16/04/2025
LEARNING TO DRIVE ?
If you/your child/partner etc is currently or soon to start learning to drive, myself and my fellow instructors have put together some notes about what to consider when choosing an instructor and booking a test...
⭐️Make sure your instructor shows a green/pink badge in the car window (this allows them to charge for their lessons)
⭐️The instructor should always check your licence and eyesight on your first lesson before you start driving (this is a legal requirement not only to confirm the students age and ability to see, but also to allow the instructor to confirm this person is legally allowed to drive)
⭐️No instructor should be on their phone or any other devices whilst you are driving or even with the engine running (it is not only illegal for the driver, but the instructor aswell)
⭐️No instructor should constantly shout at you, be verbally or physically aggressive or inappropriate (this is not standard practice, this should not be happening)
⭐️You should always be progressing on your lessons (too many times we hear about other instructors keeping students in car parks, going round the same roads and not moving forward)
⭐️You should always get feedback and corrections on the go and not just at the end of the lesson (its not just you that cant remember which turn it was that was wrong for whatever reason, you should be told at the time)
⭐️Instructors prices do vary but dont be fooled when it comes to your test (only ever book through the gov.uk website and it currently costs £62. Then on your test day you should be paying the usual hourly rate for the use of the instructors car and examiners time, this is already included in our insurance and does not cost a premium for you to do your test)
⭐️There are instructors out there who block the system to sell tests on for £250+ and they will let anyone go for their test whether theyre ready or not (this holds everyone who is ready and struggling to get a test back)
⭐️It is the instructors responsibility to ensure their car is in good condition, taxed, insured and mot'd (If it isnt, tests wont go ahead and they should be paying for a retest for you, not making you pay when it wasnt your responsibility)
⭐️When looking for a "reasonably priced instructor" remember we have to pay not only for the fuel but the upkeep of the vehicle as well, including services, fixtures and repairs, mot's, tyres, keeping the car clean, insurance, tax etc (your also paying for a quality instructor, who may have paid more for extra cpd training courses to give you better tuition)
⭐️DVSA's research tells us that (on average) it now takes people 45 hours of driving lessons with an instructor and 22 hours of private practice to pass, sadly not the 4 hours it took previous generations at £2.50 per hour (Learning to pass may cost between £1000 - £2000, is that an amount your prepared to invest?)
⭐️The average rate for lessons is now between £38-£48 per hour, depending on company, manual/auto etc (you may find them cheaper but do always ask yourself why)
⭐️If your looking for a quality instructor but all the "decent ones" have waiting lists, get on one or two (not all instructors use waiting lists but dont be put off by having to wait for a good instructor)
⭐️Trust your intuition, if something doesnt seem or feel right, question it (do your homework, ask for others experiences, if you dont feel comfortable, dont continue)
Just remember this is your safety in question...ask the questions, check the badge, dont be afraid to question something that doesnt seem right
