How to choose a
driving school?
Choosing the right instructor
Choosing the right driving instructor can be difficult, however, it is something that should be taken into
account when choose a driving school. Your instructor should put you at your ease, be patient and be able to
clearly explain things.
Getting on well and having a good rapport with your instructor not only makes your lessons more enjoyable,
you will often progress more quickly too. This also saves you money! So the cheapest lessons may not always
offer the best value in the run.
Give the school a ring and speak to the instructor, with most schools, if you have a preference you will be able
to choose either a male or female instructor.
Most instructors will help to put you at your ease but if you are nervous about driving, then taking time to find
the right instructor is even more important. A good instructor will help to build your confidence and ability.
Your lessons
It’s important to check that the school can provide :-
ü lessons that are tailored to the way you learn
ü can you book lessons that fit in with your schedule
ü pick up and drop off from convenient locations
ü the instructor should be up to date on the latest test routes and do they incorporate these into lessons
ü lessons routes should vary to give you experience of different situations eg town centre driving, rural
routes, roundabouts etc
ü find out if the lessons will be shared
ü can you book longer lessons?
Manual or Automatic
Some students find learning to drive harder than others, if you are especially struggling with the gears or are
very nervous there is another option, an automatic car.
An automatic car allows you to learn to drive without the stress of gears, which makes for a much less stressful
experience. You don’t have to worry about stalling you can concentrate on driving. This often means that
students learning in automatic cars pass their tests quicker.
Passing your test in an automatic car means that you can only drive automatic cars, but there are now many
more automatic cars available.
If you think this may be for you then check if your preferred driving school has an automatic car.
Theory Test
Find out if the driving school provide help or resources to help you with your theory test. Most reputable
schools will provide you with access to online resources to help you practice your theory test.
Your instructor should also be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Pricing
When looking for a driving school pricing can be an important factor especially with lots of schools offering
what appear to be some great deals. Quite often they will offer a number of block booked lessons at a
substantial reduction.
Whilst these deals may seem attractive, it’s not just about price and the driving school will have to recoup this
offer somehow, so remember to check how much lessons will be after the offer. Whilst offers are tempting
they may not offer value for money in the long term.
Some schools offer a money back guarantee, this shows confidence in their ability and the level of service they
provide. It also allows you to try the school and find out if you get on well with the instructor and enjoy the
lessons.
Reviews & Test Passes
Always take a look at the reviews an test passes if there are any on the driving schools website. Regular pass
updates shows they are an active and busy school.
Reviews on the website may have been carefully selected and not represent the whole picture, so also take a
look at reviews on external sites such as Google, Facebook and Yell.
Speak to friends and family who have recently learnt to drive and ask if they would recommend their
instructor and why.
Checklist
ü Ask friends and family who have recently learnt to drive for recommendations
ü Research the school, read the reviews and recent passes, remember to read the ones on external sites too
ü If you have a preference can the driving school offer you a choice of either male or female instructors
ü Does the school have a money back guarantee?
ü Ring the school and ask questions, are they helpful?
ü Can the lessons be booked at times convenient to you?
ü Are lessons adapted to the way you learn
Your Choice
Good luck with your driving lessons, we hope you find the right instructor and school for you.
Learning to drive and passing your driving test is something that will benefit you for the rest of your life and
may even provide a career for you!
https://www.geoffcapesdriving.co.uk