Welcome to Carnell Car School

Carnell Car School is the friendly, affordable and professional driver education company in the Brisbane area. Whether you're learning to drive for the first time, looking to upgrade from an automatic licence to a manual licence, improve your skills on a skidpan, or learn how to tackle the rough terrain of the Queensland bush, Carnell Car School has you covered.

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0434 190 922 dave@carnellcarschool.com
Hi, I'm Dave Carnell
"A highschool teacher with a passion for driving"

Dave is a patient and calm instructor with a wealth of driving experience both on and off the road. His background in education gives him a unique perspective on individualised learning programs and this helps Dave to deliver high quality instruction to all students he teaches.

Having done basic servicing and maintenance on his own vehicles for more than 20 years, Dave brings a deep understanding of how cars and their parts work. This combined with his approachability and easy-going nature mean that Dave is able to provide you with a much richer and more informative learning experience behind the wheel than you are likely to receive elsewhere.

Like most teachers, Dave is always keen to share knowledge and skills that he has gained over the years with others and has put together a number of courses that offer some of those skills in bite-sized 4-hour blocks. Drifting on a Skidpan, Off-road Driving and Hands-on Vehicle Maintenance are all on offer throughout the year so grab a mate and get in touch. Pricing and more information can be found below.

This compact SUV is the perfect car in which to learn to drive. It has a high driving position and great visibility you will find it easy to see potential hazards on the roads. The short wheel-base and small turning circle make all those technical manoeuvers a breeze to learn and easy to repeat time and time again.

With a slightly lower-than-standard gear ratio and an engine designed to produce lots of torque low in the rev-range, the Jimny is less likely to stall than most other small vehicles on the roads today. This all contributes to a simpler, easier and more straight-forward driving experience with Carnell Car School.

This late model Jimny has a manual gearbox, fitted with bar-type instructor pedals (Dual Controls Queensland) and a full set of instructor mirrors.

Lessons in your own car are by negotiation. Please contact Dave to talk through the requirements if you wish to take lessons in your own vehicle.

"The Mighty Jimny"

Carnell Car School offers a wide array of driver education and instructional services. Please note all courses and lessons to be paid for by Cash or Bank Transfer.

Manual Driving Lessons
$80
per hour
Individual Manual Driving Lessons are undertaken in the Suzuki Jimny and are usually 1 hour long, but longer lessons are possible upon request. Starting and finishing driving lessons at different locations is by negotiation with David prior to the commencement of the lesson.
Start and finish wherever it is convenient for the learner, often from a home, school or work address within 30 minutes drive of Mackenzie, Qld.
Basic Maintenance Course
$160
per person
The Basic Maintenance Course is a 4 hour practical course that is presented to small groups. This course will help you take care of your vehicle more comprehensively and will include the following: a brief overview of vehicle parts and function, a brief overview of some things to look for when purchasing used cars, refueling a vehicle, checking tread levels on tyre, changing a tyre, checking and adjusting tyre pressures, checking and topping up fluid levels, checking and changing fuses, checking and change light bulbs, changing a battery. There will be a Carnell Car School vehicle onsite as an example or if participant doesn't have access to their own vehicle, but it is recommended that participants bring and learn on their own vehicle as every vehicle is unique.
RACQ Mobility Centre, 1753-1799 Mount Cotton Rd, Cornubia QLD 4130
Offroad Driving Course
$120
per vehicle
The Offroad Driving Course is 4 hour course undertaken in a small group setting at the RACQ Mobility Centre at Mt Cotton/Cornubia using their purpose-built 4WD training facility. Find out what you and your vehicle are capable of, with water crossings; articulation tests; steep inclines and declines; ramp over, approach and departure angle testing; tight, windy, low-traction trails; and much more. Starting out with a walk-through, talk-through of basic trails and finishing off with a self-directed exploration of any and all available obstacle and/or trail within the 4WD facility, there is something for everyone in this course.
RACQ Mobility Centre, 1753-1799 Mount Cotton Rd, Cornubia QLD 4130
Skid Pan Course
$200
per person
The Skid Pan Experience is a 4 hour window of opportunity to put your vehicle through it's paces in a controlled, low-grip environment, without the danger of other road users. Learn how it feels to lose control of your vehicle due to lack of grip. Learn how to recognise and control a slide and how to avoid losing control in wet and slippery conditions. Discuss your new-found knowledge and skills with other course participants while you wait for your next turn on the slippery stuff. At the end of the course take those skills with you and apply them in the real world to help keep yourself and other road-users safer when road conditions are less than ideal. Please note, that there is a wash-down facility on-site to ensure that the slipping and sliding doesn't unexpectedly follow you onto the public road at the end of the event.
RACQ Mobility Centre, 1753-1799 Mount Cotton Rd, Cornubia QLD 4130
Driving Test Package
$200
in total
The Driving Test Package includes a 1 hour pre-test drive and briefing, use of the Carnell Car School vehicle to complete the practical driving test with the TMR assessor, and a post-test drive to student's preferred location (home, school, work etc.) within a 10km radius of the test centre.
Available at the following TMR Locations Greenslopes Shopping Mall 700 Logan Road Corner, Plimsoll St, Greenslopes QLD 4120 139 Tingal Rd, Wynnum QLD 4178 Ross Court Centre, 197/207 Bloomfield St, Cleveland QLD 4163
Learner Driver Works Package
$6000
in total
The Learner Driver Works Package includes advice and practice for the PrepL Online Learning Course, 100 log-book hours of Manual Driving Lessons (including at least 10 night hours), a Practical Driving Test with a TMR Assessor, Test Package, a 5 Year Licence (upon passing the practical driving test) a Basic Maintenance Course, a Skid Pan Experience, and a 4x4 Experience.
Within 30 min Drive of Mackenzie