Need to find a good driving instructor....
Discussion
for my daughter.I have a couple of recommendations for local independants but would appreciate any advice on how to make sure she get's a good instructor? also want her to take some further training once she has passed her driving test to try and keep her safe as possible..all/any advice much appreciated?
Thanks all
Steve
Talk to friends and relatives, see who they used/would recommend. Personally I took the view when looking that I'd rather go with someone who is capable of letting their skill drum up business rather than relying on the yellow pages. I still think I chose the right option.
Calling up the test centre and asking for a recommendation might also work, though they may not be allowed to, it's still worth a shot.
Is your daughter sensible? If so it might work out cheaper to do an intensive set of lessons rather than spreading them out over a prolonged period. I took my test 3 weeks after starting lessons, but after passing had to realise that although I'd passed the test that didn't make me the most capable driver on the road.
Calling up the test centre and asking for a recommendation might also work, though they may not be allowed to, it's still worth a shot.
Is your daughter sensible? If so it might work out cheaper to do an intensive set of lessons rather than spreading them out over a prolonged period. I took my test 3 weeks after starting lessons, but after passing had to realise that although I'd passed the test that didn't make me the most capable driver on the road.
Edited by Jsys on Monday 12th January 07:32
Jsys said:
Talk to friends and relatives, see who they used/would recommend. Personally I took the view when looking that I'd rather go with someone who is capable of letting their skill drum up business rather than relying on the yellow pages. I still think I chose the right option.
Calling up the test centre and asking for a recommendation might also work, though they may not be allowed to, it's still worth a shot.
Is your daughter sensible? If so it might work out cheaper to do an intensive set of lessons rather than spreading them out over a prolonged period. I took my test 3 weeks after starting lessons, but after passing had to realise that although I'd passed the test that didn't make me the most capable driver on the road.
Have to disagree - I think she'll be a better driver if you spread the lessons out so she has time to learn things rather than just learning to complete a test and then forgetting it all. As above, local recommendations are best, there are some who prefer to try and get as much money out of you as possible Calling up the test centre and asking for a recommendation might also work, though they may not be allowed to, it's still worth a shot.
Is your daughter sensible? If so it might work out cheaper to do an intensive set of lessons rather than spreading them out over a prolonged period. I took my test 3 weeks after starting lessons, but after passing had to realise that although I'd passed the test that didn't make me the most capable driver on the road.
Edited by Jsys on Monday 12th January 07:32
Is she learning the basics with you or would you rather hand the job over??arryb said:
Jsys said:
Talk to friends and relatives, see who they used/would recommend. Personally I took the view when looking that I'd rather go with someone who is capable of letting their skill drum up business rather than relying on the yellow pages. I still think I chose the right option.
Calling up the test centre and asking for a recommendation might also work, though they may not be allowed to, it's still worth a shot.
Is your daughter sensible? If so it might work out cheaper to do an intensive set of lessons rather than spreading them out over a prolonged period. I took my test 3 weeks after starting lessons, but after passing had to realise that although I'd passed the test that didn't make me the most capable driver on the road.
Have to disagree - I think she'll be a better driver if you spread the lessons out so she has time to learn things rather than just learning to complete a test and then forgetting it all. As above, local recommendations are best, there are some who prefer to try and get as much money out of you as possible Calling up the test centre and asking for a recommendation might also work, though they may not be allowed to, it's still worth a shot.
Is your daughter sensible? If so it might work out cheaper to do an intensive set of lessons rather than spreading them out over a prolonged period. I took my test 3 weeks after starting lessons, but after passing had to realise that although I'd passed the test that didn't make me the most capable driver on the road.
Edited by Jsys on Monday 12th January 07:32
Is she learning the basics with you or would you rather hand the job over??I also think there's the danger of spreading lessons too thin. I have a friend who has been learning for two years and has unsuccessfully spread his lessons out one every two weeks. He's now failed 6 times and I'd be scared to get in a car with him o.o
I'd agree with the personal recommendation route, too, but don't worry about changing instructors if it's not working for your daughter.
As far as additional post-test training, places like Silverstone do skid control courses that are very useful (as well as huge fun!). Some instructors are also happy to do further training, eg. motorways, once someone's passed their test.
As far as additional post-test training, places like Silverstone do skid control courses that are very useful (as well as huge fun!). Some instructors are also happy to do further training, eg. motorways, once someone's passed their test.
Being involved in the driver training industry, here's my tuppence worth!
Firstly, your daughter will be 17, doing A's, and will have friends learning to drive. Get her to ask them for recommendations. The best instructors (like me!) very seldom need to advertise. Yellow Pages is a lottery, the biggest adverts means nothing. They ALL promise a high pass rate, calm, patient, nervous pupils a speciality etc....
The examiners at your local test centre will not give any recommendations - the closest you'll get to advice is "go with an instructor who's happy to put him name on the roof".
Reckon on her taking about 4 - 6 months to learn and if you have a car at home she can practise on between lessons, that is the ideal. Let an instructor teach her from day one, what the DSA require these days is sometimes different to the way we learnt to drive.
An hour lesson will be normally be anything between £20 to £25, maybe less in your area, and, depending on her ability, the average time with an instructor can be between 30 - 45 hours. Having said that, I've had some natural born drivers get through in under 20 hours, and some who can take up to 70 or 80 hours!
A good instructor will not be "milking" her for hours, he probably has a waiting list, but he won't take her to test unless she's ready.
Theory and driving test fees combine to about £100, and aim for her to take the theory test when she's had about 15 hours tuition.
So, to answer your original question - personal recommendation from her friends!
Firstly, your daughter will be 17, doing A's, and will have friends learning to drive. Get her to ask them for recommendations. The best instructors (like me!) very seldom need to advertise. Yellow Pages is a lottery, the biggest adverts means nothing. They ALL promise a high pass rate, calm, patient, nervous pupils a speciality etc....
The examiners at your local test centre will not give any recommendations - the closest you'll get to advice is "go with an instructor who's happy to put him name on the roof".
Reckon on her taking about 4 - 6 months to learn and if you have a car at home she can practise on between lessons, that is the ideal. Let an instructor teach her from day one, what the DSA require these days is sometimes different to the way we learnt to drive.
An hour lesson will be normally be anything between £20 to £25, maybe less in your area, and, depending on her ability, the average time with an instructor can be between 30 - 45 hours. Having said that, I've had some natural born drivers get through in under 20 hours, and some who can take up to 70 or 80 hours!
A good instructor will not be "milking" her for hours, he probably has a waiting list, but he won't take her to test unless she's ready.
Theory and driving test fees combine to about £100, and aim for her to take the theory test when she's had about 15 hours tuition.
So, to answer your original question - personal recommendation from her friends!
Chris_w666 said:
Best way to find an instructor is from recommendation by friends or family. I have 2 driving instructor mates one is very busy and does no advertising, one is struggling and spends a lot on adverts.
+1 After recommendation from friends and relatives call the instructor and ask what grade they are. Do they still grade instructors 1-6? I learnt from a Grade 6 instructor 15 or so years ago. Apparently there isn't that many who are top grade.
EDIT:
http://www.driving-test-success.com/ said:
In order to get a pink badge the trainee driving instructor has to pass parts 1 & 2 (a driving theory test, multiple choice test plus hazard perception video test and an advanced ADI driving test which is of a much higher standard than the driving test you will take) of the DSA driving instructor examination and have done at least 40 hours ADI training as well. Then they must do a further 20 hours training shortly after the badge is issued. Part 3 of the exam is a practical test that tests the trainee's instructional ability. These are the facts. The choice is yours.
The DSA Grades UK Driving Instructors as follows-
* Grade 4 - the driving instructor is competent
* Grade 5 - the driving instructor is good
* Grade 6 - the driving instructor has reached a very high standard
The DSA Grades UK Driving Instructors as follows-
* Grade 4 - the driving instructor is competent
* Grade 5 - the driving instructor is good
* Grade 6 - the driving instructor has reached a very high standard
Edited by courtster on Monday 12th January 09:53
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff