Driving Lessons

Danger Phoenix · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:19

I am thinking about finally taking my driving test, and was wondering if there are any recommendations for decent companies, that maybe offer student/NUS discounts.

I live in the Kingston area if that makes any difference

KaHn · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:20

Lol student discounts dont work everywhere you know.

KaHn

Danger Phoenix · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:23

KaHn said:
Lol student discounts dont work everywhere you know.

KaHn

Which is why I said "maybe"

I just thought of it, because the first company I looked at (BSM) had it.

Violent-J · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:23

Motors.

Lagz · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:24

Since most people only ever have one instructor, its hard for anyone to give any kind of good comparison. Just pick one and change if you dont like them.

Danger Phoenix · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:24

Violent-J said:
Motors.

Oopsie... I completely forgot that forum even existed

Mark A · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:28

Im in the same situation, its so hard to pick a company as there are so many that sound good. I wouldnt go with a big company like BSM ans they tend to drag the lessons out.

Mark

Andr3w · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:34

If i were you i would go with a private person. BSM are only interested in your money...where as a private person wants you money and you to pass

You will notice whenever you see a BSM car it is parked at the side of the road with the instructore telling the driver what to do. Instead of letting them driving and talking them through it.

a lot of BSM instructors are also trainee's

Messiah Khan · 10 Jul 2006 at 15:50

Go with a private instructor, and ask around locally for reccomded people. My instructor was excellent, with a 90%ish passrate. Possibly something to do with him having been a police persuit instructor before.

pinkacidbootson · 10 Jul 2006 at 16:07

Are the AA any good?

Danger Phoenix · 10 Jul 2006 at 16:09

Johanson said:
Are the AA any good?

I have heard good things about them, but at £26 in my area, they are quite expensive.

One of my friends just recommended http://www.euroschoolofmotoring.co.uk to me - he used them for his lessons, and they were pretty good. First 5 lessons for half price at £11 per hour aren't too bad

reflex · 10 Jul 2006 at 16:32

I had my first 1 on saturday, im absoutle diabolical! Its really funny but the instructor doesn't think so :cool:

gam3r · 10 Jul 2006 at 16:47

Johanson said:
Are the AA any good?

Great company, passed first time with my ADI and they don't waste any of your time...just get in the car and start driving. Costly though, but its better than failing over and over again and paying loads of cash to retake the test.

JRS · 10 Jul 2006 at 16:57

reflex said:
I had my first 1 on saturday, im absoutle diabolical! Its really funny but the instructor doesn't think so

Well, as long as you let everyone know when you're about to go out on a lesson so as we can all get indoors.......

el_dazza · 10 Jul 2006 at 17:12

reflex said:
I had my first 1 on saturday, im absoutle diabolical! Its really funny but the instructor doesn't think so

Who's your instructor?

Kroegen · 10 Jul 2006 at 17:14

BSM are great. My instructor is a very good teacher, but i think thats because he wants my money

Cueball · 10 Jul 2006 at 17:21

Go with a named instructor. BSM (or Back Street Motoring, as I call them) and the AA are good. Local instructors are also good, depending on who you go with.

Just shop around and ask around. I find that the self-employed driving instructors teach more 'hands on' than 'bla bla listen to me bla bla'.

K.C. Leblanc · 10 Jul 2006 at 19:24

I'll echo what people have said about BSM and trainee instructors.

A lot of instructors start with the big driving schools who refer them customers. They then leave after a few years when they've built up their reputation.

My instructor actualy left BSM while I was learning. His main reasons being he didn't need BSM anymore because he could find his own customers and also he had to pay several hundred pounds a week franchise fees.

I was just glad to stop learning in a 1 litre Corsa.

I'd start by asking round and then maybe phoning a few up. Most of them will be happy to have a chat (you might be where their next meal is coming from*), so which ones you find it easy to communicate with.

* I mean the money to pay for the meal. I am in no way insinuating that driving instructors are canibals.

gam3r · 10 Jul 2006 at 20:18

Also make sure you get an approved driving instructor who goes by the DSA's syllabus

MuvverRussia · 10 Jul 2006 at 21:20

bsm aren't that bad, because they're franchised it really depends on the instructor. The guy I had was pretty good, plus he had a 1.4l corsa which wasn't too bad to learn in (enough poke to get you going easily etc).