Driving Instructors

Anyone over the age of 21, who has held a full licence for three years, can teach you to drive, although it is strongly advised that you take professional driving instruction. There are many driving instructors operating and choosing the right one can greatly impact on how long it takes you to pass your test, not to mention your enjoyment of the learning experience.

You should make enquiries about the driving instructors working in your area and find out about their reputations, experience, costs and availability. Speak to your friends and ask them what they thought of the person who gave them driving instruction.

Female driving instructors

It is an established fact that you will learn to drive more quickly if you feel relaxed and confident, as it makes you more able to absorb driving instruction. Some people, women in particular, feel more comfortable with a female driving instructor and, if this is the case, then you should seek one out.

• Female driving instructors are growing in number and can be found throughout the UK.
• Many women are intimidated by the thought of taking driving instruction from a man.
• However more and more women learners prefer male instructors as they find that they have less in common, hence no clashes of opinions etc and therefore find it easier to concentrate on lessons

Driving instruction from family and friends

It is advisable that you spend as much time as possible behind the wheel when you are learning, and driving tuition from family and friends can be a great help. However, very few people pass their test without some form of professional driving tuition, so it is recommended that you combine the two.

• The average person requires 44 hours of lessons with a professional driving instructor combined with approximately 22 hours of private practice.
• Taking driving instruction from family and friends might greatly strain personal relationships!

Residential driving courses and intensive instruction

For some people, an intensive or residential driving school represents their best chance of learning to drive quickly. Such courses involve pupils undertaking many hours of driving instruction in a short space of time and sitting their test at the end of the course.

• Think carefully before committing to an intensive driving course, as a substantial outlay is required with no guarantee of a pass.
• Intensive driving tuition may be the answer if you have an event coming up that requires you to drive.

Automatic driving lessons

Anyone not looking to drive a car with a manual transmission can get a provisional licence to learn in an automatic vehicle. Many instructors will offer automatic driving lessons and if the car you plan on driving after passing your test is an automatic, then you may choose to take this option.

• If you hold an automatic driving licence, you may not drive a manual car.
• Most people prefer to take driving instruction in a manual car, as the transition to driving an automatic is less troublesome.