Independent Instructors
Independent instructors work alone - that is, they are not connected to any particular driving school.
Independent instructors can be the best, or the worst! Here's why:
For an independent instructor to earn a reasonable living, he needs to attract his own pupils. The best way for him to do that is by recommendation. To get lots of recommendations, he needs to be good. So that's a plus.
Against that, independent instructors who are not managing to keep a full diary need to cut costs. Usually the only way they do that is with the car. They run it longer and it gets tattier. It's very rare for any instructor, good or bad, to run a dangerous car, but old high mileage cars might be trickier to drive. Anyway, tatty old cars don't really reflect a good attitude of mind for someone who teaches as a living.
So, if you are taught by an independent instructor, you could be with the very best, or the very worst.
Here are two tips to look for when considering an independent:
- If he can start you the next day, or very soon, he hasn't got a 'full book'. That could mean he's struggling for business and there could be a reason for that. The very best instructors are booked way ahead.
- Price. If he's very cheap, there's a reason. You get what you pay for.
