Many people think that choosing a driving instructor is easy but making the right choice when deciding on an instructor is one of the most important stages of learning to drive. There are a lot of things you have to think about when choosing the right instructor and hopefully this article will point you in the right direction.
Here are our top tips to picking the correct driving instructor:
1. Ensure your driving instructor is fully qualified.
Before you start your first driving lesson with your instructor make sure that they are a fully approved driving instructor, also known as an ADI. To check that your instructor is fully qualified, have a quick look in the front windscreen of their car, if there’s a green badge then they are fully qualified. If there isn’t a green badge in the windscreen just simply ask them to show it to you. If when you look in the instructor’s windscreen there is a pink badge this means that the instructor is only a trainee เรียนขับรถ.
2. Ensure your driving instructor has a good pass rate.
Before learning to drive, ask your instructor what his/her pass rate is. This will give you indications of how successful past students have been with this driving instructor. The current national average for students successfully passing their driving test is 42%, so ensure your driving instructors pass rate reflects this.
3. Use personal recommendations.
Most people have positive experiences when learning to drive if they have been recommended a driving instructor by a friend or family member. When thinking about commencing your driving lessons ask your close friends and family members if they know of an instructor they would recommend.
4. Ask your driving instructor what grade they are.
When a driving instructor becomes qualified they must pass three-part examination to qualify, they have to reach and maintain high standards set by the Driving Standards Agency. Once they qualify they are given a grade based on their driving examination, if they have been given a grade 4 this means they are operating at a competent level. A grade 5 indicates that they are of a good standard and a grade 6 which is held by less than 10% of the country indicates that they are of a very high standard.
5. Make sure you shop around.
When you are looking to start your driving lessons, don’t just choose the first instructor you set your eyes on. Make sure you shop around and have a good look at other instructors and schools in your area to make sure you make the right choice. Remember that you only plan to learn to drive once.
6. Make sure you have thought about any special preferences.
If you have any special preferences with regards to your driving lessons ensure you have thought about them before commencing lessons with an instructor or driving school, for example some females wish to have female only instructors.
7. Read Reviews.
Most people are unaware that you can read reviews on specific driving instructors or driving schools online. Do a quick Google search for your possible instructor or school and see what appears, some websites such as Google maps for example do offer the chance for students to write reviews on their instructors. Once you have passed your test ensure that you leave your instructor or driving school a review to ensure the next student has a good understanding of the instructor and what they are like.
8. Don’t forget your theory test.
People often forget about the theory test before commencing their practical driving lessons, the fact of the matter is that if you learn your theory while learning to drive it makes it that much easier. So if you have not yet passed your theory test and intend to do so while conducting your practical driving lessons ask your driving instructor or driving school if they offer assistance.
9. Remember you are paying for a service.
If for whatever reason you have started driving lessons with an instructor then decide you wish to change instructor, it is in your rights to be able to do so.
10. Ask important questions.
Finally before your driving lessons commence even if you believe you have found your ideal instructor ask important questions, to ensure you know the ins and outs such as:
-How much notice do I need to give before cancelling a lesson?
-What make/model of car do you use on your lessons?
-Do you work weekends?
-Can I picked up and dropped off in different locations?
-Which test centre do you use?
-How much do you charge?