Can anyone recommend a cheap driving instructor?

It's a question that pops up on forums and Facebook groups all the time. But why on earth would you want a cheap driving instructor?

This is a question that pops up frequently on forums and Facebook groups and it always raises the same question in my mind.

Why on earth would you want a cheap driving instructor?

Responsible parents and pupils who are serious about learning to drive, and being able to do so safely long after passing their test, tend to want good instructors, patient instructors, recommended instructors, successful instructors, experienced instructors, qualified instructors, reputable instructors — or a hundred other superlatives I could include.

Learning to drive and becoming a safe driver isn't a cheap process, but as with many things in life, buying cheap often results in buying twice. I've lost count of the number of pupils who have eventually arrived with me desperate to pass their test, having sometimes wasted thousands of pounds on cheap driving instructors. They'd have saved themselves a fortune and a load of time if they'd just bought quality in the first place.

Now you might imagine that the cheapest instructors would be the busiest and have long waiting lists, but the opposite is often true — which begs the question: why is this instructor so cheap, and how come they are immediately available?

Passing the test is only the start

ADIs play a vital role in road safety. Passing the driving test is only the start. Far too many newly qualified drivers are killed and seriously injured every year because they didn't have the skills, understanding or experience to deal with a developing situation. More than 1 in 4 crash within the first year.

Is saving a few quid on lessons really worth seeing your son or daughter being cut out of a crumpled vehicle… or worse? Only last week, a 17-year-old driver drove into the harbour in Sunderland, killing 3 of his friends. He now faces a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and a long prison sentence, whilst his friends are never coming home.

Responsible, reputable and talented driving instructors don't tend to be the cheapest. We keep our prices fair and we deliver value for money, which is why we are in demand and others are desperate for work.

So do you really want recommendations for a cheap driving instructor, or would you like a really good one?