Choosing the right instructor?
March 7th, 2021
Choosing a proven driving instructor. How to choose the right instructor?
There are at the time of writing, about 1,900 driving instructors in Ireland. How do you know you are choosing the right driving instructor? Firstly, there are some that are not officially registered with the RSA. These cannot update driving lessons or even legally give driving lessons. Make sure they are Approved Driving Instructors.
Then some will be new to the job or part time. These will usually charge less than the others. If you already know how to drive this may not be too bad. But if you are a beginner or are going for the test this is not a good idea. The less experienced driving instructor may not have the best range of techniques to teach you and they may not know the test routes or what the testers are looking for.
A good driving instructors should be willing help.
Beware of the pushy driving schools. If you do not like the feel of the person you are talking to get off the phone and do not give them your credit card details. Sometimes these are the schools that have pictures of the learners that have passed with them. This on face value can be good. But a big school can coerce a lot of learners into having their picture taken by an instructor. Personally, I do not like it. I would not want my photo taken are a haircut, a meal in a restaurant or a movie. All of our testimonials have been volunteered, not coerced. They are also traceable, so not fictitious. Do look for testimonials, but do not believe everything you see.
Find an instructor or school that is helpful. Have a look for good information, freely shown on their websites. Some schools do not give information to make you call them and then they can pressure you into booking. If you call, text or email them, expect to get a reply in the same format. But they should give plenty of information as that is what you will want from them in the lessons.
Any school can get an unhappy customer. But if there are a lot of bad reviews on social media or word of mouth best to steer clear. There is a lot to be said for gut feelings. If a conversation is going well, great. But if you feel something is not right about the instructor you are talking to, you may be better off finding someone different.
I hope this helps you in choosing the right driving instructor. Especially if you are getting lessons in a different area where we cannot help.
Category: by Darragh Dunne