What Information to Give When Asking for Driving Lessons

If you only write "How much are lessons?" an instructor will not have enough to check their diary or give a clear answer. They need some basics about you, where you are and when you are free so they can see if they have space and what lessons are likely to cost.

On the free search on MyInstructorFinder, the form collects these details and sends them to instructors whose areas, cars and lesson times match what you choose.

1. Key details for your first message

Your first enquiry can stay short. A few clear points let an instructor see if they can take you on and give a more accurate idea of price.

Licence, age and car type

According to GOV.UK, you must hold a valid UK provisional licence before you have paid lessons or practise on the road. RAC Drive advises learners to bring this licence to every lesson. Some instructors also ask for your DVLA check code.

In your first message, include:

• Your age
• Provisional licence status, for example "licence has arrived" or "waiting for it"
• Your driving experience, such as "never driven" or "had 5 lessons"
• Whether you want manual or automatic lessons

  This helps the instructor confirm you are ready to start and that they have the right car for you.

  Area, lesson times and goals

  Instructors usually cover set areas and plan routes around pick ups. They also need a rough idea of how often you hope to drive and what you are working towards.

  Include:

  • Your postcode or neighbourhood
  • Likely pick up points, such as home, work or college
  • Simple time windows, such as "weekdays after 4pm" or "Sunday mornings only"
  • If you are a beginner, returning after a break or building up to a test
  • Any deadline, such as a theory or practical test date, job start or move

    These details help the instructor check their diary and suggest suitable slots without lots of back and forth messages.

    Nerves, practical needs and comfort

    Short notes about how you learn and any needs in the car can make it easier to find a good match.

    The eyesight rules on GOV.UK include being able to read a car number plate from 20 metres. If you use glasses or contact lenses for driving, tell the instructor and take them to every lesson.

    You can share high level medical or learning needs, such as "I have dyslexia" or "I get very anxious". You do not need to give detail. Only share what you are comfortable sharing and that you feel is relevant for safe lessons. Instructors are not medical professionals, so you should follow your own medical advice and only share what they need to keep lessons safe and comfortable.

    Instructors may ask a few follow up questions so they can adapt lessons appropriately. If you are unsure what to share, you can ask what they need to know to keep lessons safe and comfortable for you. You can also say if you would prefer a female instructor or someone used to working with anxious learners.

    2. Questions to ask about lessons

    Once an instructor seems suitable, a few focused questions help you picture how lessons are structured and what they cost.

    Lesson length and what to expect early on

    RAC Drive notes that first lessons are often between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours. They usually include pick up, a run through the vehicle controls and time on quieter roads. This can vary by instructor, so ask how they usually structure lessons.

    Useful questions include:

    • How long lessons usually last, for example 1 hour or 1.5 hours
    • Where lessons will start and finish
    • What you should bring, such as your provisional licence, corrective eyewear if needed and thin soled shoes
    • What they normally cover in the first few sessions

      Instructors often start with the cockpit drill and basic controls, then move on to a simple route on quiet roads so you can build confidence at lower speeds. They usually review how the lesson went and give tips for the next session. Ask how this instructor approaches those early sessions so you know what to expect.

      Planning your progress

      You can ask how the instructor plans your progress. For example, when they move you from quiet roads to busier ones, when you are likely to try dual carriageways and when they introduce manoeuvres. This helps you see how their plan fits your goals or any deadlines.

      RAC Drive suggests using the time between lessons to study the Highway Code, road signs and speed limits. It also recommends a good night's sleep before lessons and non restrictive clothing with thin soled shoes so you can control the pedals accurately.

      DVSA approval

      GOV.UK explains that anyone you pay for driving lessons must be an approved driving instructor (ADI) or a trainee instructor. They must display a DVSA badge in the windscreen: green for a qualified ADI, pink for a trainee.

      You can ask in your message: "Are you a DVSA approved driving instructor (ADI) or a trainee instructor, and will you display your green or pink badge during lessons?" When you get in the car, check that the badge is clearly shown in the windscreen rather than relying only on what was said in messages.

      3. Prices, policies and private practice

      Before you commit to regular slots, you need clear prices and basic policies.

      Lesson prices and policies

      You can ask:

      • How much lessons cost and if evenings or weekends cost more
      • If they offer pay as you go or block bookings, and how you pay
      • What their cancellation policy and notice period are
      • If they are happy to advise on supervised practice with family or friends

        Lesson prices and policies often vary by instructor, so ask how this instructor structures lessons and payments.

        Private practice and insurance

        When you practise in a family or friend's car, GOV.UK explains the rules on supervision and L plates for learner drivers. You also need to be properly insured to drive the car. Insurance providers such as the Alan Boswell Group highlight the need for suitable learner cover while you are driving.

        4. Using MyInstructorFinder for your first enquiry

        A clear first message usually leads to quicker replies and more accurate information on dates and prices. If you prefer not to contact several instructors yourself, MyInstructorFinder can handle the first enquiries for you.

        When you start a free instructor search, you enter your postcode, driving status, car type, likely lesson times and key preferences such as nerves or deadlines. MyInstructorFinder then contacts suitable instructors to check real availability, current prices, likely start dates and basic terms.

        The search itself is free. You only pay a booking fee if MyInstructorFinder secures a real instructor offer that you choose to accept. If we do not secure an offer that works for you, or you decide not to accept any offer, you do not pay a booking fee.

        The booking fee is for using the MyInstructorFinder service to secure that offer and is separate from the lesson price. Instructors set their own lesson prices and payment methods, and you pay them directly for each lesson. Our aim is that the lesson price you pay matches what the instructor normally charges their own learners, but we do not control or guarantee their prices. Any final price, increases or discounts are set by the instructor and agreed directly between you and them.

        Before you press send, run through a short checklist: provisional licence status, age, postcode, pick up point, manual or automatic, when you are free, your goals, nerves or practical needs, and a few clear questions about lessons and prices. That is usually enough for an instructor to give you a useful reply and a simple way to get started.