driving lessons - how much?

pavlovs_dog

my provisional license arrived today :j so now im looking at starting my lessons.

i've emailed a few different companies asking for quotes, and there is quite a gulf in price differences, so i was just wondering what you guys thought was reasonable.

1. ocean drive

10 pre-booked lessons £150 (£10 discount/ £15 per hour)
12 pre-booked lessons £160 (2 free lessons)
20 pre-booked lessons £290 (£30 discount/£14.50 per lesson)

or £8 for the first hour, and £16 per hour thereafter


2. BSM

6 hour course starter programme £72.00 (saving £18.00 )
10 Hours on road £195.00 (saving £10.00 )
25 Hours on road £462.50 (saving £50.00 )
30 Hours on road £555.00 (saving £60.00 )
40 Hours on road £740.00 (saving £80.00 )

Student discount available apparently, but it doesnt say how much?


3. Learner Driving centre

block of 10 £150 (£16/hour)

normally £17/hour


4. Right Gear

block of 10 £140 (£14/hour)
block of 20 £270 (13.50/hour)
block of 30 £400 (13.33/hour)


5. Bumps drivings cool

block of 10 £150 (£15/hour)

or £16/hour for individual lessons (dicounted rate)




any comments on any of the above, or what i should be looking for in my driving school?

CrazyChemist_2

I learned with AA Driving school but I wouldn't recommend them as they force you to have 2 hour lessons - resulting in more lessons being taken. I had well over the number of lessons I should have had, due to the long waiting list for a practical test.

Get your theory test done NOW so then you can get the practical test booked early and so work towards a date instead of being ready, then booking, and finding yourself at the back of a 7 week waiting list!

Also, more importantly, make sure you get an instructor who isn't a trainee. If he's a trainee instructor, the badge in the window will be green. If he's fully qualified (as should be!) the badge is a blue hexagon shape in the windscreen.

Stipulate this when booking lessons that you want a fully qualified blue badge instructor, not a trainee! You're paying good money and it's important training so make sure of this!

Hope this helps! I wish someone had told me this before I started learning...

Nickys-Driver-Training

Hi,

I'm a independant driving instructor and I'd like to offer some advice.

1. The cheapest lessons aren't always the best value.

2. The most expensive is not necessarily the best (Think national schools)

3. A qualified instructor has a green badge; trainee - pink.

4. Sometimes a trainee will work much harder to help you, using the most up to date methods and most current legislation than an instructor that's been in the job for years and is just biding time to retirement or earning pocket money.

5. Ask around for people that will recommend an instructor.

6. Generally an independant instructor will provide outstanding customer service so that you generate referrals for them. One pupil bad-mouthing, rightly or wrongly, can damage an instructors livelihood. Instructors for big schools may not care as much about the name of the school as they would about there own name.

7. Instructors are graded 1-6 by the DSA. You can ask them their grade but you won't know if they are telling the truth! 4 is average - 6 is best.

8. The national pass rate has been around 42-44% for years. It does not bear any direct relationship to the quality of the teaching but an instructor teaching only 'regular' pupils, full time should be able to make 55% easily.

9. Don't book your test until your instructor tells you. A good instructor will keep an eye on the local waiting times and advise you accordingly. If you book a test before you are ready then a professional instructor will refuse to take you for your test and you will either have to cancel, lose your fee or arrange another instructor or car.

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