Key points
- Motorway lessons on the M42 around Solihull.
- Manual and automatic both £35/hr.
- Lessons planned around your test centre's roads.
- Free DriveSQ Student Portal with every lesson.
Solihull is wrapped by the M42, with junctions 4, 5 and 6 serving Shirley, Solihull and the NEC and airport. Since June 2018 learners can drive on motorways with an approved instructor in a dual-control car — and Solihull is one of the best places in the country to learn.
Why the M42 is special
The M42 between junctions 3a and 7 was the UK's first Active Traffic Management pilot, from September 2006 — the forerunner of today's smart motorways, with variable speed limits and hard-shoulder running. Learning here means learning to read overhead signs: a speed in a red circle is a legal limit, and a red X means the lane is closed.
Junction 6 works
National Highways' M42 junction 6 improvement serves the airport and NEC, and the HS2 Interchange station is being built between the M42, A45 and A452 (TfWM now expects HS2 services between 2029 and 2033). Roadworks, temporary limits and changed layouts are part of driving here — and great practice.
What a motorway lesson covers
- Joining from the slip road and matching speed
- Lane discipline and overtaking
- Smart motorway signs and emergency areas
- Leaving at the right junction
SQ Driving School is part of DriveSQ
Lessons in Solihull are run by SQ Driving School and DriveSQ together — the same instructors, prices and Student Portal. More from DriveSQ:
- DriveSQ driving school in Solihull — Meet the DriveSQ Solihull team, the Student Portal and how lessons work.
- Solihull driving test pass rates 2026 — Every test centre near Solihull ranked, with what the numbers mean.
- Driving instructor jobs in Solihull — Teach with DriveSQ: pupils matched by postcode, Instructor Portal.
DriveSQ Student Portal
Every SQ Driving School learner — in Solihull as well as Greater Manchester — gets the DriveSQ Student Portal free, so you always know exactly how close you are to test standard.
- 23 driving skills tracked after every lesson
- Theory library and 50-question mock tests
- Test-readiness checklist and instructor messaging
DriveSQ Instructor Portal
DriveSQ is growing in Solihull and taking on more ADIs. New learners are matched to you by postcode, and your whole diary runs in the DriveSQ Instructor Portal.
- New Solihull learners matched by postcode
- Bookings, progress and messaging in one place
- Part of DriveSQ — an established Manchester driving school
Frequently asked questions
Can learners drive on the M42?
What does a red X on the M42 mean?
How much are driving lessons in Solihull?
Sources
- GOV.UK — Driving lessons and learning to drive
- GOV.UK — Driving test cost
- GOV.UK — Book your driving test
- passrates.uk — Birmingham (Shirley) test centre, 2024-25
- National Highways — M42 junction 6 improvement
- TfWM — Interchange and M42 J6 works
- GOV.UK — Learner drivers on motorways
Published by SQ Driving School, a brand owned and managed by DriveSQ. Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and test centres change — always confirm on GOV.UK before you book.