driving school or local instructor?

london.cidade

Passed my theory test last week. I already know how to drive but need to get used to the UK roads and wanna have some tips for driving test (automatic gear). I don't own a car. Therefore I guess 4-5 hours driving practice would be fine, I also need instructor's car for driving test.

Would you please recommend any company (AA, red etc?) with reasonable price or should I go for a local instructor? Many thanks

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

london.cidade wrote: »

Passed my theory test last week. I already know how to drive but need to get used to the UK roads and wanna have some tips for driving test (automatic gear). I don't own a car. Therefore I guess 4-5 hours driving practice would be fine, I also need instructor's car for driving test.

Would you please recommend any company (AA, red etc?) with reasonable price or should I go for a local instructor? Many thanks

If you've not driven in the UK, then you might be struggling to pass a test that quickly as these days there are some subtleties as to what they are looking for - much more than the basics of pointing a car in the right direction and making it stop and go at vaguely the right time. I've had problems trying to get a German person to cope with lanes on roundabouts for example.

Most "schools" are franchises, so there is not a lot of difference between a school and an individual - you tend to stick with a single instructor regardless. Local references are your best bet.

Car_54

london.cidade wrote: »

I already know how to drive but ...

When I was an instructor, those were words I used to dread.

Whichever school you use, be aware that there are two types of instructor: ADI's (green badge, fully qualified) and PDIs (pink badge, trainee). Your choice.

Solo instructors are all fully qualified, many of the larger schools use lots of trainees. The AA is an exception.

Good luck!

cb1979

As you already know how to drive I take it you have maybe passed a Driving test elsewhere, as stated a UK driving test is a bit more involved than just driving down the road, good luck anyway

DoaM

A wild guess based on your forum name ... you hold a licence from a South American country? (e.g. Venezuela). Driving test requirements in the UK are very different.

elverson

Driving instructors with a "big" school e.g. AA, Red are usually independent as well - they just use the branding of the school.

Ideally ask around in your local area for recommendations for an instructor who is familiar with the test centre which you want to use.

https://www.gov.uk/find-driving-test-centre

Also see https://www.gov.uk/driving-test/what-happens-during-test

System

london.cidade wrote: »

Passed my theory test last week. I already know how to drive but need to get used to the UK roads and wanna have some tips for driving test

The UK driving test is one of the hardest in the world as it is at a very high standard compared to many other countries. UK roads are some of the most congested in the world especially in London. You may know how to drive where you've come from but unfortunately having years of driving experience is a bad thing as you get into lots of bad habits.

Book a week course.

Joshua_Nkomo

DoaM wrote: »

A wild guess based on your forum name ... you hold a licence from a South American country? (e.g. Venezuela). Driving test requirements in the UK are very different.

And if you have been driving for a number of years you will probably have a lot of ingrained bad habits which might be difficult to break.

I think you possibly need a no nonsense instructor who will crack the whip.

Mercdriver

Tarambor wrote: »

The UK driving test is one of the hardest in the world as it is at a very high standard compared to many other countries. UK roads are some of the most congested in the world especially in London. You may know how to drive where you've come from but unfortunately having years of driving experience is a bad thing as you get into lots of bad habits.

Book a week course.

If you think London is congested you ought to try Seoul. Traffic jams well into the early hours around Gangnam...not as hairy as Mumbai mind you, but busy.