Questions before you get moving?

That is completely understandable. Alistair provides calm, patient instruction and introduces new situations at a pace suited to the individual. Lessons build confidence through clear explanations, manageable steps and practical experience without making the student feel rushed or judged.

A standard 60-minute driving lesson costs $85. A 90-minute skills assessment and coaching session costs $130 and includes structured written feedback. Package pricing and inclusions are explained before purchase.

There is no fixed number. It depends on previous experience, confidence, learning needs, private practice and driving goals.

Professional instruction works best when combined with regular supervised practice. NZTA currently recommends around 120 hours of supervised driving across different roads, traffic levels and conditions before attempting the Restricted licence test. Read the current Drive guidance.

CDS works with first-time learners, Restricted and Full licence candidates, nervous or returning drivers, overseas-licence holders, drivers building motorway or higher-speed confidence and people preparing for employment-related driving assessments.

Yes. Alistair has experience teaching students from varied backgrounds and with different learning and accessibility needs, including students with hearing impairments and learners with ADHD, autism and cerebral palsy.

Students and families should discuss relevant needs before the first lesson so CDS can understand what support may be appropriate. Teaching may be adapted through clearer communication, manageable pacing, repetition and different ways of explaining or demonstrating a skill.

CDS primarily provides lessons throughout Pukekohe, Waiuku, Tuakau, Patumahoe and wider Franklin. Contact CDS if you are outside these areas to discuss whether suitable arrangements are possible.

Yes. Alistair is an NZTA-registered professional driving instructor and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Driver Educators and the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

He has more than 20 years of driver-training experience, including passenger-service training, NZ Army car and truck instruction, defensive-driver education and coaching developing driving instructors. Learn more about Alistair and CDS.

Automatic lessons are provided in the CDS Toyota Aqua. Manual lessons can be provided in a suitable student-supplied vehicle by prior arrangement.

Yes, with the instructor’s prior agreement. The vehicle must be safe, roadworthy, currently registered, licensed and warranted, appropriately insured for paid driving instruction and used with the registered owner’s permission.

CDS may decline to use a vehicle that is unsafe, unsuitable or does not meet the applicable legal and insurance requirements.

Bring your current driver licence and any prescription glasses or corrective lenses required by your licence. Wear secure footwear that allows safe pedal control.

If using a student-supplied vehicle, ensure it is ready, appropriately fuelled or charged and legally permitted to be driven.

A supervisor must hold a current and valid full New Zealand licence for the appropriate vehicle class, have no supervisor condition and have held a full New Zealand licence—or an equivalent overseas licence—for at least two years.

The supervisor must sit beside the learner in the front passenger seat and carry their licence. The learner must also carry their licence and display clearly visible L plates at the front and rear. Check NZTA’s current supervisor requirements.

Yes. A Restricted or Full preparation lesson is 60 minutes and costs $85. Lessons focus on safe, consistent driving rather than memorising a particular test route, and finish with verbal feedback and priorities for further practice.

It is a structured 90-minute assessment costing $130, used to identify the driver’s current strengths, development areas and most useful next steps.

The driver receives a verbal debrief and an eight-area written development report by email within 24 hours. The report is based on what Alistair observed during that drive; it is not an official NZTA practical test or a medical fitness-to-drive assessment. See the assessment and example report.

No driving school can guarantee a test result. CDS can help the student prepare, identify development priorities and understand the expected driving standard, but the final result is determined by the testing officer and the student’s performance on the day.

Yes. A 60-minute pre-test warm-up drive costs $85 and is available before either a Restricted or Full practical test. It can be completed in the student’s own suitable vehicle. If the student then uses that vehicle for the test, the total CDS fee is $85.

Yes, but the Toyota Aqua is available for a Restricted or Full practical test only as part of the complete $170 package. This requirement applies to every student.

The package includes an $85 60-minute pre-test warm-up drive and an additional $85 test-day Aqua-use block of up to 60 minutes. Vehicle use for the test cannot be booked on its own and remains subject to availability and prior arrangement.

The test-day vehicle portion covers the practical-test duration block and use of the Aqua during the test. The car will be available at the testing location unless another arrangement is agreed beforehand.

NZTA requires the vehicle used for a practical test to be safe and have current registration, vehicle licensing and WoF. Check NZTA’s test-day requirements.

If the testing provider cancels or postpones the test for reasons outside CDS’s control, the customer will pay only for instruction and CDS time already provided. Any unused prepaid balance can be refunded or credited.

The $629 Road Ready package begins with a 60-minute assessment drive and baseline report, followed by five 60-minute targeted lessons, a 30-minute Support Driver Alignment Session and a final 90-minute assessment. It includes two complete assessment reports, five instructor-reviewed lesson snapshots and connected practice planning.

The separately booked value is $680, producing a $51 saving. Road Ready is a driver-development programme, not an official NZTA assessment or a guarantee of passing a test. See the full Road Ready package.

A package remains valid for at least 12 months. CDS may provide an appropriate extension where illness, injury or CDS availability has prevented the student from completing it within that period. Packages cannot be transferred to another student.

The intended recipients should ideally be confirmed during booking. Reports are sent to the student and any caregiver or support driver authorised by the student. Paying for lessons does not automatically give someone permission to receive the student’s reports.

For students under 18, reports will ordinarily be sent to both the student and their authorised caregiver or support driver, subject to any relevant safety or privacy concern.

Support drivers can reinforce the lesson’s agreed priorities during private practice. CDS reporting helps everyone understand what improved, what still requires practice and what to focus on during the next few drives.

The 30-minute Support Driver Alignment Session brings Alistair, the student and their primary support driver together to agree on calm prompts and a “Next Three Drives” plan. It costs $40 after a separate assessment or lesson and is included in Road Ready. See the support-driver service.

Submit a booking enquiry through the website or contact CDS by telephone, text or email. An enquiry is not confirmed until CDS accepts it and provides confirmation.

By booking with CDS, the customer and student agree to the published Terms and Conditions.

Individual lessons are invoiced after the lesson and must be paid within seven calendar days of the invoice date unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Payment can be made by bank transfer or cash. Package pricing and payment terms will be confirmed before purchase.

Provide at least 24 hours’ notice by telephone, text or email.

Where less than 24 hours’ notice is given, or the student does not attend, CDS may charge up to $65. The fee will not apply if CDS fills the appointment and may be waived for a genuine emergency or exceptional circumstance.

The lesson will normally finish at its original scheduled time. Alistair will decide whether the remaining time allows a safe and useful lesson. If insufficient time remains, the appointment may be treated as a late cancellation and the usual fee may apply.

The customer can choose between rescheduling the affected lesson or receiving a refund for any amount already paid for it.

Yes. CDS can help overseas-licence holders understand New Zealand road expectations and prepare for any applicable practical assessment. The student remains responsible for confirming their licensing and conversion requirements with NZTA.

Yes. CDS can provide practical driver-skills assessments where driving is an important employment requirement. The scope and intended report recipient should be agreed before the assessment.

No. CDS is not currently offering Street Talk courses.

Contact Alistair on 027 694 0405 or email alistair@countiesdrivingschool.co.nz.

CDS will consider the concern fairly and explain the outcome. If additional time is required, CDS will explain the delay and provide an updated response timeframe.