Choosing a driving instructor involves putting yourself in the hands in a complete stranger and trusting them to not let you crash their vehicle into any oncoming traffic, trees or walls, whilst paying them for the privilege! It’s a daunting prospect whether you’re 17 or 47, but finding the right instructor can make all the difference.
The driving schools Croydon and other locations across the UK have offer a wide range of courses, from complete novices to advanced training, and there is definitely an instructor out there for everybody. Finding them doesn’t have to be a trial but you need to ensure they have certain things in place.
Driving Qualifications and Training
Driving instructors must be registered with the Driving Standards Agency to be allowed to give lessons.
On occasion you may find potential driving instructors, known with PDIs, who have been issued a pink permit. This means they are not yet fully qualified but they are allowed to work with a franchised driving school and teach learner drivers. The driving school should make it clear that your instructor is a trainee so you can decide whether you want to practice with them. It’s also a great time to ask for a discount!
PDIs have to carry out three qualifying examinations to become fully licensed and they’ll then receive their green badge, which should be displayed in their vehicle’s window at all times. Self-employed instructors or those running small driving schools should be able to show you their green badge.
Continued Professional Development
Licensed driving instructors are regularly checked throughout their service through check tests, which take place every few years. Performance in these tests will determine how often an instructor needs to be tested in the future. Grade 4 or above is considered a pass and prospective driving instructors should tell you whether they have a Grade 4-6 so you can decide whether you want to learn with them.
Reputation
Whether you’re looking for driving lessons in Croydon or Coventry, you’ll have seen driving schools waxing lyrical about their pass rates. Individual instructors may provide you with their pass rate or even their first-time pass rate as an indicator of the quality of their teaching, but realistically you need more than this. Look into their reputation, ask for recommendations from friends and always do a bit of online research. Companies such as Direct Drive Online and other reputable schools will be more than happy to answer your questions, no matter how many you ask!
Things to Avoid
There are many incentives and tricks that driving schools use to entice more drivers in. It could be they’ve invested in a flashy car to tempt you to choose them. Perhaps they cut your lesson time by allowing other learners to sit in on your lesson, describing it as another ‘learning experience’. These are things that should be avoided if at all possible and instructors who practice these methods may not be the best choice.
You should never choose a driving instructor on price alone and although discounts can look appealing, you need to see if there’s a reason for such a low price. The cheapest driving school may not always be the best option but equally they shouldn’t automatically be discounted.
For this reason it’s also wise to hold off on block bookings until you’re sure you can work with your chosen instructor. Pay for a few individual sessions first and you’ll be able to tell if the instructor is right for you. You want to be sure they’re prompt, you get your full lesson time and the instructor makes you feel comfortable and confident in the driving seat.
Your instructor should avoid carrying out any personal errands during your lesson and should be progressing your skills each lesson. Once you feel confident they’re the one for you then it’s time to grab the discounts that come with bulk booking.
