Yes, taking driving lessons with a professional instructor is generally worth it compared to learning from a non-professional (e.g., a friend or family member). Here’s why:

Advantages of Professional Driving Lessons

1. Structured Learning – Professional instructors follow a structured curriculum, ensuring you learn all the necessary skills in a logical order.
2. Up-to-Date Knowledge – Instructors are trained in current road laws, best driving practices, and test requirements.
3. Better Preparation for the Test – They know exactly what examiners look for and can help you avoid common mistakes.
4. Safety & Dual Controls – Many professional cars have dual controls, allowing instructors to intervene if needed.
5. Confidence & Stress Management – Professionals are trained to be patient and help nervous learners feel more comfortable. 

Potential Downsides of Learning from a Non-Professional

1. Bad Habits – Friends or family might pass down bad driving habits.
2. Lack of Structure – Non-professionals may not follow a proper step-by-step learning process.
3. Frustration & Stress – Learning from a loved one can sometimes lead to tension and frustration.
4. No Dual Controls – If something goes wrong, the person teaching you has no way to take control of the car.

Best Approach?

• If possible, take professional lessons first to build a strong foundation.
• Supplement with practice from a family member or friend to gain extra experience.
• If you’re on a budget, a mix of both can work, but ensure the non-professional is experienced and patient.
• https://mmdrivingschools.co.uk/contact-us/

The main difference between an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and a Trainee Driving Instructor (PDI) is their level of qualification and experience.

Here’s a breakdown:

1. Approved Driving Instructor (ADI)

✅ Fully Qualified – Has completed all three parts of the DVSA instructor qualification process.                   

✅ More Experienced – Has likely spent more time teaching learners.
✅ Recognized by DVSA – Listed as an official instructor.
✅ Green Badge – Displays a green badge in the car window.

Pros of Choosing an ADI:

• Fully trained and experienced.
• Can provide structured lessons with a tested teaching approach.
• More likely to help you pass efficiently.
•  https://mmdrivingschools.co.uk/intensive-non-intensive-driving-lessons/

2. Trainee Driving Instructor (PDI)

🛠️ In Training – Has passed the first two tests but is still working on the final qualification.
🛠️ Limited Experience – May not have as much teaching practice.
🛠️ Licensed to Teach Learners – Can provide lessons but is still being assessed.
🛠️ Pink Badge – Displays a pink badge in the car window.

Pros of Choosing a PDI:

• Sometimes offers cheaper lessons.
• Still trained, but may not have as much experience as an ADI.
• Could be more motivated to help learners as they gain experience.

Which Should You Choose?

• If you want a highly experienced instructor, go for an ADI.
• If you’re looking for lower-cost lessons and don’t mind a less experienced teacher, a PDI can still be a good option.
• https://youtu.be/xMT4ua4yXKw?si=8x-aJl1J4Ihqx8ga

1. Learn the Basics of the Car

Before hitting the road, familiarize yourself with the essential car controls:

• Steering wheel – Controls the direction.
• Gas pedal (accelerator) – Increases speed.

  

• Brake pedal – Slows down or stops the car.
• https://mmdrivingschools.co.uk/intensive-non-intensive-driving-lessons/
• Clutch pedal (for manual cars) – Used to change gears.
• Gear shift – Controls the car’s power and speed.
• Handbrake – Keeps the car stationary when parked.
• Mirrors – Used to check surroundings.
• Indicators & Lights – Used for signaling turns and visibility.

2. Find a Good Instructor

• A certified driving instructor can teach you the best practices.
• Alternatively, a licensed family member or friend can help you practice.

3. Choose a Safe and Open Practice Area

• Empty parking lots or quiet residential streets are ideal for beginners.

4. Start with the Basics

• Adjust your seat & mirrors for comfort and visibility.
• Practice steering control in an empty area.
• Learn to use the brakes smoothly to avoid sudden stops.
• Get used to acceleration and maintaining a steady speed.

5. Master Turning and Lane Discipline

• Always use your indicators before turning.
• Check mirrors and blind spots before switching lanes.
• Practice wide and tight turns at different speeds.

  

6. Learn Traffic Rules and Signs

• Study road signs and signals.
• Understand right-of-way rules at intersections.
• Follow speed limits and road markings.

7. Practice Parking

• Try parallel parking, reverse parking, and angle parking in empty spaces before moving to busier areas.

8. Drive in Different Conditions

• Once confident, practice in light traffic, then progress to highways.
• Try driving in rain or nighttime conditions for experience.

9. Stay Calm and Confident

• Avoid panic in tricky situations; stay patient.
• Keep both hands on the wheel and focus on the road.

10. Prepare for the Driving Test

• Follow all road laws and practice common test scenarios.
• Get comfortable with maneuvers like three-point turns and emergency stops.

Common Mistakes Made During the Driving Test:

• Not Observing Mirrors Frequently Enough
  • Explanation of the importance of mirror checks.
  • Consequences of failing to check mirrors regularly.
• Failing to Signal Properly
  • The role of signalling in road safety and communication with other drivers.
  • How improper or late signalling can lead to mistakes.
• Poor Manoeuvre Execution
  • The complexity of manoeuvres like parallel parking .
  • Tips for practising these manoeuvres effectively.
• Inadequate Observation at Junctions
  • The need for careful observation before emerging at junctions.
  • Common errors, such as failing to look both ways or missing cyclists/pedestrians.
• Speeding or Driving Too Slowly
  • The importance of maintaining an appropriate speed.
  • How to gauge speed limits and adjust to road conditions.

Intensive driving lessons can offer several benefits, especially for learners who want to get their driving license quickly or need to improve their skills in a short period. Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Faster Learning Process

• Intensive driving lessons compress the learning experience into a shorter time frame. This allows you to cover more material in a condensed period, potentially enabling you to pass your driving test sooner compared to taking weekly lessons over a longer duration.

2. Improved Retention

• With intensive lessons, you practice driving more frequently, which can help reinforce learning. The shorter gaps between lessons may reduce the chance of forgetting key skills or concepts between sessions, leading to better retention and quicker mastery.

3. Constant Practice

• Since intensive driving lessons often occur over several consecutive days, you get more consistent and focused practice. This can accelerate your learning, making you more confident behind the wheel.

4. Build Confidence Quickly

• Intensive courses allow learners to gain hands-on experience over a shorter time, which can help boost confidence and reduce driving anxiety. Practicing consistently allows learners to become more comfortable and less nervous when driving.

5. Tailored to Your Needs

• Intensive driving courses often come with personalized lesson plans that are adapted to your individual needs and progress. This targeted approach helps ensure you focus on the areas where you need the most improvement.

6. Flexible Scheduling

• Many intensive driving schools offer flexible lesson schedules, meaning you can choose times that work best for you, whether that’s during the week, weekends, or in the evenings.

7. Reduced Waiting Time for Tests

• In some areas, taking an intensive driving course might allow you to schedule your practical driving test sooner. If the course provider can arrange for you to take the test soon after completing lessons, it can help avoid long waiting times for a test date.

8. Cost-Effective for Some

• While intensive courses may seem more expensive upfront, they may work out cheaper in the long run. The amount of time spent on lessons over a short period can reduce the number of lessons required, potentially making it more economical than taking regular lessons over several months.

9. Dealing with Nervousness or Test Anxiety

• If you feel nervous or anxious about driving or taking your driving test, intensive lessons can help you overcome these feelings by providing more consistent exposure to driving, making you more prepared for the test.

10. Convenience

• For individuals who need to get their license quickly due to work or other commitments, intensive driving lessons offer a more convenient and effective way to achieve this goal within a short period.

In summary, intensive driving lessons can help you become a competent and confident driver more quickly, making it ideal for people who want to pass their test in a short timeframe or who learn better with more concentrated practice. However, they may not be suitable for everyone, as some people prefer a more gradual pace to build their driving skills. Intensive driving lessons offer numerous benefits, allowing learners to develop their driving skills at an accelerated pace. This method is particularly advantageous for individuals seeking to pass their driving test within a shorter timeframe or those who thrive with concentrated practice. Nevertheless, it is important to note that intensive lessons might not be suitable for everyone, as some individuals may prefer a more gradual approach to mastering driving skills.

A good driving instructor has several key qualities that make the learning experience effective, enjoyable, and safe. Here are some signs to look for:

1. Patience: A good instructor is calm, understanding, and doesn’t get frustrated easily, even if you’re making mistakes. They know that learning to drive can be challenging.
2. Clear Communication: They explain instructions clearly, breaking down complex driving tasks into simple, manageable steps. They should be able to adapt their explanations to match your level of understanding.
3. Encouragement and Positive Reinforcement: Instead of focusing only on what you’re doing wrong, a good instructor will praise your progress and efforts. This helps to build your confidence and reduces anxiety.
4. Adaptability: Every student learns at a different pace, and a skilled instructor will adjust their teaching methods to suit your learning style, whether you need more repetition or visual explanations.
5. Strong Knowledge and Experience: A good instructor should have a deep understanding of traffic laws, road safety, and driving techniques. They should be well-qualified and experienced in teaching new drivers.
6. Professionalism: They arrive on time, maintain a calm and respectful attitude, and keep the driving lessons structured and focused on your goals.
7. Calm Under Pressure: A good instructor remains calm in potentially stressful situations, helping you to stay composed and learn how to manage pressure while driving.
8. Provides Constructive Feedback: Instead of just pointing out mistakes, a good instructor will explain how to improve, offering helpful advice for better driving habits and safety practices.
9. Encourages Self-Reflection: A great instructor will encourage you to think about your driving after each lesson, helping you to identify areas where you can improve on your own.
10. Safety-Oriented: They emphasize the importance of safety, not just in terms of following traffic laws but also in defensive driving techniques and being aware of road conditions and other drivers.

If your driving instructor embodies these traits, you’re likely learning from someone who is dedicated to helping you become a skilled and confident driver.

Does the rise of the EV really mean the death of the manual gearbox? 

While the number of cars offered with a manual gearbox will dwindle over the next few years, fans of self-shifting needn’t get too despondent, because some car makers are coming up with modern takes on the manual ’box.

If you’re able to afford a new or nearly new car, in particular an electric car or plug-in hybrid, there is little point in taking the manual test. Learning to drive in an EV will give you valuable experience of the driving characteristics of these cars.

“All EVs ,PHEVs and Hybrid cars are automatic, so in the near future, most people will drive an automatic,”

Evidence of the change in learning preferences working as a driving instructor, switch to a car with an automatic gearbox because that’s where there was greater demand.

Data shows that in 2023, 37% of people training to be a driving instructor with the chose an automatic vehicle rather than a manual.

Many existing instructors are also switching to autos.

The rise in the popularity of EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHE Vs) is also fuelling the change with Free road tax for most of hybrid and all electrics.

The renowned car seller website Autotraders.com mostly advertise hybrid or electric car for sale.

New vans and cars all electric for sale and people start charging with portable 3 plug charger at work nowadays sometimes FREE .

(Amazon link below)

(https://www.amazon.co.uk/LCLCTEK-Charger-Electric-Waterproof-5M-Wihte/dp/B0D11XGCGW?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A39M22S7EW069A)

The AA began to offer lessons in EVs in March 2022, with learners taking around 49,000 hours of driving lessons in them during the first year. That year, 10% of total passes were from pupils who had spent time learning in an EV.

learning in an EV helps new drivers become familiar with some of the unique aspects of EV driving, such as charging and regenerative braking, and this can help them feel confident choosing one when they have passed their test.

Is it easier to take your test in an automatic car? 

With no clutch control to learn and gears to manage, you might think it’s easier to pass your test in a car with an automatic gearbox. However, statistics suggest this isn’t the case.

Pass rates for tests taken in automatic cars have lagged behind those for manual vehicles for the past decade, although the gap between the two has closed in recent years.

In 2013 to 2014, only 39% of those who took the test in an automatic passed the first time, compared with 48% for manual cars.

In 2023, though, 43% of the tests taken in automatics resulted in a pass, compared with 50% for manuals.

Lower pass rate for autos down to the fact that learners in manual cars have often had more time behind the wheel to practise driving skills.

Good car control among drivers of automatics could be mistaken for test readiness, when, in fact, the learners still need more time to develop correct decision-making on the road.

In general, the mistakes drivers make when failing their tests in an automatic will largely be the same as those who fail in a manual car.

“Observation, particularly at junctions, is often where pupils fall short, and the correct use of mirrors and proper steering control are among the top reasons why pupils do not pass their practical test.”