Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about learning to drive with Drivelo — from booking your first lesson to becoming an instructor.
If your question isn't here, email us — we read every message.
About Drivelo
What is Drivelo?
Drivelo is Melbourne's verified driving instructor marketplace. We connect learner drivers with independent, fully-credentialed driving instructors. You search by suburb, compare instructors side by side, book and pay online — all without phone calls, hidden fees, or guesswork about whether the instructor is properly checked.
Is Drivelo a driving school?
No. Drivelo is a marketplace. The instructors on Drivelo run their own businesses — we don't employ them, train them, or set their prices. We verify them, provide the booking platform, and take a fair commission. Think of us as the Airbnb of driving instruction.
Who runs Drivelo?
Drivelo is built by a Melbourne founder with two decades in operations and large-scale service delivery. We're a small, independent team based in Melbourne. We answer our own emails.
Where is Drivelo available?
We're rolling out suburb by suburb across Melbourne. We don't list a suburb until we have verified instructors live there. To check coverage, enter your suburb on the homepage search. National expansion to Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide is on the Roadmap.
How is Drivelo different from EzLicence or RACV Drive School?
Three main differences:
- Lower commission — Drivelo takes 15% from instructors, versus 25%+ at the largest competitor. That means instructors earn more, which means they can offer fairer prices to learners.
- Transparent pricing — every price is shown upfront. No "from $X" headlines that change when you book. No phone calls to get a quote.
- Real verification — we publish exactly which 5 credentials we check, and we re-verify before each one expires. Some competitors are vague about this.
Booking your first lesson
How do I book a lesson?
- Enter your suburb on the homepage
- Compare instructors — by price, transmission, languages, specialisations, reviews
- Pick a time that works
- Pay through the platform with card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Your instructor confirms within hours and arrives at the address you nominate
Do I need a learner permit before booking my first lesson?
Yes. You must hold a valid Victorian learner permit (or interstate equivalent) before you can legally drive in a lesson. Get your permit through VicRoads — you'll need to pass the Learner Permit Knowledge Test first.
How far in advance should I book?
Most learners book 1–2 weeks ahead. Popular instructors and weekend slots fill faster — book further out for those. Test-day packages should be booked as soon as you have your VicRoads test slot confirmed, ideally 4+ weeks ahead.
Can I pick where the lesson starts?
Yes. You enter a pickup address at booking — usually your home, school, or work. Your instructor will arrive there and text or call when they're close.
What if I'm under 18?
You can still book, but a parent or guardian needs to consent to the booking. They don't have to be in the car during the lesson.
Can a parent sit in the back during the lesson?
That's between you and your instructor. Many are happy to accommodate this — particularly for first lessons. Ask before booking via the instructor's profile.
What should I bring to my first lesson?
- Your Victorian learner permit (physical card or the digital licence in the Service Victoria app)
- Your logbook (paper or myLearners app)
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes (no thongs, chunky boots, or heels)
- Glasses or contacts if you wear them
- Water and a snack if you tend to get nervous
Full breakdown in the First Lesson Guide.
What if I'm really nervous about my first lesson?
That's completely normal. Tell your instructor at booking — every Drivelo instructor has worked with nervous first-timers. They can start with a longer static intro in an empty car park if you'd prefer. Some instructors specialise in anxious drivers — filter for that when you search.
Pricing & payment
How much does a driving lesson cost on Drivelo?
Instructors set their own price. Most Melbourne lessons range from $55 to $95 per hour. The price you see on the instructor's profile is the price you pay — no booking fees added at checkout.
See the Pricing page for full Melbourne market data.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. No booking fees. No service fees. No "platform surcharge". The only thing that might appear on top is a clearly-disclosed card processor fee, in line with the RBA's surcharging standard — and you see it before you confirm payment.
Why do prices vary between instructors?
Experience, suburb, vehicle type, and specialisations all drive pricing. A premium $90/hour instructor typically has 5+ years of experience, near-100% pass rates, or specialist credentials. A budget $55/hour instructor might be newer or covering an under-served suburb.
Can I pay in instalments?
Most instructors accept full payment at the time of booking. Afterpay and Klarna integration is on our Roadmap for package purchases — see the Roadmap for timing.
What payment methods do you accept?
Credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay — all processed securely through Stripe. We don't take cash bookings (one of the reasons we can guarantee transparent pricing).
Do you offer package deals?
Yes — most instructors offer 5-lesson and 10-lesson packs at a per-lesson discount. Typical Melbourne ranges:
- 5 x 60-min lessons: $320–$340
- 10 x 60-min lessons: $610–$670
Packs are paid upfront and unused lessons in an unstarted pack are refundable under our Cancellation & Refund Policy.
What is the commission Drivelo takes?
15% of each booking. It comes out of the instructor's payout, not added to your price. It funds verification, the booking platform, payments, support, dispute handling, and platform development. It's well below the 25–40% taken by other platforms and franchise schools.
Cancellations, rescheduling & refunds
Can I cancel a lesson?
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before your lesson and you'll be refunded in full (less any non-refundable processor fees clearly disclosed at checkout). Within 24 hours, a 50% fee applies — except where the cancellation is for a reason covered by Australian Consumer Law (illness, family emergency, etc).
Full terms in the Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Can I reschedule instead of cancelling?
Yes. Most instructors will happily move your lesson within 24 hours' notice without any fee. Within 24 hours, rescheduling is at the instructor's discretion — be polite, give a reason, and most will accommodate.
What if my instructor cancels?
If your instructor cancels, you receive a full refund and we'll help you find an alternative instructor for the same time slot if available. Instructors who cancel learner lessons repeatedly are removed from the platform.
What if the weather is bad?
Light rain isn't a reason to cancel — driving in rain is part of learning. Severe weather (flooding, hail, dangerous winds) is a different story. Your instructor will contact you if they need to reschedule for safety. Weather-related reschedules are always fee-free.
I bought a 10-pack but only used 3 lessons. Can I get a refund on the rest?
Yes. Unused lessons in a started pack are refundable at the instructor's hourly rate (not the discounted pack rate), in line with Australian Consumer Law. See the Cancellation & Refund Policy.
What if I fail my drive test and need more lessons?
Just book again. There's no penalty, no waiting period. Many learners take 2–3 additional lessons before re-sitting. Your instructor will tell you honestly what to work on.
Instructors & verification
What does 'verified' mean on Drivelo?
Before any instructor goes live, we check 5 credentials:
- Safe Transport Victoria Driving Instructor Authority (the legal licence to teach)
- Working with Children Check (for teaching anyone under 18)
- Public Liability Insurance (in case something goes wrong)
- Comprehensive Motor Insurance — with instruction/business use cover
- Vehicle Registration (the car must be roadworthy and registered)
We re-verify before each credential expires. If any lapses, the instructor is automatically removed from search until it's renewed.
Are Drivelo instructors employees?
No. Drivelo instructors are independent contractors who run their own businesses. They set their own prices, hours, and service areas. Drivelo provides the marketplace; they provide the lesson.
How do I find a female instructor?
Filter for female instructors when you search. Some learners — particularly young women, anxious learners, and learners from certain cultural backgrounds — strongly prefer a female instructor, and we make that easy to filter.
Can I find an instructor who speaks my language?
Yes. Instructors list languages they teach in on their profile — common ones in Melbourne include Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, and Spanish. Filter by language in search.
How do I see an instructor's pass rate?
We're working on publishing verified pass rates per instructor — it's on the Roadmap. In the meantime, look at:
- Number of completed lessons (volume = experience)
- Review count and average rating
- Years on the platform
- Reviews that specifically mention "passed first go" or test results
What if I don't get along with my instructor?
Two options:
- Book a different instructor next time — no penalty, no awkward conversations
- Tell us if anything was wrong — email hello@drivelo.com.au. For safety, harassment, or misconduct concerns, see our Complaints Policy
Learning to drive in Victoria
How many hours of supervised driving do I need?
If you're under 21, you need 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20 hours at night) before you can sit your drive test. If you're 21 or older, the 120-hour requirement doesn't apply.
Do Drivelo lessons count toward my 120 hours?
Yes. Every lesson counts. Victoria also offers a 3-for-1 logbook bonus in some programs — one hour of professional instruction can be logged as 3 hours toward your total, up to a cap. Your instructor will sign your logbook at the end of every lesson.
What's the Hazard Perception Test?
A computer-based test of your ability to recognise dangerous driving situations. You must pass it before you can sit your practical drive test. Costs $24.20 and can be taken online or at a VicRoads service centre. See our Driving Test Prep guide.
How do I book my drive test?
Once you've completed 120 hours (if under 21) and passed the Hazard Perception Test, book through myVicRoads. The test fee is $73.30. Test slots are often booked 4–8 weeks out, so plan ahead.
What are the common reasons people fail their drive test?
The top instant-fail reasons:
- Missing head checks before lane changes or pulling away
- Failing to give way
- Mounting a kerb during a turn or park
- Not signalling
- Speeding 5+ km/h over for sustained periods
- Requiring assessor intervention
Full breakdown in our Driving Test Prep guide.
Can my instructor's car be used on test day?
Yes — and most learners choose this option. The instructor's car has dual controls, is roadworthy-inspected, and you've already done dozens of lessons in it. Test-day packages typically run $210–$235 and include a warm-up lesson plus the car for the test.
Manual or automatic — which should I learn?
Most Melbourne learners now learn automatic. Manual is harder to learn and there are fewer manual instructors, which means slightly higher costs. Important: if you pass your test in an automatic, your full licence will be restricted to automatic vehicles until you re-test in a manual. If you want the freedom to drive either, learn manual.
Overseas licence conversion
I have an overseas licence — can I drive in Victoria?
You can drive on your overseas licence for up to 6 months from when you became a permanent resident. After that, you need a Victorian licence. See the Overseas Licence Conversion guide for the full process.
Do I have to sit the full drive test?
Depends on your country. If you're from a recognised country (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, USA, and many others), you can usually convert directly without a drive test. If your licence is from one of the 16 countries affected by the April 2025 Austroads rule change, you now need to sit the full test.
The 16 countries affected: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Serbia, Cyprus, and Taiwan.
Always check VicRoads for the current list — it changes.
How many conversion lessons will I need?
Most experienced overseas drivers need 2–5 lessons before the test. More if you're coming from a left-hand-drive country, less if you've already driven on the left for years.
Can I get an interpreter for my drive test?
The knowledge test offers some translated versions and interpreters. The practical drive test uses simple driving instructions — interpreters are not normally allowed in the vehicle.
Becoming an instructor
How do I become an instructor on Drivelo?
Apply via the Become an Instructor page. We'll ask for your Safe Transport Victoria Driving Instructor Authority, Working with Children Check, insurance certificates, and vehicle details. Approval typically takes 5 business days.
Do I need to already have an instructor authority?
Yes. Drivelo is a marketplace, not a training school. You must already hold a valid Safe Transport Victoria Driving Instructor Authority before you can list. If you don't have one yet, see the Safe Transport Victoria website for the qualification path.
What does it cost to list on Drivelo?
Listing is free. Drivelo only earns when you earn — we take a 15% commission on each completed booking. There are no monthly fees, no listing fees, no featured-placement fees.
How much can I earn?
Earnings depend on your price, hours, and demand in your suburb. A full-time Drivelo instructor charging $80/hour and teaching 30 lessons a week earns $2,040/week after our 15% commission. We don't guarantee earnings — they're driven by your availability and how learners rate you.
When do I get paid?
Stripe processes payouts to your bank account on a rolling basis. The exact schedule depends on your Stripe settings, but most instructors are paid within 2–7 business days of each completed lesson.
Can I set my own hours and prices?
Yes — completely. You're an independent contractor. Set your own hourly rate, package pricing, service area, working hours, and lesson types. Change them whenever you want.
Can I list on Drivelo AND other platforms?
Yes. We don't require exclusivity. Many instructors list on multiple platforms — though most find their booking volume on Drivelo lets them eventually phase out higher-commission alternatives.
Safety & disputes
Are the cars safe?
Every instructor's vehicle must:
- Pass our verification (registration + insurance + instruction-use insurance cover)
- Have dual controls (passenger-side brake, often clutch too) as required by Safe Transport Victoria
- Be regularly maintained — your instructor depends on it for their livelihood
What if I feel unsafe during a lesson?
Tell your instructor immediately. If you're not comfortable continuing, ask them to drop you home and contact us at hello@drivelo.com.au. For serious safety, harassment, or misconduct concerns, see our Complaints Policy — we investigate every report.
What's the Working with Children Check?
A Victorian government screening that anyone working with people under 18 must hold. Every Drivelo instructor has a current one — we verify it before they go live and we re-verify before it expires.
What if there's an accident?
The instructor's comprehensive motor insurance and public liability insurance cover the situation — that's exactly why we verify both before they list. If you're injured, get medical help first, then report it to us so we can assist with insurance claims.
Do you do background checks beyond the WWCC?
The Working with Children Check is the legally-mandated background screening in Victoria for anyone working with minors, and it covers serious criminal history relevant to safety. Beyond that, we monitor learner reviews carefully and remove instructors after substantiated complaints.
How do you handle complaints?
Email hello@drivelo.com.au with the details. We acknowledge within 2 business days and investigate within 10 business days for standard complaints, faster for safety concerns. See our Complaints Policy for full process and external escalation paths.
Privacy, data & legal
How is my data protected?
Drivelo follows Australian privacy law (the Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles). We collect the minimum personal information needed to operate the marketplace, store it securely, and never sell it. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Who can see my information?
Your instructor sees your name, phone number, pickup address, and lesson notes — they need these to deliver the lesson. Other learners don't see your information at all. We share data with third parties only where strictly necessary (Stripe for payments, verification providers for KYC).
Can I delete my account?
Yes. Email hello@drivelo.com.au to request account deletion. We delete your personal data within 30 days, subject to retention obligations under Australian law (tax records, dispute records, etc).
What's in the Terms of Service?
The legal terms that apply when you use Drivelo. Plain-English: you agree to use the platform honestly, you understand instructors are independent contractors, you accept our cancellation policy and payment terms. Read the full Terms of Service.
Reviews & feedback
How does the review system work?
After every completed lesson, you can rate your instructor 1–5 stars and leave a written review. Only learners who actually completed a paid lesson can leave a review — no fake reviews, no review-bombing.
Can I edit my review?
Yes, within 30 days of posting. Email hello@drivelo.com.au if you need to update it.
Can instructors respond to reviews?
Yes. Instructors can post a public reply to each review they receive. This lets both sides be heard — particularly useful for borderline reviews where context matters.
Can Drivelo remove reviews?
Only if a review breaches our content rules — defamation, threats, unrelated content, personal information about third parties, or a review left by someone who didn't actually book a lesson. We don't remove reviews just because the instructor doesn't like them.
Still have a question?
Email us — we read every message and reply within 1–2 business days.
For urgent safety concerns, mark your email "URGENT" in the subject line and we'll respond same-day.
Our Story · First Lesson Guide · Driving Test Prep · Overseas Conversion · Pricing · Become an Instructor · Roadmap · All Policies