1. recommendation from a friend or relation who has used that instructor

2. instructor is fully qualified, approved by the DSA and DISPLAYS a green badge (see below)

3. what are their pass rates for this and previous years. Can they be proven?

4. average number of hours required for their pupils to pass the driving test

5. lesson price and discounts offered

· the cost of around 30-40 hours of professional tuition

· test fees for theory and practical test(s)

· elapsed time to pass the theory and practical test(s)

 Frequently Asked Questions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How much will it cost to learn to drive?

You will need to consider TIME and EXPENSE when planning to start driving lessons, namely:

 

 

Also you may not pass the theory or practical test first time. Be prepared for this and persevere

Most driving schools lesson prices are very similar and they may also offer a block-booking discount. Many will only offer this discount only on the first block of lessons, whereas we offer the discount on EVERY block booking you take.

 

How can I choose a good Driving Instructor?

When you send off for your provisional licence you should also investigate where to obtain your lessons.

Do not pick a driving instructor or school at random and certainly not solely on price.

Use the following criteria to help you make the correct selection of an appropriate instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who can teach me to drive?

The minimum requirements are that the person must be at least 21 years old and have had a FULL United Kingdom driving licence for THREE years.

For paid tuition, the person must be registered by the Driving Standards Agency.

The driving instructor MUST display their pink/green licence BY LAW on the front windscreen of the vehicle if you are paying for tuition. Green licences MUST display your instructors picture on it.  If the badge is not there, then the instructor may be fraudulently teaching you as they may not be qualified or registered by the DSA. 

Properly qualified instructors are teaching you a skill for life and  HOW TO DRIVE SAFELY.

 

What is the difference between a PINK and GREEN instructor licence?

            A GREEN licence is for a fully qualified and DSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI).

A PINK licence is used by trainee instructors or Potential Driving Instructors (PDI). They have not yet successfully completed the final DSA exam to become fully qualified instructors. The pass rate for this is around 30% . If you select  a pink licence holder for lessons, you should consider the fact that they may not be around for the 6-12 months it takes for you to pass  your driving test, as they themselves may fail their instructors tests and therefore can no longer instruct for monetary gain.

 

How do I get a Provisional Licence?

You can apply for your provisional licence up to three months before your 17th birthday. Complete form D1 from the Post Office and send it to the DVLA with your passport or birth certificate and a passport-sized photo as ID. You can also apply for your provisional licence online at www.direct.gov.uk

 

When should I book my lessons?

Think about booking your driving lessons well in advance of when you wish to start to learn, as popular driving instructors will already have lessons planned and arranged for several weeks ahead.

You can apply for your provisional licence up to three months before your 17th birthday and book your first lesson to be on your birthday.

 

How long will it take to learn to drive?

Everyone is different. One persons ability to learn can be totally different to another. 

Research by the Driving Standard Agency (DSA) shows that pupils will require to have on average around 45 hours of professional tuition in addition to any private driving practice to stand the best chance of passing the driving test.

 

How long is a driving lesson?

From experience 1.5 hours is the most sensible duration for lessons. It is the most beneficial for gaining practical driving experience without losing the pupils ability to concentrate.

Lesson durations of 1 and 2 hours are also available and will be considered where appropriate.

 

How often should I have a driving lesson?

Based on the 45 hours tuition time that the DSA reckons the average pupil requires, one 1.5 hour lesson per week may require around 30 weeks (nearly 8 months) to reach test standard. 

Consider the option of having more than one lesson per week to reduce this timeframe.  Two standard lessons per week will reduce the elapsed time to 15 weeks, whilst three standard lessons will reduce the elapsed time to 10 weeks.

Where multiple lessons per week are wanted, then it would be wise to book these sessions well in advance in order for the instructor to schedule them in with existing commitments

 

What are the different types of driving courses for learners that you offer?

Learner courses available are:  Intensive, Semi-Intensive or Weekly

Weekly courses are generally the norm, where one standard driving lesson per week is taken.

Semi-Intensive courses are available to all pupils. These courses reduce the timeframe to reach test       standard as the pupil will take two or more lessons each week. The more lessons taken each week, the quicker it will take to reach test standard. 

Intensive courses require a commitment from the pupil to undertake an agreed number of hours of tuition within a short timeframe. Generally one lesson per day (max. two per day) on several days each week with the aim of being competent to take the driving test within 2-6 weeks (presuming that you have a valid theory test certificate and that a suitable test slot is available).

Intensive courses are available to those pupils who were competent enough to take a driving test but failed it, for those pupils whose ability was at test standard but gave up, for pupil conversion from automatic to manual transmission licence, for international licence holders who need a British licence, or for those who have had their licence revoked and have to re-take the driving test. 

Intensive courses are not always the suitable choice for novice pupils.

 

What type of car do you use?

We use a diesel-engine Ford Fiesta that has a manual gearbox. It is a small sized car with a big-car feel and is fitted with dual-controls for added safety and air-conditioning for a comfortable driving environment.

 

Are lessons on a one-to-one basis?

All driving lessons are on a one-to-one basis. There is NO car sharing with other pupils. 

 

What  is the difference between intensive and crash courses?

In a Crash course you are expected to take all of the tuition in one week or at the most two. They require around 4-6 hours per day tuition for between 5 and 10 days, and each day of the course is the equivalent of the driving time from Manchester to Edinburgh.  You are expected to do this on several consecutive days!!  Some of these courses require car-sharing with 2 or 3 others.  At the end of the course you would then take a driving test.

After a normal 1.5 hour driving lesson most pupils will feel exhausted, due to the amount of concentration required to safely navigate traffic conditions on todays roads. Imagine how you would feel after three or four consecutive driving sessions (with a short break interval between) on a crash course day.  In June 2007 a local examiner terminated the driving test of a crash course pupil “in the interests of public safety”  because the pupil was considered to be dangerous.

 

Intensive courses are suited to those people who need to get their licence quickly for work reasons and are committed to undertake the driving hours to reach test standard in the required timeframe.  Intensive courses are no different to standard lessons -  they just take less elapsed time to complete

Intensive courses that we provide are generally one lesson per day on several days each week. The objective is to be competent to take the driving test within 2-6 weeks, depending on your previous driving experience. It also presumes that you have a valid theory test certificate and that a suitable test slot is available and booked before you start the course.