Are Local Driving Instructors Better Than National Driving Schools?

The two contrasting impressions that can come to mind when the subject of comparing ‘Independent’ vs. ‘National’ driving schools are that the first will provide the more ‘personal’ service, caring for your specific needs and requirements, while the second will provide a more professional driving lessons service, potentially with newer vehicles.

The reality of the matter is that national driving schools will simply be using self employed, local driving instructors who are paying the driving school a franchise fee.

These franchises will generally provide driving instructors with a vehicle, some advertising, sometimes pupils, etc. Assuming that the instructor that you learn to drive with is fully qualified instructor (not all national schools exclusively use full qualified trainers) there should be little difference in the abilities of the individual trainer.

The difference is more likely to come down to the fact that the instructors who are working for the larger driving schools have higher ‘outgoings’. This could well result in higher charges for the pupils or lower pay per hour for the instructor. This ‘lower pay’ could then result in a less motivated instructor, or in a slightly ‘overworked’ and tired trainer, who is trying to make up for the lower income with more work.

In my experience, there is no ‘better choice’ if you are going to select a driving instructor at random – they both have their pros and cons. The important aspect is finding out information on the specific instructor (with National driving schools you are more likely to be told that a driving instructor will collect you – as opposed to finding out which driving instructor, including qualifications, experience etc. – thus removing the possibility of making your own choice).

Alan runs Choosy Learner Ltd. Anyone who wants to learn to drive can use the Choosy Learner service to get quotes from driving schools that are registered in their area. From driving courses Leicester
to learn to drive in Preston, Choosy Learner can help. Simply visit https://www.choosylearner.com.