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Choosing a driving instructor is very important.
You will most likely spend upwards of 35 hours sat next to this person, at least an hour a week, so it’s vital you get on with them.
Not only will the right tuition save you money, but you will also become a safer driver. I would of course advocate you choose Micky Dunn ADI, however a limited number of places for students and of course proximity to my area means you may need to search elsewhere.
Therefore, I will give you an unbiased run down of what to look for in a driving instructor.
We will look at some common questions, and explore if they are important or not.

Is your instructor fully qualified?

A good place to start is with the qualification held by the instructor.
All driving instructors are vetted quite rigorously by the DVSA. Because of the nature of the work they do, they are alone with a virtual stranger, and quite rightly must be a fit and proper person, with good character.
All are DBS checked, and any change in circumstance, including receiving points on the driving licence can mean removal from the register.
However, there are two licences an instructor can teach on.
ADI (Approved Driving Instructor – green badge) and PDI (Potential Driving Instructor pink badge)
An ADI is a trainer for car driving who has been tested and registered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
A completely different licence is issued for those who are still in the process of their training. That’s called the PDI licence, which is a licence to be a potential driving instructor.
Now a PDI may go on to become an excellent instructor, but if a PDI does not qualify within six months, their licence is withdrawn and they are not allowed to instruct.
I have received many part trained students whose instructor has failed their final test, which not only leaves them looking for another instructor, but more often than not with gaps in their knowledge.
The pass rate to qualify as an ADI is about 30% (21.6% in Birmingham), which means around 70% of PDIs never become a driving instructor, even though they are allowed to practice on learner drivers.

Taught to pass the test or to drive?

Does your intended school advertise teaching you to drive, or to pass your test as soon as possible.
40% of new drivers are involved in an accident within their first twelve months, which is a disturbing statistic.
This is often because students are taught to pass the test rather than to drive.
A lot of schools advertise they will get you through the driving test in a week, which may sound enticing, but you must consider how dangerous it is to be in control of a vehicle, without all the necessary skills to be a safe driver.
I know of one school who don’t teach complex roundabouts because there are none within reach of their test centre – so their students pass the test without the knowledge or experience to negotiate a spiral roundabout.

Independent or national schools?

There are pro’s and cons to this one.
The big national schools, such as Bill Plant, RED, BSM etc. are competitive and their drivers have standards they are expected to adhere to.
With these you will find deals and special offers, you will most likely have a new vehicle, a good online system and a call centre to speak to.
The national schools also have by far the highest percentage of PDIs, as that is their business model, so you may be left high and dry if you don’t insist on an ADI, and your PDI doesn’t qualify. Independent schools tend to work in one area, often have older cars, and the ADIs often have have many years of experience.
This is not always a bonus however, as in 2014 the DVSA completely changed the way tuition is delivered from ‘instruction’ to ‘coaching’
This means an independent may not be teaching CCL (client centred learning)

Where is my instructor from – are they ‘local’?

Following on from the last point, there are again pros and cons of the area your instructor covers.
If your instructor is from another area, the chance is he may know your area to an extent – but not in the detail of one who concentrates on one area.
A local instructor will know every inch of their tuition area, so if there is a problem with your driving they can divert to find features to practice on which will concentrate specifically on the fault in question.
The downside to this is that a local ADI will often not stray out of their area, sometimes only focusing on test routes.
I cover 7 different test centres, and not one of them contain all the features you need to experience to be a confident test ready student.
I know my local area inside out, but I am also very familiar with all of the other areas.
All my students will drive at least three test areas before they are test ready.

Are my new lessons cheap or expensive?

This could be a false economy if your decision is price led.
In the scheme of things, this is a skill for life, and a couple of pounds difference a week could leave you lacking in some areas of knowledge, and a dangerous driver should you pass without full training.
You may also spend longer with a cheaper instructor, totally negating the amount you saved originally.
On the flip side, you may find the cheapest instructor is the one you get on with like a house on fire, and your lessons are so enjoyable you fly through your test first time with minimal tuition.
So the answer to this one is don’t base your decision on price, go with the instructor who suits you best.

Block bookings?

My advice for block bookings are:
Yes – absolutely. Take them, they will save you money.
Make it clear from the start, and ask your instructor what their policy is regarding a refund on any lessons you don’t use.
But – before booking a block, have at least 4 or 5 hours with the instructor before committing, as you really need to know if you’re going to get along together.

Do they have any odd policies?

Make sure you are aware of, and are happy with their cancellation policy.
Most ADIs work on a 48 hour no refund policy.
There is reason for this, as it is their livelihood, and to have a cancellation at short notice can be frustrating.
I would suggest each cancellation be looked at on an individual basis, as often the reason is genuine, and repeat offenders are (here at least) not tolerated.
Other things I have seen ADIs ask for are payments for kerbed alloys, burst tyres etc. (all of which should be avoided by, and so are the responsibility of, the ADI)
It is important to know where you stand though.

Are they recommended?

And finally, nothing is better or more reassuring than having a personal recommendation from a friend or family member who you trust.
Ask them lots of questions, as although they may recommend an instructor, it may have been the only one they experienced, and factor in all the other advice here.

Anything else?

Probably, but there is plenty here to be going on with.
Good luck, and stay safe.