The Student Room Group
Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>
Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>
Competition - post a photo you've taken of nature >>

How to find good driving instructors

So I'm looking for a driving instructor in south West London and I've found quite a few online but I have no idea how good they are. Any tips? Thanks xx
Original post by james_arthur_1
So I'm looking for a driving instructor in south West London and I've found quite a few online but I have no idea how good they are. Any tips? Thanks xx

Ask people for their own recommendations :smile: My instructor gets all her teaching from word of mouth, and she's amazing, and I know a lot of my friends have got instructors through this method too and are happy. Online is unpredictable!
Original post by Lemur14
Ask people for their own recommendations :smile: My instructor gets all her teaching from word of mouth, and she's amazing, and I know a lot of my friends have got instructors through this method too and are happy. Online is unpredictable!


Yeah that's what I was thinking. But I'm the oldest one out of my mates and only one of them has started driving but he lives far from me and his instructor said they don't do lessons in my area :frown:
RED driving school will give you a good/incredible instructor first time round. personally I was skeptical over paying in advance, it was £800 for 30 hours, each lesson being 2 hours long. however, he was quite frankly the most incredible instructor I have ever had and he is literally the only reason I passed. I have four other friends who had used this company and they all say the exact same thing.
Original post by remiaitman
RED driving school will give you a good/incredible instructor first time round. personally I was skeptical over paying in advance, it was £800 for 30 hours, each lesson being 2 hours long. however, he was quite frankly the most incredible instructor I have ever had and he is literally the only reason I passed. I have four other friends who had used this company and they all say the exact same thing.


Ooh I'll take a look. Thanks xx
Original post by james_arthur_1
Yeah that's what I was thinking. But I'm the oldest one out of my mates and only one of them has started driving but he lives far from me and his instructor said they don't do lessons in my area :frown:

Ahh that would be a problem :frown: My instructor taught my mum so that's where I got her from but I know that's not usual (my mum only learnt like 10 years ago!)
Moved to Learning to drive. :smile:
What postcode area are you in? I may be able to recommend someone.
Reply 8
Avatar for Kevin70
Kevin70
15
Everyone please heed very carefully regarding driving instructors:
From my experience (I had 6 different driving instructors) only one out of ten may be useful and help you pass the test.
The main objective of all driving schools is Making Money which means the more lessons you take the more money they make, therefore, if you need 20 lessons to learn all the aspects of driving they will try to extend it to 40 and beyond. Instructors do not teach you everything quickly, they take their time and waste your time by explaining driving skills verbally when the car is securely parked. Do not allow your instructor to waste your time in this way. Ask him to provide you with copies of instructions so that you can study them at home and save time and money. Driving instructors are also very very slow when it comes to teaching you the driving skills. Tell them that today you want just to focus on bay parking and parallel parking and nothing else, or ask him that today you only want to do roundabouts. Do not allow them to waste your time by making you go straight and left and right all the time. Ask them to take you only on the test routes so that you can prepare for your test properly. Driving instructors are very unpunctual people, if they cancel and postpone your lessons a couple of times do not wait and immediately change them. Do not book bulk lessons to start with, first take one single pay-as-you-go lesson and if you are happy with your instructor book bulk lessons.
Driving is a good business in UK and both your instructor and test centre profit from your failings. £80 for the car and £63 for the booking which means £143 everytime you fail!!!! Be very careful and good luck.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Kevin70
Everyone please heed very carefully regarding driving instructors:
From my experience (I had 6 different driving instructors)....


As a matter of interest Kevin, how much research did you do before you chose each instructor? Did you ever find out what their grade and standards check mark was?
Original post by Kevin70
Everyone please heed very carefully regarding driving instructors:
From my experience (I had 6 different driving instructors) only one out of ten may be useful and help you pass the test.
The main objective of all driving schools is Making Money which means the more lessons you take the more money they make, therefore, if you need 20 lessons to learn all the aspects of driving they will try to extend it to 40 and beyond. Instructors do not teach you everything quickly, they take their time and waste your time by explaining driving skills verbally when the car is securely parked. Do not allow your instructor to waste your time in this way. Ask him to provide you with copies of instructions so that you can study them at home and save time and money. Driving instructors are also very very slow when it comes to teaching you the driving skills. Tell them that today you want just to focus on bay parking and parallel parking and nothing else, or ask him that today you only want to do roundabouts. Do not allow them to waste your time by making you go straight and left and right all the time. Ask them to take you only on the test routes so that you can prepare for your test properly. Driving instructors are very unpunctual people, if they cancel and postpone your lessons a couple of times do not wait and immediately change them. Do not book bulk lessons to start with, first take one single pay-as-you-go lesson and if you are happy with your instructor book bulk lessons.
Driving is a good business in UK and both your instructor and test centre profit from your failings. £80 for the car and £63 for the booking which means £143 everytime you fail!!!! Be very careful and good luck.


Would you say it's a good idea to book your test before starting lessons?
I did research on internet and checked the reviews on different driving schools. The reviews and ads do not reflect the truth as I found out. It is best to check with friends, relatives to find out which school is more reliable. It is important to take one single lesson as pay-as-you-go in order to assess your instructor and see if you can get along with him. Many driving instructors have tempers which may put you off.
Yes, book your test first but make sure you leave at least two months gap. First two weeks, you will need 10 hours of driving per week; after that 6 hours per week should be enough and one week before your test take lessons everyday. Focus a lot on roundabouts and joining the traffic on motorways. Lane discipline and mirror and correct signalling are essential. Gear, steering and clutch you will master soon. Be careful with Keep Clears, box junctions and cycle lanes. Practice reversing a lot without hitting or touching the curb. Do not be too affraid of bay and parallel parkings as you can master them. Use Youtube clips to prepare mentally. Roundabouts are the main problems and sometimes forgetting to indicate when changing lanes. Driving examiners are very strict and pounce on your slightest errors. It is a multi million business and the more you fail the more money they make. Driving examiners are paid £20-£25 per hour but your practical test costs £63 which means roughly the government makes £40 per test. During the test keep cool and do not panic, socialise with your examiner a bit to destress. Do not rush any routine, concentrate very hard. During independent driving double check with your examiner about the directions. Second exit at roundabout means straight but you may get confused therefore double check with your examiner. Watch your speed, inside the city 20 or 30 miles, on motorways 40 or 50 miles, look at the speed signs. I wish everyone good luck with their driving test.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by Kevin70
I did research on internet and checked the reviewson different driving schools.
The reviews and ads do not reflect the truth as I found out....


I never suggested that reviews reflect the truth. I was curious as to whether you checked the DVSA Standards check grades and marks of instructors. Most people are unaware that these statistics are available or even exist, so it's quite probable that you didn't know about them or check them. I'm just trying to find out whether you knew about them and checked them.
Original post by DrivingTestPro
I never suggested that reviews reflect the truth. I was curious as to whether you checked the DVSA Standards check grades and marks of instructors. Most people are unaware that these statistics are available or even exist, so it's quite probable that you didn't know about them or check them. I'm just trying to find out whether you knew about them and checked them.


How do you check these?
http://finddrivinginstructor.direct.gov.uk/DSAFindNearestWebApp/findNearest.form

Only about 30% of instructors are grade A and only about 1% get 95% or better marks on their check test. If there are no instructors in your area who are grade A try another local postcode until you find one.

Alternatively just let me know your postcade area e.g.sw10 and as I said before I may be able to help, although it may take a day or so before I can get back to you.
I did research on internet and checked the reviews on different driving schools. The reviews and ads do not reflect the truth as I found out. It is best to check with friends, relatives to find out which school is more reliable. It is important to take one single lesson as pay-as-you-go in order to assess your instructor and see if you can get along with him. Many driving instructors have tempers which may put you off.
Yes, book your test first but make sure you leave at least two months gap. First two weeks, you will need 10 hours of driving per week; after that 6 hours per week should be enough and one week before your test take lessons everyday. Focus a lot on roundabouts and joining the traffic on motorways. Lane discipline and mirror and correct signalling are essential. Gear, steering and clutch you will master soon. Be careful with Keep Clears, box junctions and cycle lanes. Practice reversing a lot without hitting or touching the curb. Do not be too affraid of bay and parallel parkings as you can master them. Use Youtube clips to prepare mentally. Roundabouts are the main problems and sometimes forgetting to indicate when changing lanes. Driving examiners are very strict and pounce on your slightest errors. It is a multi million business and the more you fail the more money they make. Driving examiners are paid £20-£25 per hour but your practical test costs £63 which means roughly the government makes £40 per test. During the test keep cool and do not panic, socialise with your examiner a bit to destress. Do not rush any routine, concentrate very hard. During independent driving double check with your examiner about the directions. Second exit at roundabout means straight but you may get confused therefore double check with your examiner. Watch your speed, inside the city 20 or 30 miles, on motorways 40 or 50 miles, look at the speed signs. I wish everyone good luck with their driving test.

Yes, I am aware.
I recommend putting a lot of research into finding good DIs that are known to be good AND have amazing personalities (this is KEY). Take your time as well.

My first DI was a private one, and a friend of my dad’s, however regardless of how close both of them were, he was short-tempered and impatient during my driving so I changed. Second one (current) works for a driving school; seemed like a nice guy at first but had this cold feeling that it was just an act as he would turn pretty nasty when it came to money. And I realised that this one is basically trying to get as much money out of me as possible, plus the lessons are so expensive. Thinking of changing again, hopefully to a female instructor this time, and I kinda regret rushing it & not doing my research properly.
Original post by jiajane
I recommend putting a lot of research into finding good DIs that are known to be good AND have amazing personalities (this is KEY). Take your time as well.

My first DI was a private one, and a friend of my dad’s, however regardless of how close both of them were, he was short-tempered and impatient during my driving so I changed. Second one (current) works for a driving school; seemed like a nice guy at first but had this cold feeling that it was just an act as he would turn pretty nasty when it came to money. And I realised that this one is basically trying to get as much money out of me as possible, plus the lessons are so expensive. Thinking of changing again, hopefully to a female instructor this time, and I kinda regret rushing it & not doing my research properly.

this is my exact experience. first one I found myself and it took me a week to realise he was a creep and shouldn't have been slapping my leg. he also compared me to his other drivers and got so angry easily. he did other things but I will bore you by mentioning them. ok, onto the next one. the next one was lovely at first, got along like a house on fire but when we got onto the main road I realised he had a short fuse. He would be firm in a kind of rude way and I did not like it. It got to the point where when we switched to drive, I would feel physically sick and nervous. My leg would be even shivering in some lessons as I was fearful of making a mistake. Onto my third and hopefully FINAL instructor who is a female and my boyfriend suggested this.
(edited 4 years ago)

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you