About Us

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

`Testimonials`

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

Passed the bus test first time. Advance Driving made that happen. They organised everything and there is no way I would have done it without their assistance advice help and instructions. Aoife and Emma- thanks for all help with lesson times. Lectures Ronnie and Tom, some day I hope to be as knowledgeable as ye guys, unreal. I've a long way to go tho. Denis- a very big thank you for your expert instruction on driving. You were brilliant. Thanks Advance again . Highly recommend Advance
July 28, 2022

Just a quick note of thanks to advance drive for helping me complete my artic training. I cannot recommend the company highly enough my instructor was Lee and he was very professional and thorough through out my training and gently pushed me to my Limited in order to get it across the line. Galway is a busy city and I was not familiar wit it but with the help of Lee all went well. The company's communication is also top class and with prompt reminders for upcoming lessons I found it let's the training flow with nothing to worry about I have to thank Aoife for this. Also big thanks to Gerry for getting it off d ground. 5 star company Many thanks Tony
April 30, 2025Co clare

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 just completed a 10 week GRETB bus drivers course. The course was managed and run by Advance Drive Galway . The course included ten two hour lessons. CPC training,first aid responders course and lifting and manual handling course. Advance Drive are a very professional organisation. There staff and management were very friendly, supportive and efficient in everything they did. My instructor for the 10 weeks was Vincent Jennings. He was an excellent tutor with great patience. He really prepared me for my test, which I passed on my first attempt. I would highly recommend Advance Drive for anyone considering bus driving as a profession.
April 25, 2023

A great experience overall doing lessons with advance drive, from booking and scheduling lessons with the ever helpful Aoife in the office to the lessons themselves with the instructor (shane) He was a great help in preparing me for the test and was always able to answer any questions regarding the test itself. When it came to the test I knew every route likely to be tested on and was confident of passing from the get go. Would highly recommend advance drive for anyone looking to get the C1 license
October 17, 2019Galway

Firstly I would like to say a massive thanks to everyone in Advance Drive. From day one the staff in reception especially Aoife & Carla have been very very helpful and friendly. Any queries I had were explained straight away and they were able to work around my schedule to fit lessons in. A massive thanks to Pat, Dezzie and especially Noel for all the training in my bus lessons. The lads were 100% and very professional in training. I would highly recommend Advance drive for all your lessons. Passed both my Truck & Bus test first time! Thanks a million to all the staff 👏
October 13, 2025

I would highly recommend Advance Drive and in particular my instructor Pat in Galway. I was taken through all the requisite skills in great detail, i.e clutch control, observation and road positioning etc, such that I passed the test without any problems and felt no nerves on the day. I thank my instructor for his expertise and for sharing his knowledge of how to perform in the test on the day. His instruction really matched all the requirements of the test and made the experience much easier, as well as successful. Highly recommended.
June 26, 2025Galway

I passed my rigid test previously with Advance Drive and yesterday my jeep and trailer test, both on the first time, thanks to the great team at Advance Drive. All the staff are friendly, helpful and professional. Dezzie and Noel are great instructors. They keep everything calm and relaxed, whilst having a great way of helping you learn and correct any bad habits you may have picked up. Would highly recommend Advance Drive for anyone looking to pass a test. Keep up the great work
August 31, 2021Galway

Advance drive team very Professional team When I meet this team first I had nothing only only car licence and now have bus and rigid lorry licence all thanks to Advance team Where I do I start I first met Philip and Ailbhe in Althlone when I went for my bus licence very Professional at the job . I went for my Rigid Lorry license went to galway to do it I met rest of the team very Professional staff Aoife and Emma are on front desk when walk in door u are Greeted with a smile All driving Instructor very professional. Their is no mark to grade the advance drive team very Professional and always go above the job to make fell comfortable to get your licence.
January 27, 2022Co Clare

My driving instructor was Declan and he is a very good profesional and knows his job well. He explains everything very clear and in a very understandable way and he has a great patience. He is a very good teacher. I have changed many different driving instructors. I can say, that Declan always gives a very good examples from everyday life . He taught me a lot, and I am very grateful for and I still can’t believe that I’ve passed my driving test. Thank you Declan for your help and patience Olga
February 27, 2024Galway

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

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

Delighted to pass my Category D Bus test on my first attempt. Thanks to all at Advance Drive, a professional company who ate to be highly recommended. A special word of thanks to my fantastic instructor Noel. Noel is professional, knowledgeable, informative and good craic too. On meeting I was immediately put at ease and what followed was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. If you want to learn to drive and pass your test, Noel is the instructor you want to book. Thanks also to Emma and Aoife in the office who were always very helpful in answering any queries I had.
January 13, 2022Galway

I passed my rigid truck (C) license at the first attempt yesterday, delighted! I did most of my lessons with Dezzie and one lesson with Mike. There were a few bumps along the road - took me a year from start to finish because my work interfered with booking and scheduling lessons - but Advance Drive as a company left me with the feeling that they care about each and every one of their students. They gave individual attention to me, and I am sure every student who chooses to train with them. Each person gets the education, practice, information and personal attention that they as an individual need. Now I feel like a competent and confident driver. I recommend this school. I want to thank particularly Dezzie for doing most of my lessons, your training style made everything feel very natural and easy and clear and I wish to thank everyone else who had a hand in my success: Mike, Phillip, and Aoife for all your help as a team to get me through at first attempt.
November 10, 2017Galway

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