Training

Congratulations! By finding this website you are on the right road to Learning how to drive & passing your driving test in Galway. Whether you are a complete beginner or looking for a pre test course of lessons for your driving test in Galway. Advance Drive is the driving school for you, We will help you pass your driving test first time. Take a moment to read our customer Testimonials.

Advance Drive is Galway’s largest and most successful driving school with a pass rate second to none. The Advance Drive office was originally based in Salthill, but now has its main office in our state of the art transport training centre located in Ballybane Galway. We are the only driving school and training centre in the West of Ireland approved by the RSA to deliver ADI instructor training and to deliver driver training in every category of vehicle (A, A1, B, B, C1, C, CE, D1, D).
Advance Drive teaches beginners how to drive manual and automatic cars as well as providing driver training to professional drivers in such industries as The Fire Service, Ambulance Drivers – Paramedics / EMT’s, Coach & Minibus Drivers and Rigid & Artic Truck Drivers. Whatever the license category Advance Drive has you covered!

Advance Drive run weekly Driver CPC Training courses, Manual Handling courses, Digital Tachograph Training and provide information on ADR Driver Hazchem Training courses for professional drivers in Galway, Mayo and Westmeath.

Driver recruitment is another service offered to recently qualified and experienced drivers. We work with transport companies to place newly qualified drivers. Some commercial clients of Advance Drive include; The Department of Social Protection & Employment Services, Intreo, ETB’s Nationwide, An Post, The ESB, Galway City Council and Galway County Council.

Advance Drive guarantee to give the best possible training with Director of Advance Drive; Philip Rice being presented with the RSA’s ‘Leading Lights’ in road safety award for ‘ADI Truck Instructor of the year 2013’ & again in 2014, Advance Drive was also short listed and a finalist for the ‘Safety Award’ in the ‘Irish Logistics and Transport Awards 2014’.

Learning to drive is something that nearly every person will do in their lifetime. Getting the correct information and professional training from the start helps drivers to become safer, more competent drivers thus minimising risk to themselves and other vulnerable road users. Advance Drive will help you pass your driving test first time and provide you with all the information and guidance you need along the way.

For more information contact a member of our team on 091 524689 or email info@advancedrive.com

Click here to book a Course Now!

Philip Rice – ADI of the Year 2014 RSA Leading Lights awards

Philip Rice – ADI of the Year 2013 RSA Leading Lights awards

`Testimonials`

You can't go wrong with Choosing Advance Drive The entire Team are so helpful and will do their best to get you where you need to go. I recently passed my Artic Licence first go and it's all thanks to Noel my instructor he is incredibly patent and will explain everything in great detail and knows excatly how to guide ya through the process and he is also great craic most fun I had while learning also he has a great way of making it feel so chill and relax. If you are considering a company for HGV licence you won't find much better. Thanks again Noel and all the team in Advance
April 20, 2023Galway

Today i passed the Bus test on my first attempt.I also passed the Artic on my first attempt too with Advance. I would like to thank all the Management and Staff for their help and advice over the last few weeks. They have always been very helpful, professional and patient in their approach with students like myself. The 2 girls at front of house were always very helpful with any problem that had to be sloved. A big thanks to Noel for the Artic and to Mike for the Bus. I think that Mike has trained everyone that drives a bus or truck around Galway as everyone in a bus or truck waves at him every time. It felt like I was driving Michael D around waving at everyone. A great experience and one that I wont forget. What a brilliant company with wonderful personnel and I would like to wish them all the best in the future. I would hoghly reccommend Advance School of Motoring to anyone.
July 12, 2023Galway

Just passed my driving test. Could not have done it without the help and support of Advance Drive. My instructor, Adam, was fantastic. He had so much patience with me and never did I feel under massive pressure. He really helped me get to grips with areas I was having great dfficulty with. He had faith in me when I didn't and that meant the world to me. Also helped bring my stress levels down so a massive thank you to Adam. The people in the office were always exceptionally kind and friendly to me and for that I say thank you so much. Really appreciated. Overall I really enjoyed working with Advance Drive. Would recommend them to anyone who would like to learn to drive.
March 16, 2022Galway

Thanks a million to all at Advance. I've just completed a hat-trick of Rigid, Bus and Artic tests and it's all thanks to your team. I've learned a lot, made new friends and had great craic in 2024 thanks to Advance - and not forgetting Patricia and all at GRETB. Everyone involved was professional and courteous but more importantly, very helpful and supportive. The instructors all had great patience and skill - and above all, a sense of humour (and they certainly needed that at times!). And the back-room team were always a pleasure to deal with - very efficient. Phillip and Ailbhe, ye have a great team there - keep doing what ye're doing. And put me on the waiting list for next year's Sikorsky 101 course - although I'm dreading the hill-start!
November 20, 2024East Galway

Sailed through my Artic Truck test thanks to Philip and his brilliant, assuring and dedicated teaching. These guys really know their stuff and tutor you very professionally AND calmly! (this is most important, especially when trying to reverse a 35FT trailer around a corner!) When it came to seeking a professional driving qualification and after doing my research and getting info from all the other 'instructors' I am really delighted to have gone with Advance Drive - they're my No.1
April 30, 2014Nicholas

(17/04/14) Looked at a number of other driving schools before choosing Advance Drive. I'm glad I went with my 'gut instinct' & chose this one. Philip did a great job of teaching me. I felt relaxed with him & learnt something at every lesson. He's patient, very astute (misses nothing!) a good communicator and great instructor. Managed to pass my driving test first time. I'm 'over the moon!' I would certainly recommend Advance Drive to anyone in the process of choosing a driving school. Thanks to Philip, Ailbhe & all at Advance Drive.
April 28, 2014Allison Barry

I'm euphoric, I passed the C Truck Licence which now allows us to head off into the sunset in our gorgeous huge camper van. Under Noel's tuition from Advance Drive every minute of every hour was spent learning and correcting and improving and more learning until we reached our goal. In my opinion Noel has the perfect balance - he brought a joyous ambience to the cab with his lovely lighthearted demeanour. He instilled a confidence in me and I always left the driving session feeling chuffed. Thank you Noel . Mary Clancy
June 21, 2022

I highly recommend Advance Drive for their professional service. Having never driven a large vehicle before, from day one my bus driving training with Mike was excellent! Initial nerves were soon put to rest and I felt at ease with his guidance and his great wealth of experience as we progressed with the driving training program and preparations for the CPC. I passed both my D driving test and CPC first time! Thank you to Mike, Ailbhe and the team at Advance Drive!
February 2, 2015Claregalway

Today, at the age of 43, I at last passed my driving test; doing so, on my first attempt. After years of hesitancy, and a belief I wasn't capable of driving well, the skills, ability and professionalism exhibited by my driving instructor - Noel Nee, at all times ensured that I was more than capable and ready to achieve my full category B driving license. In no small way, it was the enthusiasm, patience, exacting dedication to excellence, humility, and his earnest sense of putting the learner first that allowed me advance with confidence to the position of executing my test, and further passing with a confidence I thought I did not own. Since my initial lesson with Noel, I was always greeted with optimism, calm, and a capacity to teach that at all times remained with me, and will, I believe, remain with me as I begin driving as a novice licensee. Again, since meeting Noel, I always felt listened to, treated as an equal, and spoken to in a manner that allowed me learn, returning each time with the knowledge I was growing in awareness, and further honing the skills necessary to become a competent driver. Here, his advice and willingness to go above and beyond in terms of ensuring I understood, while also instilling a belief I was more than capable, all indelibly paved the way to my passing the test in a successful manner. Today, therefore, it is without hesitation that I write this testimonial in the hope that Noel is somehow given the credit he richly deserves, and, from here, would gladly recommend him as an instructor to any and all, in particular those lacking the confidence in their own abilities. He remains an exceptionally good teacher exacting all those attributes required to allow those he tutors to excel as they should. In turn, I also wish to acknowledge the professionalism and understanding I was at all times met with by the staff at Advance Drive, in particular Aoife and Emma, who always met me with warmth, kindness, humour, and patience, in what has been an unprecedented and drawn out year. Undoubtedly, their ability to meet my needs financially allowed me to continue to progress with them, especially at times of financial stress. Again, their ability to show compassion and understanding proved worthy and invaluable, which is why i would have no hesitation recommending they as a professional body to any wishing to avail of lessons, where staff and instructors put the learner's need first. At a time in which the humanity or personal seems to be on the wain, the people at Advanced Drive remain a testament to what good companies are really all about - providing a service that ensures the customer is happy and further satisfied they chose to run with that company in the first place. My continued appreciation and best wishes to a company worth noting. Ted
January 12, 2021Galway

I am delighted to have passed my D bus test on the first attempt. I was lucky enough to have 2 different instructors - Noel and Gerry. I feel both instructors had a different style of teaching and I definitely learned different things from each of them. They were both very thorough in making sure I was ready for the test and confident in the test procedure. The office staff are exceptional. They are accommodating and considerate. They know their job and they were great to call me and offer me an extra lesson before my test, when a slot became available. Before passing my test, I was already recommending Advance Drive to people who have asked me about getting a bus license.
March 4, 2022Galway

to all in advance drive i just passed my test in the ridget truck in roscommon and want to thank all in volved in getting me there from the class tutor james for hes passion and knowlage troughout the course great instructor thanks to shane and ollie for the help in getting us trough the forlift verry good instructors to gerry and aoife for keeping us all together thank you and all in the office to vincent my driving instructor he has a great way of getting you to do things the right way without putting you under pressure i felt relaxed at all times he is not afraid to tell you as it is but in a good way that does not take away your confidence hes top class i would recommend advance drive highly to anyone thinking of doing a driving course best regards to all REGIS GOLDING
February 14, 2020roscommon

I passed my driving test (car) first time. I can not thank Advance Driving enough , i started my lessons with corey , and i finished my lessons with Declan. I highly recommend Declan as a driving instructor. Declan will always encourage you and support you along the way. He will make your driving experience enjoyable. Dont worry about making mistakes ,Declan is very experienced and highly skilled, you are in safe hands. Great tip : Do a lesson before the test or do a pretest or both, it helped me hugely. I would like to thank everyone at Advance Driving . The women in the office are so lovely and so pleasant to talk too that they will always do their best to accommodate ya and all the staff are very friendly. I promise you won't be disappointed doing your lessons with Advance Driving, it was worth every penny. 💯
October 26, 2023Galway

Advance Drive was a great option to complete my EDT in the way to obtain the Irish driving license. Very responsive and proffesionals, Emma and Aoife were great in supporting the classes scheduling and booking the car for the day of the test. For me it was very valuable the offered service to book the same car to take the exam. My instructor Pat was brilliant and patient in guiding me in the introduction to Ireland's driving rules and correcting me some bad driving habits!. He gave me very good tips, that I took, and I am very happy to have passed the driving test today!
August 23, 2021GORT

I passed my truck C test yesterday. I never drove a truck before and did seven lessons with Advance Drive instructor PJ Dunne. PJ’s tuition was 10/10, excellent, extremely professional. He is very personable and puts you at ease. His extensive experience is priceless, and he weighs your capabilities instantly and focuses on your weaknesses. He also drills you on the headline Health and safety and has his easy-to-follow notations to program you in good practice. The test is difficult, I was pushed on every element during the test. The lessons got rid of my years of ‘bad habits’ driving a jeep. During the test, PJ’s advice loud in my head at every junction, tight corner squeezed road due to road works, looking ahead to preempt potential hazards all came together the day of the test. When the examiner spoke to me briefly after the test, she said – ‘You must have been driving a truck for a while.’ That is a testimony to how good Advance Drive is and Instructor PJ Dunne. I highly recommend Advance drive for any of your driving lessons. In house Aoife, who had to account for my few cancellations, is very professional, friendly, and polite. An extremely efficient, professional business. Lessons are essential to pass this test and I highly recommend Advance Drive-An effective team. Peter
November 11, 2022

I am really happy for passing my driving test. Of course i would not have a change passing without Martin my instructor. A massive thanks for this man. I never drove in my life and also never had experience in driving at all until I started my lessons at Advance Drive School. I remember how bad i was with my driving skills. I was scared and afraid of driving too. But Martin supported me from the start and gave his best to help me to improve my skills and my confidence. During my lessons i could learn so much and practice a lot. Every 2 hour lessons helped me to build my confidence and fix all my mistakes. I just wanted to say big thanks for Martin and for the whole team at the office. You all deserve the best, because you take care of us so well. Honestly, Advance Drive is a high level top school.
July 18, 2022Galway

I would like to say a big thank you to all at Advance Drive for helping me pass my class C driving test. Always professional and courteous. For all you aspiring truck and bus drivers out there I would definitely recommend Advance Drive so mush so I can't wait to do my artic training with them as soon as I get my provisional license. And finally a big thank you to my instructor Dezzie who's cool and professional manner during my lessons helped to put me at ease, fair play to him he only had to step on that emergency break a few times, again a big thank you to all, stay safe and hopefully see you soon for the next stage.
August 12, 2020Galway

I’d like to say many thanks to Declan, Aoife and Carla of Advance Drive Galway. What I’ve noticed from Declan’s teachings is that he is incredibly patient and he helps you understand exactly what you’re doing incorrectly in a calm and understanding manner during the EDT and extended lessons prior to my driving test. I highly advise newcomer learner drivers to select Declan as their driving instructor. Thank you Declan and best of luck in your current and future endeavours.
April 29, 2025Galway

I recently successfully completed my class D driving test. Training was provided by Advance Drive. I was lucky to have been paired with Noel one of the many instructors for the duration of my training. It was an enjoyable experience. Noel was so knowledgeable and he punctuated each lesson with pearls of wisdom and advice. He broke the whole driving process down to make it more readily understandable. All of the staff at Advance Drive were so professional from the very first day. There was a steady stream of emails and text messages to remind you of your driving lessons. Nothing was left to chance during training. Top marks all round to Advance Drive and their staff. June 2024.
July 26, 2024

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