Driving lessons – finding a good instructor

WHEN it comes to learning to drive, one of the most important things to get right before anything else is choosing the right instructor for you.

It is important that you do your due diligence and assess your options as well as being clear on what you want.

Once you take the decision to learn to drive and you begin the search for a driving instructor you will soon discover that your options are plentiful.

If you live in a large city such as London or Birmingham then your options will be even greater.

For example, a simple search for ‘Birmingham driving lessons’ will reveal hundreds of options across the city – so how do you whittle down your shortlist and find the best instructor for you?

We have three top tips to help you make the right decision.

Decide what you want

You need to understand what you want from a driving instructor before you start your search.

Of course, the overall goal is to pass your test but there are many ways to go about it and the style of instruction, the expected duration, the car type and even the gender of the instructor could all be important factors for you.

Making some early decisions will help you. Consider whether you want to learn in an automatic or a manual car, whether you would prefer a male or female instructor and whether you have a target date in mind for passing your test.

You may also want to consider the possibility of extras such as Pass Plus which you will need to enquire about.

Speak to the instructor and arrange a trial lesson

There is absolutely nothing wrong with shopping around when it comes to choosing your driving instructor and you may want to think of it as a little bit like buying a car.

You wouldn’t buy a car without taking it for a test drive so why not book a trial lesson to see if things click.

Learning to drive can be a stressful experience and having an instructor who puts you at ease and explains things clearly can make the world of difference.

If you prefer the personal approach then ask to speak to the instructor on the telephone prior to the lesson (even if you are booking it online) and then make your final judgements during the lesson itself. Try to avoid signing up for a block booking deal until you have had this first lesson.

If the first lesson doesn’t feel right then perhaps try another instructor.

Don’t choose solely on cost

There is no getting away from the fact that learning to drive (and of course driving itself) is a costly affair. You may indeed be tempted to opt for the lowest cost instructors but this isn’t always the best approach.

The lower cost instructors are often the ones that are in less demand and often there is a reason for this. This doesn’t mean that lower cost driving instructors are not good but if an offer seems too good to be true then sometimes it is.

The other aspect to consider is that although an instructor may charge less per hour they may need more lessons to bring you up to the standard of being able to take (and pass) your test.

If your instructor is quoting prices that are a little higher then ask how long their average students take to pass and compare the answer with lower priced instructors.

Ultimately, when choosing an instructor you will need to use your gut instinct to some extent and an instructor that is right for one person might not be right for another. Often, it comes down to personality and feeling comfortable with the person sat next to you.

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