If you have decided that you want to learn to drive, you may already have come up against your first obstacle – how to go about finding the right instructor for you. It may be that a friend or family member has offered to teach you and although they may be a perfectly competent driver they may still have acquired some bad driving habits that you could do without.
To begin with, you need to look for a professional driving instructor in Stockport who is a DVSA approved driving instructor. This means that they are registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and must adhere to a strict set of rules and responsibilities when teaching learner drivers. Word of mouth is often a good way of finding out which are the best instructors in your area but at the same time, you could follow these tips before you make your decision.
Check their Qualifications
Only DVSA approved instructors are allowed to legally get paid for providing lessons, so if someone says they can teach you for free be very wary as it’s likely they have not attained any driving instructor qualifications and will not be insured to teach. In this case, you will have no backup or legal protection if anything goes wrong. For this reason, it’s preferable that you choose an established and reputable driving instructor in Stockport.
Compare Prices
It’s wise to look at several driving schools to compare their pricing structures but be aware that the cheapest is not necessarily the best! Some driving schools offer blocks of lessons which can work out slightly cheaper than booking lessons individually and some have special offers available to beginners. At the same time, it is a good idea to find out about pass rates. A reputable driving instructor will be only too happy to give you full details of how many test passes they have had and what percentage of learners pass the first time. It stands to reason that a driving school which can show a good pass record is one to go for, whereas if they are not able or willing to show you any statistics then perhaps you should give them a miss.
Read Customer Reviews
The internet is the go-to destination for most people looking to find information about services and products – the modern day equivalent of word of mouth recommendation. Online customer reviews can be a useful source of information when it comes to finding the right driving instructor as customers will often provide a wealth of facts for you to consider. Always be objective when reading online reviews and be aware that they may not always be unbiased. Look for those that are happy to give different viewpoints as these are more likely to be accurate than those which give only glowing 5-star reports and nothing else!
Is There a Choice of Learner Vehicle?
It may help you to find out what sort of cars your preferred driving instructor can offer for learner drivers. For instance, if you have yet to develop your confidence you may not fancy the idea of learning to drive in an estate car or an SUV. Most driving schools have small, easy to manage hatchbacks and city cars which are suitable for most learners but make sure you find out before you commit to any lessons. Some also have automatic cars if this is your preference.
Avoid a Personality Clash!
Finally, the chemistry between you and your instructor is important as it will determine whether you enjoy your lessons or not. Talk to your preferred driving instructor beforehand to get an idea of how well you’ll get on with them and you’re sure to find the right one for you.
