Choosing a Driving Instructor
My friend recommended my driving instructor....
....if I had a £1 for every pupil that uttered those words - I'd be rich! OK, I'd be better off financially at least! But it explains why so many pupils are wasting money on lessons....
A pupil will pay for 20 lessons on someone's recommendation!
Don't get me wrong - recommendations are a good thing. They're what the industry relies on. I mean, if a friend says their driving instructor was nice - you're probably going to ring the number they've given you. The problem is - it doesn't mean the lessons are good!
I've heard many reasons why pupils didn't stay with a driving instructor....
Here are the most common reasons.....
All I did was drive around - I didn't really learn anything
They shouted at me when I made a mistake but didn't help me to avoid it
They didn't teach me any manoeuvres for 20 (or more) lessons
They told me what to do but didn't explain why I had to it
I had to drop the previous pupil off as part of my lesson
They could only fit me in every other week
Let's stop there before you decide to buy a bike instead!
Know what you want from your lessons!
You want to learn to drive right? Well that's a start! But what date do you want to pass by? Would you like the instructor to give you lots of feedback? Do you prefer quiet when you're concentrating? Do you like being thrown in at the deep end?
Get the picture? Decide what you want - before you pay for your lessons....
Ask the driving instructor the right questions....
Here's a few questions you should ask before you book your lessons. They'll help you make a better choice and save you money. A good driving instructor should happily answer them:
Are you fully qualified?
Amazingly, I've never heard a pupil ask this question! Many companies employ trainee instructors because they earn more money from them.Are your lessons on a 1 to 1 basis only?
Do you really want to take the previous pupil back to their home as part of your lesson?Will you be able to give me a lesson every week?
Some pupils told me their previous instructor could only fit them in for 1 hour every two weeks - that's a long time to test standard!How long will my lessons last?
Some of my pupils told me their instructor would include travelling over to pick them up as part of the lesson!Can I take my test by a certain date?
Remember - this depends on the amount of work you're prepared to put in. Be realistic! The DSA says the average number of lessons to test standard is 40 + 20 hours of practice. However, it does mean your instructor has a target to work to - no aimless driving around!How well do you know the test area?
If an instructor doesn't know the test area - they won't know the test routes. Also, they probably won't know the best place to practice manoeuvres etc.Some pupils like to ask instructors for their pass rate. Though it's a fairly relevant question. In my opinion, it's too easy to make a rate up:
"I have a 90% pass rate" could mean - "I have a 90% pass rate for the last 3 months".
Remember - it's your money, it's your choice......
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