Learning to Drive

Steve-182

Does anyone have any thoughts on the companies which give the best value with regards to driving lessons?

I'll be learning to drive within the next couple of weeks and have received my provisional license, so I'm all set to go. Are the "name" companies like AA better value all round than independents?? (I live in the Sutton, Surrey area). Any advice from anyone who has just completed their test? Are there savings to be made on certain insurance companies too?

Please help !

khizman

it depends ask friends etc etc
my instructor was expensive but i chose him after 10-12 ppl reccomended him
he charged 18 quid an hour, he now charges 20 an hour
but you get what you pay for, he never sat at the side of the road babbling, was constantly on the road.

sleepy

I'd definately recomend asking friends for recomendations. I chose mine after two of my friends had passed with him and he was great. Try to make sure they are friendly, but good. Personally I would lean towards independants - thats what my guy was (interesting but not very relevant fact, he used to be in the army). I had a friend who learnt with BSM and she had to change instructors because the first one yelled at her and made her cry every week.

Katgoddess

The first time I learnt, about 5 years ago, I went with BSM thinking they would be good. I got given a trainee driving instuctor, but wasn't told this at the time. Me being young and gullible went along with this, and failed 3 times. Gave up after a year.

This time around I went with an AA instructor who was a family friend, and passed first time with him around 3 weeks ago. :beer: :j :T

My AA DI had a very good pass rate. This was because he wouldn't let any of his students take the test until he was sure they would pass.

Because he was a family friend I got a really good discount, but he gives smaller discounts for direct referrals because he doesn't have to buy their custom from the AA. If you want to go with the AA and don't know anyone who can refer you, the instructors mobile numbers are normally on the side of the car somewhere, so go hunting!

The "buying the custom" is probably why the AA and BSM are more expensive.

If you want savings on your insurance, do the Pass Plus. Up to 30% off! But not all insurance companies do this. The cheapest way is to get put on your parents insurance. (I'm assuming you are young enough )

This is a good experience of different sorts of driving conditions. Motorway driving, country lanes, town driving, all weather. Its not a test, just 6 hours more lessons.

You will need to do the theory as well. I just brought the DSA book (you can get these cheap on amazon market place and Ebay) you don't need to buy the fancy software unless you are seriously having problems learning everything. The Hazard Perception is much harder. I went in blind without practicing anything and scrapped a pass. But I passed!

If you want to read more about my driving you can look at my blog. The url is in my profile.

Minimods

I dont think trying to find the cheapest hourly rate is the best idea to get the cheapest overall.

I would get a good instructor with a high pass rate and it will work out better in the end because you will have less lessons and less fails. The only problem is finding the best instructor. I got through a few when i was learning. Take up any introductory offers but if you dont like the bloke or you arent getting anywhere then move on! Its not worth wasting money with these people and trust me there are plenty of time wasters out there.

Katgoddess

Minimods wrote:

I dont think trying to find the cheapest hourly rate is the best idea to get the cheapest overall.

I would get a good instructor with a high pass rate and it will work out better in the end because you will have less lessons and less fails. The only problem is finding the best instructor. I got through a few when i was learning. Take up any introductory offers but if you dont like the bloke or you arent getting anywhere then move on! Its not worth wasting money with these people and trust me there are plenty of time wasters out there.

Thats very true. I spent 6 months learning with a great instructor and passed first time wtih him.

five years ago I spend a year learning and still failed 3 times.

A good instructor is worth the extra expense in the long run.

askimoz

Minimods wrote:

I dont think trying to find the cheapest hourly rate is the best idea to get the cheapest overall.

I would get a good instructor with a high pass rate and it will work out better in the end because you will have less lessons and less fails. The only problem is finding the best instructor. I got through a few when i was learning. Take up any introductory offers but if you dont like the bloke or you arent getting anywhere then move on! Its not worth wasting money with these people and trust me there are plenty of time wasters out there.

Some of us instructors are actually women!

pavlovs_dog

bumping the old thread, saving starting a new one unnecessarily...

im looking to start driving lessons in about a month or two.

was just wondering if anyone could advise the most economical way of going about it, the pros and cons of private/big companies/ ball park figure of how many lessons it could take/ if there are advantages to intensive courses

you get the drift

ArsenalFC

Try www.learnerdriving.com (I negotiated 35 lessons for £500 for my gf)

Big companies doesn't necessarily give you the best instructors, nor does it meant cheaper companies or cheaper privates gives you the worse instructors. This will just depend if you get a decent instructor.

30 lessons is the average to pass I think. An intensive course could mean you can pass your test with 2 weeks. With this in my opinion, you dont have much time to absorb and reflect on what you have done.

My niece went with BSM for about 10 lessons and stopped because she felt she wasn't progressing at the speed she is capable of. If you get a decent instructor then it doesn't matter what company they are with. Hope you guys/gals find a good instructor and good luck with learning to drive, hope you dont live in London thought

pavlovs_dog

thank you for responding

i looked on the website, but they dont appear to have reached sunny wales yet!

am negotiating (or should that be haggling?!) with a number of private instructors at the mo, see if i can slash a bit off their advertised prices

jazzyjustlaw

ArsenalFC wrote:

Try www.learnerdriving.com (I negotiated 35 lessons for £500 for my gf)

Big companies doesn't necessarily give you the best instructors, nor does it meant cheaper companies or cheaper privates gives you the worse instructors. This will just depend if you get a decent instructor.

30 lessons is the average to pass I think. An intensive course could mean you can pass your test with 2 weeks. With this in my opinion, you dont have much time to absorb and reflect on what you have done.

My niece went with BSM for about 10 lessons and stopped because she felt she wasn't progressing at the speed she is capable of. If you get a decent instructor then it doesn't matter what company they are with. Hope you guys/gals find a good instructor and good luck with learning to drive, hope you dont live in London thought

You have made my day. I have four in my area and I had almost given up hope. I had 12 naf lessons with a brand company. And I should be able to book the company suggested and save money.