Unfortunately choosing the right instructor can be a bit of a minefield, some driving schools tell tales to rival even those of the local fisherman ie. the size of the one that got away! You will hear all sorts of stories about how they have a pass rate of over 80 or 90% and they are 'grade A qualified'. The trouble is these statistics aren't published so you only have their word for it! Ask to see their certificate, I always have mine with me to prove I'm a grade A instructor. 

Try not to pick a driving school solely based on the price per lesson. There are literally dozens of driving schools in the area and not all are as scrupulous as they should be. If they are offering you your first few hours for what seems to be a ridiculously cheap price, you have to ask yourself - how can they do that? One possible way they do it is by not covering many miles and saving on fuel. On the first lesson you will probably spend most of the time listening to the instructor going on and on and on. Consequent lessons will be spent going round and round the same little estate doing very little, as they try to conserve fuel. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

I often get asked “how many lessons will I need” and although I fully understand why you would want to know this, it is genuinely one of the most difficult questions to answer. Everyone learns at a different rate. It’s not a race but a life skill you are learning. Two or three years down the line you really won’t care, or probably remember, how many lessons you took! If you check out the DSA’s practical test video they state that on average a person takes 45 hours of professional lessons and 20 hours of private practice to get to test. I think this is a little high and most people will pass with around 30 to 35 hours of lessons. Be wary if an instructor tells you their average number of lessons to get a person ready for a test seems to be low. No one has a crystal ball! They are just telling you what you want to hear to secure your booking. Clearly some will pick it up faster than others and if you can increase the hours of private practice this might reduce the number of professional lessons you will need.

My best advice is to ask around and try to get a recommendation. That way you know at least one person was happy with the service they have received.

Ask what kind of Track Records they keep of your driving, so you always know where you are up to and how you're doing.

Always pick a fully qualified instructor - one that has a green hexagonal badge like mine below. These badges have to be renewed every four years during which time The DSA operate compulsory check tests to ensure standards are maintained. 

My prices are not the cheapest or the most expensive. They are very much in line with most of the other reputable independent instructors. They may vary by a pound or so either way but this is probably down to the cars we drive and their fuel efficiency.

I have been self employed since I was 23 (over 25 Years). My business ethos has always been to offer the best service I can at a fair and sustainable price.

I offer lessons of the following duration and price:

• 1hr at £34

• 1 & 1/2 hrs at £51

• 2hrs at £68

I accept payment by cash, cheque or BACS my account details are:

• Bank transfer details:- Richard Yeomans, Sort Code 23-69-72 Account No. 28648594. Prepay Technologies Ltd 
• Please enter the learners name in the reference section.
• Bank transfers :- payments must be made before the lesson.