Choosing a driving instructor can be an exciting process. After all, this person is your route to getting on the road. However, choosing the right instructor for you is a different matter. There are plenty of potential pitfalls so it’s important to evaluate your choice carefully so you don’t end up paying more, or learning for longer than you need to.

Why do I need a driving instructor?

You may have lots of offers of help from family and friends, however beware of solely relying on them to tutor you. The likelihood is that the test procedure is significantly different from when they took their tests and you could be given outdated advice. The current driving test has undergone some large changes in recent years in order to make it as comprehensive as possible – so young drivers are safer than ever on the road. Only a qualified driving instructor will have had the very latest training and will be able to offer you the best advice when it comes to passing your driving test.

How do I choose the right one for me?

It’s a good question. There are no hard and fast rules, or a guaranteed way of knowing who will suit you. However it won’t take long once you’ve started learning to know whether or not the instructor will suit you.

Some things to think about when you choose your driving instructor:

1. Driving school or independent instructor? Decide which you prefer. Driving schools may cost slightly more but they are also more likely to run special deals or have flexible payment plans.
2. Do your research. Read online and get a feel for how other people have rated the instructor.
3. Male or female? It’s worth bearing in mind that just 15% of driving instructors in the UK are female, but this shouldn’t matter if you’re certain that you will only feel happy with a female instructor.
4. You must trust this person – they are going to be teaching you a risky skill.
5. Ask friends for recommendations. Word of mouth is always something to consider because it’s rooted in personal experience.
6. You may have a preference as to how quickly, or otherwise, you’d like to learn to drive. Some people want three lessons a week and some just one a fortnight. Make sure that the volume of lessons that you want is something that your instructor is happy with in their working pattern.
7. Ultimately, you should like your instructor and feel like you have a good working relationship with them.

And if you don’t feel comfortable then change instructor. There’s no point in spending money and time on something that doesn’t feel right.

So whilst there’s no guaranteed way of picking the ideal instructor straight away, by following some simple points you can reduce the risk of problems right down.

And remember, if you are going to practice to drive in your own car, you will need to take out car insurance as a learner driver to cover you for any mishaps along the way. Learning to drive is an exciting time, so be safe on the road and happy driving!