Cheap Driving Lessons - Are you really getting value for money?

Recently I've been seeing more and more new driving schools appear in my area advertising cheap driving lessons with a variety of special deals. Offers such as '10 lessons for £99', '5 hours for £55' and '4 hours for £44' are appearing with increasing regularity. But is the customer really getting value for money? Personally I know that I could never operate my driving school offering such deals - it would barely cover my overheads - and I wouldn't want my business associated with anything 'cheap' anyway - so how are other driving schools achieving it?

Are you getting value for money?

Now I obviously can't speak about every driving school out there offering these deals but from the many stories I've heard the general answer is NO for a variety of reasons:

1. Sitting on the side of the road for most of the lesson. I often hear tales from pupils who have come to me from other driving schools that they would spend most of their lessons parked up in the car going over theory rather than getting in valuable practical work. This is a way that driving schools can cut costs - less fuel used and less wear and tear on their car. I once heard a story that a driving school in the area carried out a 2 hour highway code lesson with their pupils!
2. Tying on from the first point, less practical work on lessons is going to result in a decreased progress in the pupils driving skills. If you're sitting about for half of every lesson not actually driving then it's going to take you twice as long to get to test standard. So that '10 lessons for £99' deal looks good on the surface, but if it's going to take you double the lessons it would at a established and reputable driving school is it really a decent saving?
3. The initial offer will only be a one off and can include some terms and conditions. Once you've had your deal, the lesson price will go back to the driving school's standard prices. The terms and conditions on a '10 hours for £99' for example can typically be something like 3 hours to be held back for test day lesson. That would tie you to the driving school - you get your first 7 hours and then MUST stay with the driving school until your test to get the other 3 hours - something you might not want to do if you're not happy with the instruction being given to you.

So let's do a case study. John decides he wants some good quality driving lessons with a company that have good customer testimonials and some great recommendations. They charge £210 for 10 hours with the first hour free so the pupil can meet the instructor before making any further commitments. Typically this driving school will have a pupil ready for test at around 30 hours - therefore John will spend a total of £630 to pass his test.
James decides he wants to go for cheap driving lessons. He finds a random company online doing a '10 hours for £99' deal. However, due to the driving schools ways of cutting costs it takes James 50 hours to pass. The final 40 hours were also at the standard price of £200 for 10 hours. Also James wasn't particularly happy with his instructor but 3 hours was reserved for his test day so he didn't want to lose that. In total James had to pay £899 compared to John who paid £630. Also John managed it in around 4 months compared to James who took 7 months due to the extra lessons.

These cheap deals can look too good to be true and often are so beware. I think it's much better to choose a school on reputation, testimonials and recommendations rather than price - there's probably a good reason why one school can charge a lot more than another - you generally get what you pay for in this life!!

Please visit jodythomasdriving.co.uk for a reputable driving school that you can trust

Save on the cost of running your car – a simple guide

With the cost of motoring currently standing at over £3000 each year, motorists are looking at every option available to reduce expenses. It’s easy to make savings if you do the right research. Here are some common areas where car drivers are likely to feel the pinch and what can be done to keep costs down.

Fuel
According to Sainsbury’s Bank, the average car owner now spends almost £1800 on fuel each year. You could save on fuel bills by:

• Finding the best fuel prices in your area, by going online or using smartphone applications.
• Driving slowly and smoothly. According to the AA, driving at 70mph uses 15% more fuel than driving at 50 mph.
• Regularly servicing and maintaining your car at a reputable garage.

Car insurance
Sainsbury’s Bank also found that car insurance premiums cost motorists almost £815 on average annually, and are one of the main factors for the overall rise in motoring costs. To find the best insurance that suits your needs:

• Shop around. You could save on your car insurance by phoning around or going online. Always remember to compare like-for-like policies.
• Read the fine print and find out if your policy charges you extra depending on your personal circumstances (e.g. age or driving experience) and type of car.
• Park your car in a garage or on your drive, instead of in the street – this could reduce the cost of your premium.

Car tax
The car tax rates which came into effect on 1 April 2011 are aimed at reducing emissions, so it makes more sense than ever to drive a more fuel-efficient car. If your car falls in a high-polluting band, it will be taxed higher than a more fuel-efficient model.

Car owners with new, high-emission cars may have to pay an additional, one-off ‘showroom tax’ based on their car’s CO₂ emissions. Consumer campaign group Which? says a big family car could cost you up to £540 more than the standard rate for the first year of motoring. Consider sticking to a more eco-friendly model.

Servicing
Keeping your car well serviced could save you money in the long run. Don’t be tempted to ignore faults, as these could turn into major expenses. The AA advises car drivers not to compromise on important things such as timing belts and oil changes.

Instead, the organisation suggests drivers get a better deal by using reputable garages. Make sure you get a quote before agreeing to any repairs.

MOTs
Ensuring that your car is roadworthy is a legal requirement and, although the MOT itself may not cost a lot, it’s often the repairs that follow a failed MOT that push up costs.

It might be worth considering doing your next MOT at a local council run MOT centre instead of a private garage. These centres don’t handle repairs and therefore have nothing to gain from failing your car – so you might be less inclined to question their objectivity.

Tyres
Maintaining good tyres can help keep your car running costs down. The AA recommends driving smoothly, slowly and braking less often, to help preserve tyre condition. Tyre pressure should be checked every 2 weeks, and tyres with a tread depth of less than 2mm should be replaced. It’s especially worth checking tyre condition before autumn and winter.

Breakdown cover
Having the right breakdown cover for your car can put your mind at ease on the road. It’s important to consider the kind of cover you need, before deciding on a provider. If your car is prone to frequent breakdowns, you might need more thorough cover, but if it’s brand new you might only need basic roadside recovery.


Click the links for driving lessons in Tunbridge Wells and  an automatic driving school in Tunbridge Wells

Eco safe driving - a way to save money!

In the current economic climate we can always do with ways to save some cash and with petrol prices set to rise again what better way than to look at how you drive? With just a few changes to the way we drive our vehicles it's estimated you can save up to £400 per year on fuel. Have a look at the following tips to help:

Drive smoothly - Avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking which increases fuel usage. Look ahead and

                             read the road and hazards to limit stop-go driving.

Stay in gear       - Don't take your vehicle out of gear and in to neutral to coast down hills as this uses more

                             fuel. Stay in gear and ease off the gas, this will reduce fuel usage to almost nothing.

Check the revs  - Try and drive in the highest gear without the vehicle struggling, changing gear smoothly 

                              and ideally before 2000 rpm.

Drive light          - Dump all the weight in the car that doesn't need to be there, this will greatly reduce fuel

                              costs.

Slow down          - Take your time to reach your destination, you'll get there safer and more calmly as well 

                              using less fuel.

Put these tip into action and you'll see the difference it makes, not only to your safety but also your bank balance!

For more eco-safe tips or if you need a driving instructor in Tunbridge Wells click the link.