Driving Test Waiting Lists

[nwtv2003]

I took my lessons with BSM, though they're good, they're damn expensive.

BSM (and id imagine AA) are a con. use an instructor that has been recommended by a friend is my advice. BSM just live off their brand, where as local one-man-bands operations have to basically live off recommendations.

I didn't choose BSM at first, I chose a guy who had teached my sister and my aunt, after several months I felt like I was getting nowhere, all I was doing was driving, no manoveures or anything like that! So I switched to BSM, granted it felt like a con, but I learned alot more from them and learnt manoveures and mirros, observation checks etc, even my instructor was friendlier.

I'm never surprised at the amount of Driving instructors who wait outside our college to pick up students, I saw about 4 in one go one day, I should also say not that many people attend my college!

[Martin]

I started with an independent recommended by a friend's friend. First lesson I wasn't impressed. He drove me out to a quit suburban street where, for the next hour, we basically drove round in a square of 4 streets practicing left turns.... and then he drove me home. His whole approach didn't impress me what with me being eager to make progress. After 2 lessons of basically the same as above, I decided to go with the BSM.
On my first lesson with them, we drove out to a quiet spot, he basically asked me to show him what I could do, we tried a 'Turn in the road' and emergency stop, then he asked if I was happy to drive home.
The contrast between the two 'first lessons' was stark. I shouldn't generalise but I think a lot of independent instructors are overly caution with their car and don't trust you with it quickly enough. Another thing - with the BSM you get a track record for you to keep which details your progress in every area. With Independent you're lucky to see the 3 lines of notes he scribbles into his folder about you. You have no idea of your progress and don't know what to aim towards. Another benefit of the BSM/AA etc is the availability of Mock Tests - going out under test conditions with another instructor you have never met. NOTHING can match the experience it gives you as test conditions with someone you have never met before is not something you can otherwise easily prepare for. A friend of mine is now on his 3rd independent instructor - the first was inflexible with lesson times and the second 'forgot' about the lesson too many times.
Yes the BSM is more expensive - but you pay for a professional, organised approach with a well trained instructor.