Frequently Asked Questions

When do the driving experiences take place?

We only operate on certain days, so please visit our Days of Operation calendar before booking your experience to avoid any disappointment.

Once you have your voucher, simply choose which car(s) you’d like to drive and the date you’d like to drive on before calling our booking office on 01773 317255 to confirm. You will not be able to attend on the day without booking your experience. 

Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Remember, your driving experience takes place outdoors, so please dress for the weather! Our classic cars come with authentic climate control… which generally means whatever temperature it is outside!

For driving, we recommend wearing comfortable, flat-soled shoes. Boots and high heels are best avoided, as the pedals in some of our classic cars can be positioned quite close together.

When you arrive, simply follow the signs to Drive Dad’s Car Registration, located at the bottom of the car park. Our team will be there to get you checked in and ready for your drive!

You’ll need your full driving license with you on the day – without our staff seeing this, I’m afraid you won’t be able to embark on your driving experience. It’s handy if you also bring your confirmation email too, just in case our team need to confirm any details with you.

There are no compulsory extra charges on the day. If you haven’t already booked them in advance, you’ll have the option to purchase souvenir photo prints or add extra passengers to your experience if you wish.

Please remember that your driving voucher includes free museum entry for the driver only. Any additional guests wishing to visit the museum will need their own admission ticket – see the next question for more information.

Absolutely – we’d love you to bring friends and family along! In fact, guests accompanying a driver can enjoy reduced-price museum admission, so they can make a day of it with you.

You can find full details about bringing guests, museum admission and joining you in the car on our Passengers & Guests page.

Got your eye on another car? If it’s available during your session, we may be able to arrange an additional drive for you on the day. We can’t guarantee availability though, so it’s always best to check with us in advance – that way, we can do our best to have your chosen car ready for you.

Possibly! If the car you’d like to switch to hasn’t already been allocated to another driver, we may be able to change your chosen car on the day. Please be aware that an upgrade fee may apply, depending on the car you choose.

Absolutely! We’ll have a selection of cars available to Pay & Drive on the day, subject to availability.

So if you’re bringing friends or family along, tell them to bring their full driving licence – just in case they spot something they fancy getting behind the wheel of!

Unfortunately, driving experiences can’t be shared between drivers – each experience or voucher can only be redeemed by one person.

That doesn’t mean your guest has to miss out, though! They can join you in the car as a passenger, or if they fancy getting behind the wheel themselves, they can book their own drive.

No, you will have a fully qualified instructor with you to show you the route, explain the controls and features of the car.

Most of our driving experiences last approximately 20 minutes, giving you plenty of time to get a proper feel for your chosen classic.

The exception is our Toyota Mirai, which has a 15-minute driving experience.

If you’d rather sit back and enjoy the journey, our instructor-led Take a Ride experiences last approximately 10 minutes.

You’ll be driving on our private road, which includes speed restrictions, Give Way points and roundabouts, so the usual rules of the Highway Code still apply.

And remember, this is all about experiencing what these wonderful old cars are really like to drive – very few of them were built for speed, and some would probably object quite strongly if you tried!

Yes, in many of our cars you can bring a passenger along for the ride! 

As long as the car has suitable rear seats and fitted seat belts (remember, not every classic had them back in the day!), additional passengers can join you for £10 per person.

Passengers must be aged 10 or over, and our Event Manager will be able to let you know on the day which cars are suitable for carrying passengers.

Absolutely – you’re very welcome to bring your own camera! 📸 For safety reasons, only drivers are permitted in the active pitlane, so guests won’t be able to get up close to the cars for photographs. If you’re hoping to capture the action, we recommend bringing a camera with a good zoom lens.

Our team will also take photographs during your driving experience, with high-quality souvenir photo prints available to purchase afterwards. You can find out more on our Souvenir Photos page.

Unfortunately not – drivers aren’t permitted to film or use a phone/camera while driving. You’ll need both hands on the wheel, especially as many of our classic cars don’t have power steering and can require a little more effort to manoeuvre!

However, if you have a passenger travelling with you, they’re very welcome to capture some footage from inside the car so you can relive the experience afterwards. 

Well-behaved dogs are very welcome on site, provided they’re kept on a lead. 🐾 However, dogs aren’t permitted inside the museum or building – with 25,000 sq ft of carpet and over 550 sets of wheels at just the right height for cocking a leg against, we’re sure you can understand why! 😄

The exception, of course, is guide and assistance dogs, who are welcome inside.

For safety reasons, dogs cannot travel in the cars during your driving experience.