Choosing a Driving Instructor

Although not a legal requirement, you are much more likely to pass your theory and practical tests quickly if you employ a qualified driving instructor to teach you how to drive. If you are new to driving you are likely to spend around forty five hours with the person that you are paying to teach you. It is therefore very important that your instructor is someone who makes you feel comfortable and confident while you are learning.

If you choose to pay a driving instructor, they must be approved and registered with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).  Only Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are allowed by law to charge for tuition, so make sure you check the credentials of your instructor before you begin your tuition.

Legally, all approved instructors must fulfil the following criteria in order to teach:

• held a full licence for four or more years
• passed an extended theory test
• passed a strict advanced practical driving test
• be registered and monitored by the DSA
• display an ADI certificate on the windscreen of their tuition vehicle at all times

If your prospective instructor cannot provide evidence of all of these things, do not pay them for driving lessons.

How to find the best Driving Instructor

Someone that has learnt to drive recently, and that you know well and trust, might be able to recommend a good instructor to you. You might also wish to ring round driving schools to find out who is the best value. While the price of lessons will be important to you, be wary that the cheapest lessons might work out much more expensive in the long run. When you're calling round, make sure that both the instructor and the training car are not going to let you down. As well as teaching you to drive it is common for your instructor to sit in with you on the practical test. With this in mind they need to help you relax and inspire confidence in you.

Looking on the internet or checking Yellow Pages are both very convenient and popular ways to find any professional. To be successful with your choice, you will need to prepare to ask some questions and listen very carefully to the answers you're given. Not all Driving Schools or independent Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are the same. Many of the most respected driving schools will expect their instructors to have a good success rate putting students through both the theory and practical tests. If you are going through a drivings school then be equally sure to ask question directly to them as well as the ADI.

Prepare your questions using the points listed below and do remember that your instructor must be someone who will make you feel comfortable and confident while you are learning to drive.

• A personal recommendation from a friend is often a good way to find any professional
• Do you have a preference for a male or female instructor?
• If English is not your first language, do you need an instructor who speaks your language?
• What car would you like to learn in? Consider the type, size and age of training cars available
• Do you have a physical disability? You might need to drive a car with adaptations fitted
• Might you need to learn to drive in an automatic rather than a car with a manual gearbox?
• How soon do you need to pass your driving test? You will need to discuss the frequency of lessons and how long each one needs to be
• Where do you need picking up from and what times are you available? While pick ups can be from home or work, you shouldn't drive in situations that you are not ready for or on routes that do not suit your ability. A good instructor will vary your training routes to suit your progress
• Check about possible discounts for course bookings. Lesson prices do vary across the country and the cheapest schools are unlikely to be the best in the long run
• Ask what the instructor's pass rate is
• Find out which Driving Test Centre your instructor will recommend and also the price for hiring the car for your practical test
• Does the instructor have written Terms & Conditions for teaching you to drive. This can include the period of time you give to cancel a lesson without losing your fee
• Does the instructor abide by a professional code of conduct?

Once you've found the best instructor, you want to be sure that you get the most out of each lesson. This means that you need to:

• Dress appropriately.  Make sure you wear comfortable shoes - heavy boots or high heels make it hard to feel and control the pedals
• Be in the right frame of mind.  Schedule your life appropriately around your driving lessons
• Arrive at the pick up point in good time – being flustered and out of breath is not a good way to start a lesson
• Remember tomorrow the night before!  Being tired is not conducive to a good lesson
• If you have a driving lesson it is advisable to avoid drinking alcohol the night before
• If you are unwell advise your instructor as soon as possible – some products make you drowsy and it may be best to reschedule your lesson
• Listen to the instructions you are given. If there's something you don't understand, be sure you tell your instructor.

What should you expect from your Driving Instructor?

You should expect you instructor to be a professional.

Being professional means that instructors must be reliable. For instance, they turn up on time for each lesson at the agreed meeting point. Each lesson should last for the agreed period, usually one, but often two hours. The course of lessons must be structured to individual learning needs and progress properly recorded and fed back.

To keep a check on the standard of tuition being given, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) supervises the instructors who have qualified onto their Register. This supervision is known to instructors as the "Check Test". Depending on the instructor's technical performance, a grade is awarded. Instructors are expected to be patient, understanding and fully responsive to the learner's needs.

You should expect your instructor to prepare you to pass your driving test on the first attempt. A good instructor will ensure that you are not only prepared for your driving test, well before the time arrives, but will also recommend further post-test training.

Reporting illegal driving instruction

It is illegal for a person to provide driving instruction for a fee if they are not suitably qualified and registered with the DSA. The DSA Fraud and Integrity Team (FIT) thoroughly investigates every case of suspected illegal driving tuition, and works closely with the police to take possible offenders to court.

If an offer of paid driving instruction is made to you, by someone who is not a qualified ADI, please report it to the DSA FIT.

• phone on 029 2058 1155 (during office hours)
• phone on 029 2058 1290 (out of hours)
• sending an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it