Find a driving school that is close to your home or work. This will make learning and the entire process much easier. Ask your friends and neighbours for references and recommendations. If you still can’t make up your mind look into the yellow pages or surf the web. Type in “driving schools” and the suburb you live in. Make sure you know what you need from a driving school. Talk to some of the instructors and narrow it down considering who you felt most comfortable talking to. Feel free to compare prices, but keep in mind you get what you pay for. Don’t choose on the basis of price. Cheap, will usually mean just that, cheap. Expect an old car and no structured program. They will just drive you around in circles and not teach you anything in particular. If your chosen school fits into your budget and you feel comfortable with them book a lesson. Some driving schools have packages for bulk lessons or they can charge you by the hour. Do the maths and find out which one of the two suits you better. The next step is to meet with the instructor on a lesson. Once you meet them, you can gauge their teaching methods and style of working. Make sure you have the answers to a few questions-

• Does the driving school seem trustworthy?
• How much experience does the instructor have?
• Do you think you gel with the instructor?
• Do they have a structured driving program?
• Do they coach you for your driving test – including mock tests?
• Is the driving school certified?
• Can they work around your timings and schedule?
• Do they provide a pick up and drop off facility for lessons and the test?
• Make sure the school is insured and the instructor is qualified.
• If you are a parent make sure you look into the driving school your child has chosen. Don’t save money and compromise on the quality of the school. Make sure they are making the right decision.
• Even after you have chosen your driving school you are not comfortable with the instructor, you can always ask the proprietor if there is another instructor who can take you. You are going to be spending a lot of time in the car together.

Taking the wheel of a car is considered to be the first step to adulthood and eventual independence. For those of us who missed out getting our licenses at 18, there’s no need to worry. It’s never too late to learn.

All states require you to have a valid driving license in order to drive. These licenses have to be obtained from the respective Department of Motor Vehicles of the state you live in, after passing the required tests which include written as well as practical ones.

Now there’s just one small hitch. How do you pass a practical driving test without knowing how to drive? The answer comes in the form a driving instructor.

All you have to do is to enroll in a driving school and you’ll soon find yourself behind the wheel of a car, scaring the wits out of the instructor assigned to teach you the skills of driving. The job of the instructor can be a little hard, especially since it involves him putting his life into your inexperienced hands, literally.

Let’s take a look at some of the qualifications and requirements a driving instructor must go through to make such a sacrifice.

Most states require driving instructors to be 21 years of age and have a minimum of 2 years of recent licensed driving experience. They must also be certified by the Department of Motor Vehicles of the state they reside in as a certified driving school instructor.

Education-wise, they must either have a high school diploma or a general educational development diploma. Furthermore, they must have completed a 30 hour driving school instructor’s course of study within the first year of them getting their license.

They must also pass vision tests, written tests, road sign tests, and instructor road tests that are specifically designed for driving school instructors. Phew! That’s a long list of qualifications and requirements.

So the next time you want to scream back at your driving school instructor, remember that his entire family depends on your driving skills to see that he gets back home from work safe.

Here is an overview of the courses you can expect to get from any excellent driving school:

Driving lessons for beginners

Three point turns, reverse parks and emergency stops – you’ll get to learn how to do all these and more when you first visit a driving school to learn how to drive.

The vast majority of lessons given by any driving instructor are to complete beginners. It’s then up to you to decide whether you want to take advantage of any other courses or services offered by the school.

Intensive driving courses

Not everyone has the time to fit weekly lessons into their schedule, and some people want to pass their test and get on the road as quickly as possible. To this end many driving schools offer an intensive course designed to enable you to learn how to drive and pass your test within a very short time – sometimes in as little as a week.

You will usually pay a flat fee for this kind of course, which will include the practical part of the driving test.

Take a mock test

The practical driving test can be nerve wracking for anyone to take, regardless of age or the number of lessons you’ve had. That’s why many schools now offer a mock test to give you a feel of what to expect on the day.

It is conducted exactly as the real test would be, enabling you to experience a dry run of the real thing. It can also alert you to any areas of your driving ability that you need to brush up on, with the help of your instructor.

Driving assessment

This runs along similar lines to a mock test. Instead of taking the form of a test, however, it’s an assessment of how good a driver you are, and whether you are ready to take your test.

Many people find this a good way to evaluate their skills, so they can better prepare for the test itself.

Pass Plus

Hard as it may be to remember, passing your driving test is only the first step on the road to developing your driving skills. These skills come with experience, and you can begin to nurture that experience by taking a Pass Plus course to become an even better driver.

This course is highly recommended for all new drivers, as it will help to build your confidence and abilities for long term benefit.

Motorway tuition

The driving test doesn’t take into account the skills necessary to be a good motorway driver. Therefore the first experience many people have of motorway driving is some time after passing their test, with no prior experience to prepare them for it.

This is why it’s worth taking a special course of lessons to learn the proper skills and knowledge needed to drive responsibly and safely at all times when on the motorway.

Advanced Motoring Course

This course not only makes you a better driver, it also makes you a safer driver. Lots of people find it difficult to judge the right speed for each situation they encounter, and an advanced driving course will help you learn how to gauge this properly.

It will also enable you to drive competently and safely – a skill we should all strive to have.

Refresher courses

These are ideal if you haven’t driven for a while, as they help to renew your confidence and refresh your memory of what it’s like to be behind the wheel of a car.

The instructor will be able to advise you on any areas which need brushing up on, while assisting you in becoming a better and more confident driver. It’s also an excellent way to get used to driving longer distances in more traffic, if you are only used to driving near home.

So you can see, whatever your needs are as a driver, you are sure to be able to find a course to suit you. Whether you want to start learning, or develop the knowledge you already have, there are plenty of experienced and qualified driving instructors there to help every step of the way.