How to Find a Good Driving Instructor

Any car owner starts out as a novice driver. Learning how to drive is both an exciting and nerve-racking experience. But as long as you have an excellent driving instructor guiding you, it shouldn’t be something to worry too much about. If you’re planning to take driving lessons, you might be thinking of ways on how to find a good driving instructor. 

Why Get a Driving Instructor?

As a student driver, you’re going to spend a good number of hours with the instructor, so it would be better for you if you can find one you’re comfortable with. The instructor will be teaching you how to drive confidently and safely, as well as give you tips on how to be an efficient driver. 

You may ask a relative or friend to teach you to drive, however, there are disadvantages to this. There could be times when they get impatient with you or you with them, and that could lead to a heated argument. This scenario puts you both at risk while in a moving vehicle. You might also pick up a few bad driving habits which they’d unintentionally teach you. 

With a driving instructor, you will learn how to drive the correct way. The car you’ll be using would have dual controls so you don’t have to be scared about losing control of the vehicle. It will put your mind at ease so you can focus on driving. The instructor will also prepare you for your driving test, making you a more confident driver. 

Search Online for a Driving Instructor

Check the website of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for a list of approved driving instructors near you. You only have to enter your postcode so you can narrow down your search.  

The DVSA regularly evaluates driving instructors on their performance. You can see their grade on the same website. If they have an A or 6, that means they rank high, while Fail or 1 means they are ranking extremely poorly. 

The list from the government website is extensive, however, not all driving instructors in your area might be listed. You may choose to look for other ways to find a good driving instructor if you haven’t found one from this particular website. 

Ask Your Family or Friends

You may also ask people you know if they can recommend a driving instructor. When you search for one online, there would only be a limited amount of information about them. You can ask your family or friends what their experiences were like with their instructor. This will give you a better idea if the driving expert would be a good fit for you. 

What Makes a Good Driving Instructor?

An effective driving expert should be able to teach you everything you need to know so you can drive safely on your own. Of course, during your lessons, they should also be punctual and prepared so that you can make the most out of each session. It would also be nice to have an instructor who is friendly and can accommodate your preferred schedule, especially if you’re working or if you’re still studying. 

Some red flags would be the instructor arriving late for your driving lessons in an ill-maintained car. If they end the session before the time, that’s also not good. Remember that you’re going to spend hours and hours with this person so it’s important that you’re comfortable with him or her.

Personality matters as well, that’s why it’s good to ask a friend or relative for recommendations so you’ll have an idea of what they’re like -- talkative, quiet, likes to joke, etc., so you can find one that fits you well. 

Check that the Instructor is Qualified

Only commit to having lessons with a specific driving instructor if there’s a green badge on their car’s windscreen. This means they are Approved Driving Instructors. For trainee instructors who have a licence to teach driving lessons, look for a pink badge instead. Even if they’re still trainees, they can already give lessons. Keep in mind that it is against the law for a person to ask for a fee for driving lessons if they do not have the right qualifications and are not registered. 

Complete Your Documents

Before you can start your driving lessons with the instructor of your choice, you’re going to need a provisional licence. Be sure you’ve already secured this so that you can get started immediately. As for insurance, if you’re going to learn driving from a registered driving instructor, this isn’t necessary. However, if you’re going to drive with a friend or relative, see to it that their insurance policy includes you in the cover as a student driver. 

The Price Should be Reasonable

Driving lessons can be a bit pricey. Usually, you’re going to pay per hour and instructors charge about £25 for that. Remember that you’ll need at least 45 hours of driving lessons before you’re allowed to take the driver’s test. If you want to look for a more affordable alternative, find driving schools that offer discounts. You may also block book sessions with your preferred instructor. That may save you some money. 

Takeaway

Once you have your provisional licence, you can also spend time driving with a relative or relative who is a good driver. This will help you practice some more. Also, try to read the material before you start your driving lessons. You can learn about the rules and the Highway Code. When you begin driving, it will be much easier to learn because you’ve already read about it. Actual driving is your application of the theory.