Only Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are legally allowed to teach for reward (profit!). You can tell if an instructor is an ADI because they will have a certificate displayed on the windscreen of their car.  Instructors who are training to be ADIs are also allowed to teach but with a pink certificate. A qualified ADI has a green certificate. Obviously it would make sense to choose an ADI who is both qualified and experienced. Don't be a part of someone elses training program!

All ADIs are self employed.  Many choose to join a franchise like the AA or BSM  and then teach under their banner.  Usually they do this because it simplifies their business, as the franchise provides a fully equipped car and a supply of pupils. The franchise name makes very little difference to the experience of the pupil because any company franchise.. BSM for instance will have some great instructors but also some poor instructors. In short it makes no difference what company an ADI teaches for, because it’s the ADIs skills and personality that affect your learning process.. not a snazzy logo. Choose a person not a company.

The best way to choose an instructor is by recommendation from friends or colleagues and don’t be afraid to change your ADI if you are not happy, especially in the early stages of learning. There are many good driving instructors out there to choose from!  So if your Instructor is regularly late or unreliable, if there is ever another pupil in the car with you, if your instructor shouts at you or is rude to you, if your instructor isn't keeping a record of your progress or even if you just don’t feel comfortable.. these are all good reasons to change. As I said before, it’s best to make these changes in the early stages of your learning.

Remember it’s not just the ADIs teaching ability that’s important, they will also need to be honest, reliable and someone you can get on with.

CHOOSE ME :-)

Don’t be a STASTISTIC
I don’t want to dwell on negative stuff.. not on this website. After all, learning to drive is a positive step.. but, as you probably know already, the accident statistics for new drivers, especially young new drivers are just horrible. So don’t skimp on your training both in terms of the number of lessons or the quality of the tuition. More lessons improve your chances of passing the Test first time and will make you a better safer driver. Do take “Pass Plus” (see FAQs)http://www.passplus.org.uk  for more experience, including motorway driving. Once you have passed the test, do remember that you become part of a very vulnerable group, even though you might  not feel like your in danger.