Choosing a Driving Instructor

14 Years Experience as a Driving Instructor

5 Questions You Should Ask A Driving Instructor

Looking for a driving instructor but don’t know where to start? Want to book your first driving lesson but have no idea what to ask? We share 5 of the most important questions you should ask before booking your first driving lesson.

1. How long have you be teaching people to drive?
It isn’t a rude question to ask. It’s a great way of opening up the conversation and showing the driving instructor that you are a well informed potential student. EVERY driving instructor wants a student like that! You may prefer to be taught by someone relatively new because you feel they’ll be more fresh in their approach, or you may prefer someone with huge amounts of experience.

My Reply: I have been teaching people to drive for over 12 years. I have been based in Metheringham for all this time. This makes me the most experienced driving instructor currently working from Metheringham.

2. What’s your favourite part of being a driving instructor?
This may seem like an interview question because it is. That’s what you’re doing, you’re interviewing people for the job of being your driving instructor! You want a driving instructor who respects this and knows EXACTLY what they love about doing what they do. Someone passionate for teaching is going to be a much better coach than someone who just sees it as a job that they happen to be doing.

My Reply: Seeing the smile that you will have when you pass your driving test. Driving is fun and having a full driving licence is great.

3. What’s your pass rate amongst your students?
With this question it isn’t so much about wanting an instructor with a 100% pass rate (they don’t exist because 100% students don’t exist), but more about figuring out whether this is a driving instructor that cares enough to know what their rate is. A good instructor will know what their pass rate is, a great instructor will be able to talk proudly about their pass rate.

My Reply: My pass rate has always been higher than national averages. Higher than the average driving instructor and higher than the Lincoln average pass rate. It fluctuates from year to year but is typically between 60% and 80% over a 12 month period.

4. Why should I choose you over the other driving instructors, there are cheaper lessons around?
You want a driving instructor who is confident about why YOU should choose them over anybody else. This question also gives the driving instructor the ability to give you any extra information, for example they may say you should choose them because they see teaching as a collaborative process or they have a high pass rate etc.

My Reply: I am an experienced driving instructor with a high pass rate. I also offer card payment facilities in my car and have never charged for using this. I give each student free access to a driving lesson training app. I will teach you to drive in a fully electric Mini, probably the best super-mini sized car you can drive.

5. What’s your teaching method?
This question, arguably is the most important. The driving instructor’s teaching method must be aligned with the best way in which you learn. Some people learn best by being dictated to, some will learn only if they feel like it’s a partnership. Some like to learn as they go whilst others want to know everything and the specifics before attempting something new. A driving instructor’s teaching method is what will decide whether or not you learn quickly and successfully. It will be the difference between looking forward to driving lessons and dreading them. It isn’t price or deals that decide the outcome. So pay attention to the answer to this question.

My Reply: I will progress your driving skills in 2 ways. As a new driver I will target your driving lessons to specific goals, give you a full briefing and make time to practise. When you have progressed, I will then be allowing you to experience new situations without a briefing to develop your awareness and planning skills. It is during these lessons that we will agree a date for your driving test.