Driving lessons, is AA good value, what about intensive?

CrispyUK

I booked 4 hours of AA lessons at a promo rate while I was down at Uni (just to keep a bit of practice in between lessons at home over the summer and an early October test). Didn't like the instructor at all, he smoked in the car without asking me (although I think this would now be illegal?) and had me stop off somewhere so he could go for a wee, etc. Just generally didn't feel comfortable learning with him, especially with the Uni city being a much more challenging environment to drive in than my town at home!

Did majority of my lessons with a guy on recommendation, worked for a local/independent school in the area, £19/hr and he was excellent, very patient and made me feel relaxed during the lessons.

Agree about intensive lessons possibly being too tiring, I'd feel spent after a 2hr lesson and my ankle would usually ache - it's all very intensive when learning as you're constantly practising manoeuvres, etc. rather than just cruising along.

The_AA_Company_Representative

Hi there - I work for the AA and have just read your post. This certainly doesn't sound typical and I am really sorry that your experience has left you with a poor impression of the instructor. I gather this may have been some time ago but all feedback is welcome and if you wish, please feel free to contact our driving school team on 0800 60 70 80. We may be able to use your feedback to improve our services!

hstudent

The only advantage of the AA is the car's less than 9 months old (they say 6 months but there's frequently delays in replacing them.)

AA lessons cost more than private instructors and most AA instructors aren't concerned about getting recommendations, as the AA branding sends plenty of business their way. If a two hour lesson is set to start at 9am, then with the AA you're lucky if it runs from 9:03-10:57. Most private instuctors will give you the full 2 hours, maybe even 2 hours 5 minutes as they don't want to get a reputation of short changing as that'll affect their business.

In reply to the last post the above happened to me and when I complained to the AA they said it a problem that they've passed on to the franchisee to sort out and that they take no responsibility for the what happens during driving lessons.

Quimby

hstudent wrote: »

The only advantage of the AA is the car's less than 9 months old (they say 6 months but there's frequently delays in replacing them.)

AA lessons cost more than private instructors and most AA instructors aren't concerned about getting recommendations, as the AA branding sends plenty of business their way. If a two hour lesson is set to start at 9am, then with the AA you're lucky if it runs from 9:03-10:57. Most private instuctors will give you the full 2 hours, maybe even 2 hours 5 minutes as they don't want to get a reputation of short changing as that'll affect their business.

In reply to the last post the above happened to me and when I complained to the AA they said it a problem that they've passed on to the franchisee to sort out and that they take no responsibility for the what happens during driving lessons.

Hi, I'm an instructor with the AA, and just want to clarify a couple of things

Just about all instructors are self employed - although I have the car & branding etc. I don't work for the AA, I work for myself. Therefore I am extremely interested in doing everything I can to develop a good reputation - I have been known to extend a 2 hour lesson by 30 minutes if a pupil really needs it and I have the time.

It should be pointed out on the first lesson that the AA has acted as an introductory agent, and the contract for providing tuition is between the pupil & the instructor.

I am definitely interested in getting recommendations, as happy customers who tell their friends & family about me are the best form of advertising. The AA don't necessarily pass loads of business our way - and we have to pay an extra fee if someone is sent to us from head office. Therefore recommendations are much preferred.

The car is brand new - I have always had it replaced after 6 months, although in Northern Ireland they are replaced every 9 months.

And finally, I charge a rate that is slightly higher than the average for the area, but can justify that by offering an absolute quality service, offering lessons at times to suit the customer, i.e. evenings & weekends. I organise my diary leaving plenty of travelling time between lessons, so I have never been late.

My advice? Just because you may have heard some good or bad things about any driving school, that should not prejudice your choice. The individual instructor is the important thing - ask him or her lots of questions, and if they have been recommended to you, so much the better

f1re_cr4cker

just to update- i passed my test first time in an automatic recently (not with the aa though). My instructor is a grade 5 and I had 45 hours of lessons with no practice outside. I started my lessons the 9th February 2009 and passed 9th April 2009! So quite intensive- about 4-6hours a week, i always tried to have 2hour lessons as well.

Liz3yy

I finally passed at the fourth attempt 3 weeks ago. I'm 30 and first started taking lessons in late 2005.

I've been through 5 instructors plus also tried an intensive course last year but I sadly didn't get on the with guy running the course and almost gave up learning for good after he shouted at me and destroyed any shred of confidence I had left.

My boyfriend convinced me to try a local guy who isnt part of any driving school. He was calm, quiet and so laid back. We got on like a house on fire and I felt more comfortable with him than any other instructor I'd tried before.

As far as lessons go I admit I struggled with just one lesson a week, my brain couldnt take it all in and was forgetting things as soon as I got back home.

I finally cracked it when I bought a car, got it on the road and practised in it every single day between official lessons. My boyfriend pushed me to do everything including long drives at the weekend for shopping and it paid off. My confidence shot up and the final test I took was a breeze.

I love driving now and feel very fortunate to finally have earned my license. It took me so long and cost me so much money that I'm determined to be careful on the roads.

hstudent

Quimby wrote: »

I have been known to extend a 2 hour lesson by 30 minutes if a pupil really needs it and I have the time.

I think you must be more generous than 99.9% of all driving instructors if you did that.

It should be pointed out on the first lesson that the AA has acted as an introductory agent, and the contract for providing tuition is between the pupil & the instructor.

Wasn't pointed out to me but was in the small print in the AA booklet. However, it also says that the AA will sort out any disputes with the learner and an AA franchised instructor.

The car is brand new - I have always had it replaced after 6 months, although in Northern Ireland they are replaced every 9 months.

I drove an AA car almost 9 months old for driving lessons in England. This was blamed on a problem with getting new Ford Focus' from Ford.

And finally, I charge a rate that is slightly higher than the average for the area, but can justify that by offering an absolute quality service, offering lessons at times to suit the customer, i.e. evenings & weekends. I organise my diary leaving plenty of travelling time between lessons, so I have never been late.

Unless they've changed it fairly recently The AA set prices for all instructors based on the learner's postcode, so it means that someone who lives just as close to the instructor and is driving on the same test routes but has a different postcode could pay £1-£2 more or less than someone else.