuition you received prepared you well for your test.
We're also pleased you were able to find an earlier driving test yourself. However, if a customer changes their test appointment independently, it can prevent us from continuing to search for or manage earlier appointments. In addition, due to recent changes made by the DVSA, we are no longer able to manually make changes to customers' driving tests on their behalf, which is unfortunately outside of our control.
We're sorry to hear your instructor's teaching style didn't always meet your expectations. We appreciate your feedback and will take your comments on board as we continually work to improve our service.
Regards
NI Team
Fantastic booking process and training
2 July 2026
Reply from National Intensive
Hello Madison
Thank you for taking the time to post your feedback for ourselves and your Instructor Sajjad. We appreciate it. Congratulations and Happy Driving! 🚗🚗
Regards
NI Team
They won’t give me my money back and I have had 2 hours in 18 months!!
I very rarely leave reviews like this but I would be negligent to not warn other people.
They may reply with whatever they like, but what I have stated below is factual:
I booked an intensive driving course with National Intensive in January 2024, paying a deposit of over £500 directly to them, with the remaining course fee (over £700) paid separately to the self-employed instructor they allocated, as is their business model.
As a busy single mum, I didn't read through their full terms and conditions in detail before booking - I understand that is on me. I simply trusted that I'd be allocated a driving instructor who would actually get in touch and make appointments with me, in the way any reasonable person booking a course like this would expect.
Since December 2024, the only thing I have received is a single two-hour assessment - not even a proper lesson. Nearly two years on from booking, that is a genuinely disgraceful level of service for a course sold as "intensive."
What really shocked me is that when I managed to get through to their head office in Manchester by phone (which is difficult in itself, as they rarely answer), the person I spoke with acknowledged, more than once, that the way I had been treated by the instructor was completely inappropriate. Yet when it comes to actually refunding me, which would be the ethical thing to do given they agree something went wrong, they refuse and simply refer me back to the small print in their terms and conditions. It's left me wondering whether the real issue is that they simply aren't able to afford to refund customers, though I can't say that for certain - I can only go on what I've experienced.
When I raised this and asked for a refund, National Intensive's written position has consistently been to point to their terms and conditions on non-refundable deposits, rather than address the fact that almost nothing has actually been delivered. They maintain they are "just a 3rd party booking agent" and not responsible for the instructor's side of the payment, despite having taken over £500 from me directly and being the ones who arranged the instructor in the first place.
To make things worse, the instructor I was allocated is now liquidating her company, and I've been told I'll need to wait 28 days to find out if I'll get any of the £700+ I paid her back - with no guarantee that I will.
I am now taking this to the small claims court. It's just over £500, but at this point it's a matter of principle - it will be two years this year since I paid for a service that was never properly delivered. Unlike driving schools that employ their instructors directly and take responsibility for the whole service, National Intensive's model leaves customers with nowhere to turn when things go wrong, while they keep their fee regardless. I do not recommend this company and would urge anyone considering booking with them to stay clear.
2 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review. Unfortunately, we're unable to identify your booking from a first name alone. If you'd like us to investigate your specific case, please contact our Customer Support team with your full name and booking reference.
In response to the points you've raised, we would like to clarify a few things.
Firstly, as you have acknowledged in your review, it is the customer's responsibility to read and accept our Terms & Conditions before making a booking. These are presented during the booking process and must be agreed to before payment can be made. While we appreciate you chose not to read them in full, the terms you accepted form the basis of the agreement between us.
Our pricing is also fully transparent. At the point of booking, it is clearly explained that the deposit paid to National Intensive covers our booking and administration services, while the remaining balance for driving lessons is paid directly to your allocated self-employed ADI. You chose the deposit payment option rather than paying in full, meaning the lessons element was always payable directly to the instructor.
We also dispute the suggestion that we are difficult to contact. We have a dedicated Customer Support team available by telephone throughout the week, and while there may occasionally be a queue during particularly busy periods, we answer calls every day and are always happy to assist.
Where issues arise between a customer and an instructor, we do everything we reasonably can to liaise with both parties and work towards a resolution. However, as the instructor is self-employed, there are processes that must be followed, and a disagreement or difference of opinion does not automatically entitle a customer to a refund of our booking and administration fee.
We're sorry that your experience has not met your expectations and remain happy to review your case if you contact us with your full booking details.
regards
NI Team
It was good as it asigned an instructor…
It was good as it asigned an instructor and booked the test straight away the bad points as my test date didn't get any closer from the original date there is no contact number or details ended up having to have the date pushed back as I already had a hoilday booked for that date but they did manage to bring it forward from there
2 July 2026
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're pleased to hear that your instructor was assigned and your driving test was booked promptly.
We're sorry to hear about your disappointment regarding your test date. Unfortunately, we can't identify your booking from a first name alone, so we're unable to look into your specific case. In general, while we always monitor for earlier driving test appointments where this service has been selected, earlier dates are never guaranteed. Availability depends entirely on your test centre and local area, and sometimes no suitable earlier appointments become available.
We're also sorry you felt there was no way to contact us. We have a dedicated Customer Support team available throughout the week, and our contact number, email address, and contact form are all available on our website. We're always happy to help with any questions or changes to your booking.
If the first test clashed with your holiday, that's unfortunate. We're glad we were able to move your test to a more suitable date after your holiday. We therefore view this as a successful booking. and we wish you all the best with your driving test.
regards
NI Team
Kate in head office responds and reacts…
Kate in head office responds and reacts quickly to any queries :)))
2 July 2026
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for your fantastic 5-star review, Luke! We're delighted to hear that Kate was able to respond quickly and help with your queries. We'll be sure to pass on your kind words to her. We really appreciate your feedback and look forward to assisting you again in the future!
Regards
NI Team
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We're delighted to hear that Rachel was able to help with your booking and provided such helpful service. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to her. We really appreciate your feedback and look forward to supporting you again in the future!
Regards
NI Team
Reply from National Intensive
Hello Aidan,
Thank you so much for your feedback.
Regards,
National intensive
Katie was very welcoming and informative
Katie was very nice and informative - patiently answered all my questions
1 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you, Sam, for your 5-star review!
We're delighted to hear that Katie took the time to answer all of your questions and provided the information you needed. We'll be sure to share your kind feedback with her.
Thank you for choosing National Intensive, and we wish you every success with your driving journey!
Regards
NI Team
Had a call with Katie who was very friendly , clear and understanding
Had a call with Katie who was very helpful and understanding . She was clear and now I know what I need to do to get myself booked in.
Very friendly
1 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you, Faratun, for your wonderful 5-star review!
We're so pleased to hear that Katie was helpful, understanding, and able to explain everything clearly. It's great to know she made the booking process easier and that you now feel confident about the next steps.
We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to Katie. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to helping you on your driving journey!
regards
NI Team
Muhammad was excellent throughout
Muhammad was excellent throughout the process. Very professional, always on time and clearly has a lot of experience. I felt reassured under his guidance and I was able to pass first time. He was very patient, understanding and imparted a great deal of advice in a clear and concise manner. Keep up the great work!
1 July 2026
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback about Muhammad. We’re really pleased to hear that you felt supported throughout your lessons and that his professionalism, patience and experience helped you pass first time. We’ll make sure your kind words are passed on to him, he’ll be delighted.
Congratulations again on your success, and we wish you all the best on the road ahead.
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for your 5-star review!
We're delighted to hear that you found us so easy to deal with. We always aim to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible, so it's great to know that reflected your experience.
We appreciate your feedback
Regards
NI Team
Emma was really helpful and responded…
Emma was really helpful and responded quickly to my enquiry explaining things clearly which put me at ease. I have had nothing but positive experiences with the National Intensive customer service team.
1 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you, Georgia, for your wonderful 5-star review!
We're delighted to hear that Emma was able to respond promptly, explain everything clearly, and put you at ease. It's also fantastic to know that you've had nothing but positive experiences with our customer service team.
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and wish you every success with the rest of your driving journey!
Regards
NI Team
Katie was amazing
Katie was amazing, helpful and easy to talk to and willing to help
1 July 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that Katie was so helpful, approachable, and willing to assist you throughout your experience. We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to her—they'll mean a lot.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and wish you all the best with your driving journey!
Regards
NI TEam
BEWARE THIS IS A SCAM!
BEWARE THIS IS A SCAM!
The price of booking the course which is extremely expensive does not include the cost of the actual driving lessons, They put you in contact with an instructor BUT you organise and pay the instructor yourself!!
AVOID AT ALL COSTS, NOWHERE ON THERE WEBSITE DOES IT STATE THIS ONLY IN THE SMALL PRINT ONCE YOU HAVE PAID FOR THE COURSE.
I am a father writing this review so national intensive Ltd I will be calling for a refund, or small claims court whichever you prefer. DONOT harass my son via phone or email.
28 January 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
We're sorry to hear you're unhappy, but it's unfair to brand us as a "scam" when the booking process is transparent.
At the time of your booking, customers were given two clear payment options: pay the course in full, or pay a deposit to us and then pay the remaining lesson balance directly to the ADI. This information is provided before payment is made, allowing customers to choose the option that best suits them.
For that reason, describing our service as a scam is both inaccurate and unfair. We always aim to be transparent about our pricing and how our courses are structured.
If there has been a misunderstanding regarding your booking, we're happy to discuss it and help resolve any concerns. We simply ask that reviews fairly reflect the information provided during the booking process.
Regards
NI Team
I was given a lot of useful information…
I was given a lot of useful information and help by yad
29 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We're pleased to hear that Yad was able to provide you with helpful information and answer your questions. We'll be sure to pass on your kind feedback. We appreciate you choosing National Intensive and wish you all the best as you begin your driving journey!
Regards
NI Team
Had many issues with tests
Had many issues with driving instructors throughout the process, constantly cancelling and making it difficult to actually do my test. Emma, however, was a great help and made sure things got back on track
29 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback.
We're sorry to hear that you experienced difficulties with instructor availability and cancellations during your driving journey. We understand how frustrating that can be.
We're delighted to hear that Emma was able to step in, provide the support you needed, and help get everything back on track. We'll make sure your kind comments are passed on to her.
Thank you again for your feedback, and we wish you every success with your driving.
Regards
NI Team
Kate was incredibly helpful and polite
Kate was incredibly helpful and polite, she was able to answer all of questions and helped me move forward towards starting my driving course.
29 June 2026
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for your fantastic review!
We're so pleased to hear that Katie was able to answer all of your questions and make the process of getting started with your driving course straightforward. It's great to know you found her helpful and polite. We'll be sure to share your lovely feedback with her.
We hope you enjoy your course, and we wish you every success with your driving!
Regards
NI Team
I emailed Kate this morning regarding a…
I emailed Kate this morning regarding a booking that I could see and she sorted it out for me very quickly and efficiently. Thank you for your help today.
29 June 2026
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for your wonderful 5-star review!
We're delighted to hear that Katie was able to resolve your booking query so quickly and efficiently. We'll be sure to pass your kind feedback on to her—it will mean a lot. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, and we wish you all the best with your driving journey!
Regards
NI Team
£1000 taken, no lessons provided and no refund given
I booked a 25 hour intensive course (to be completed across 3 weeks) with this company last March. Shortly after I was contacted by my instructor who requested I pay them to book in lessons, which I did.
The first lesson was scheduled a few weeks ahead of my first test date. The instructor sent me some mesaages saying that she was moving house but would still honour the course. The night before the lesson my instructor cancelled and then didn't respond to my messages until just before my test date saying I would have to move my test.
I was told by the company that the instructor was having personal issues, I asked for a refund or to be allocated a new instructor but was told no by national intensive as the instructor said they would honour the course. This happened a further two times across the space of 14 months.
During this time I found out that the new house the instructor moved to was 1.5hours away from where my course was supposed to take place, the instructors company had gone into administration and she had another 40 customers at her new location. After 14 months of excuses 0 lessons and 3 missed tests national intensive finally agreed to give me a refund however they said that the instructor cannot currently pay me. Its been weeks since the refund was agreed and the instructor who owes me £1000 wont respond to messages and all national intensive have done is say the instructor isn't responding.
Im now left in a position where I have no test, havent done any lessons for 2 years, my theory is due to run out and I'm still awaiting a £1000. The process with National Intensive has been awful, I've received 0 compensation and think its unlikely the instructor is going to appear again. The instructor they provided me is terrible at communication and jas effectively taken my money and ran. I would save your money for a local instructor who you can trust as I feel like I've been scammed by this company.
Do not give any of the instructors any money until you understand the position of the company. Intensivedriving wont take any responsibility for the instructors they send you to or their financial situation as no due dilligence is completed.
To clarify, contrary to the below no alternative instructor was ever offered this situation is still ongoing and has not been resolved despite the comments/past tense language used below.
29 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Where a refund has been requested and processed, as it was in your case, we are unable to also offer a new ADI. Once the refund has been agreed and completed, the booking is considered cancelled and cannot be transferred to another instructor.
We're sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations.
It is correct that your allocated instructor experienced an exceptionally difficult period involving a personal bereavement, significant financial difficulties, and a vehicle breakdown. Unfortunately, these circumstances affected her ability to deliver lessons as originally planned.
Throughout this time, we remained in contact with both you and the instructor. We also offered to allocate you a replacement instructor so that your course could proceed, but this option was declined.
Once it became clear that the course could not be completed, we processed a full refund of the amount held by National Intensive. The instructor has assured that she will refund you directly as soon as she is financially able to do so.
We appreciate that the delays and disruption were frustrating, and we understand why you were disappointed. However, we do want to clarify that we worked to resolve the situation, including offering an alternative instructor and ensuring that refunds were made.
We wish you every success with your driving in the future.
Regards
NI Team
Katie went through everything about…
Katie went through everything about their service with me in detail- it was clear and well explained.
29 June 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from National Intensive
Thank you for your wonderful 5-star review, Mariam!
We're so pleased to hear that Katie explained everything clearly and took the time to go through our service with you in detail. Providing clear, helpful information is important to us, and we're glad you had such a positive experience. We'll be sure to pass your kind comments on to Katie.
Thank you for choosing National Intensive, and we wish you all the best with your driving journey!
Regards
NI Team
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