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Is the AA driving school any good?

username246000

0

12

All in the title. Give your experinces, I hope the experiences are good as I might go with them. :smile:

Reply 1

AJWB

3

I learnt with the AA and my instructor was fantastic. Might be luck of the draw what the instructor is like though!

They're not cheap compared to others, but they're very professional.

Reply 2

Stringer987

12

My instructor was great! very nice and friendly but wasnt worried to tell me if i was doing something wrong!

Reply 3

think1

18

I heard that they are really good but they are more expensive than some other driving schools. Just 2 or 3 pounds more but it does add up (apparently most people need 40 lessons before they can pass). At least you know that they are reputable though.

Reply 4

Ren La La

8

My instructor was brilliant! I'd really reccomend going with the AA, they're really professional and I think that makes a big difference in driving instructors.

Reply 5

InArduisFouette

21

the usual caveats apply to chain schools, although IIRC AA don't use any/many red badgers ...

Reply 6

Walter Ego

12

zippyRN

red badgers ...

PINK

Reply 7

Charlski

14

The best instructor in my area (Herefordshire) was an independent who actually was the retired chief inspector of police in the area and was heavily involved in police driving instruction. I and many of my friends had him and passed first time, all with a LOT less lessons than those who went with AA, BSM etc. The AA is terrible locally. The best thing is to ask around your friends who have passed and find out who they were taught by, not just go with a company because it's a national name.

Reply 8

dobbs

17

As others have said it may differ on area, and of course differ per instructor, BUT yes I went with the AA a couple of years back and am glad I did - I wanted to go with a big chain just because if I had a problem with the instructor I could complain to their boss, rather than them BEING the boss!!

But I didn't need to complain fortunately, yes it's a tad more expensive but he was very professional and the car was fantastic (very new ford focus, was clearly looked after)...not some stupid little Corsa that I see some people learning in.

Also, I would recommend going for 2hr lessons. You may think that this is costly but especially in the earlier stages of learning your instructor will drive you to a more quiet area which may take 10mins or so up. In a 1hr session that's 10mins to place, 40mins learning, and 10mins to drive back.

If you have a 2hr session thats 10mins to place, 1hr40mins learning, and 10mins to drive back. So double the cost yes, but you get more than twice the actual practical time learning. And when you start getting better in 2hrs you can go for miles (and the time flies by!!).

So yes, AA was good, and 2hr sessions were a great idea.

Reply 9

FXX

19

My AA instructor was excellent and I still recommend him to everyone who wants to start learning to drive. Yes, it was £23 an hour but it was brilliant experience.

Reply 10

DDDenniZZZ

Good the AA, I passed first time, although it is luck of the draw, the nicest thing about them is that they regularly change their cars, I ended up taking mine in a week old focus.

Reply 11

AJWB

3

dobbs

As others have said it may differ on area, and of course differ per instructor, BUT yes I went with the AA a couple of years back and am glad I did - I wanted to go with a big chain just because if I had a problem with the instructor I could complain to their boss, rather than them BEING the boss!!

But I didn't need to complain fortunately, yes it's a tad more expensive but he was very professional and the car was fantastic (very new ford focus, was clearly looked after)...not some stupid little Corsa that I see some people learning in.

Also, I would recommend going for 2hr lessons. You may think that this is costly but especially in the earlier stages of learning your instructor will drive you to a more quiet area which may take 10mins or so up. In a 1hr session that's 10mins to place, 40mins learning, and 10mins to drive back.

If you have a 2hr session thats 10mins to place, 1hr40mins learning, and 10mins to drive back. So double the cost yes, but you get more than twice the actual practical time learning. And when you start getting better in 2hrs you can go for miles (and the time flies by!!).

So yes, AA was good, and 2hr sessions were a great idea.

You've brought up a couple of points I should have mentioned.

One thing that really swung it for me was learning in a shiny new Focus. This might not seem important to some, but for me the last thing I wanted was to learn in a tiny little car so I would be stuck when I passed and needed to drive a bigger car. As a bit of a car nut I also wanted something I enjoyed driving in lessons - otherwise I'd get bored. No, it's not a Porsche, but compared to Corsas etc the Focus is a nice drive.

I agree that two hour lessons are a must. They were quite tiring, but they were highly beneficial. In the earlier lessons I progressed considerably every lesson as I had time to be taught something, and practise it until I was confident. Later on I was covering quite a lot of miles in the two hours - in one lesson I drove twenty miles to the next big town just for the experience of driving somewhere a bit busier. Very worthwhile.

Oh, and I passed first time with one minor fault (annoying).

Reply 12

BackDoorEntry

My AA instructor is FANTASTIC. I think AA are very good value for moneh

Reply 13

dobbs

17

AJWB

Oh, and I passed first time with one minor fault (annoying).

Ditto, except 2 minor faults :smile:

But yes I agree with you completely - the two hour thing makes such a difference and I keep telling people this but they never seem to take my advice :rolleyes:

Reply 14

Walter Ego

12

I did two hours, much better. One pick up, briefing, and drive to; then one drop off and debrief in two hours, instead of one for each hour singly. I found it made for a much less rushed and stressful learning experience.

Reply 15

NeedToPass

6

I recently changed to AA and tbh I do not see why i didnt go with them in the first place!

Its £27 p/h in my area but its £27 p/h well spent and as everyone else has mentioned 2hr lessons are way better. I actually feel a lot more confident about my driving test now that I am with the AA

Reply 16

Lilyful

I went with the AA and my instructor was fab. If anyone in the Cambridgeshire area is looking for an instructor, PM me and I'll recommend him to you. Easy on the eyes, too...Dave Grohl lookalike ^^

Reply 17

z_ali

Lilyful

I went with the AA and my instructor was fab. If anyone in the Cambridgeshire area is looking for an instructor, PM me and I'll recommend him to you. Easy on the eyes, too...Dave Grohl lookalike ^^