The AA Driving School Reviews

Name: The AA Driving School
Address: Fanum House, Basing View,, RG21 4EA
Rating: 3.94

3.9 Rating 860 Reviews

74 %

of reviewers recommend The AA Driving School

Company Reviews

Questions

Metrics

3.9

Based on 860 reviews

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Postal Service
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Under An Hour

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Phone:

0330 100 7470

Email:

customer.services@theaa.com

Location:

Fanum House, Basing View,
RG21 4EA
Basingstoke

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The AA Driving School 5 star review on 12th November 2024

164

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Sort by: Most Recent Most Recent Highest Rated Filter: None None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“My instructor is David Meredith, he is amazing,very calm and punctual.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“I took Refresher Lessons with Raj, not having driven for more than 10 years and never before in the UK (i.e. on the left side of the road). Raj was extremely patient and more-so I liked his approach to learning, planning ahead, explaining the hiccups and where I needed to improve. He took me from, what I felt was very close to zero, to being a fairly confident driver in 4 sessions (8 hours of driving). He has been encouraging me continuously which helped me to progress at a fast pace and to being confident in my driving skills. I also liked his honesty as, although we initially discussed to top-up with 2 extra sessions on the 3 bought initially, he thought, due to my good progress, that I only needed 1 more extra session and he openly said this. I was very scared to go behind the wheel again so I’m very happy I chose Raj as an instructor. I highly recommend Raj if your goal is to become a good driver.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“The AA Driving school made me happy by providing me with a great driving instructor named JESUTHASAN RAJKUMAR ( Raj ). He knows all the rules of driving very well and is such an encouraging man wants everyone to pass. He also knows the ins and outs of driving so well and his test route predictions are always correct! I was very happy that i came across Raj, helped me pass after 2 previous fails, would recommend to anyone learning to drive no matter the experience.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“They took my money upfront, the driver scheduled cancelled the lesson at the last minute and nobody will refund me. All emails ignored over the span of 6 months and no telephone contact option. I’ve been robbed of £66. Absolutely appalling service.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“I highly recommend Faisal Anwar - he is a committed educator whose patience, encouragement and calm nature are a god send. He truly dedicates himself to his students. I never felt rushed as he always made it super clear that he could re explain something or I could have another go if I didn't quite get it. Brilliant teacher who helped me pass with zero faults. Thank you Faisal!”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Had 4 lessons booked, including one booked a month in advance for my practical test. 1 last minute cancellation, 3 no shows. I missed my test as a result. AA took no responsibility, just said they cant reach the instructor, did not offer an alternative instructor, have not refunded or even replied to any of my complaints. It's been 2 months since original complaint. Still nothing. Avoid like the pox.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“My driving instruktor was Darren. I thinnk he is good instruktor. I was statisfied wit lesson with Darren, I meet hem I say him my english no is perfect but I understood. Darren was very bussy so I doing lesson few days with time gab. I no was perfect I pass with him 36 hours. I remeber he say me about how he was witness car accident better said cycle and car acciden. Cycle no give way and ride from give way road without LOOKING and car hit cycle and bike hit car when Darren was learning somebody. He say me when His son have first lesson with him he hurt finger from the back of the car. That no was seriously accident but only funny accident. ( That's look like me and Darren find way to understoonding with my language barrier) I try do from me best what I can even I no have perfect english I was glad when I meet instruktor like him. He help me and learned good basics. I pay Dareen 35 per hour. 10 hours 350. One time he was on holiday and I try diferent driving instrukor he was understood me but I no like lesson with new instruktor him take for one hour 33,50. I canceled new instruktor and I come back to Darren. But I pay for name Darren 33,50 per hour and no 35. I on webside touch for lesson wit Darren and I pay the amount that was shown to me. I try my first theory test I need have 43 good answer for pass. I got 42. Everything look normal with Darren I need more lesson and I believe in me when I lern drive more I will better. Sure I was need time. Darren me write a payd bad money. I write text your company can take money from my top up. I no want payd less because for me no was going on big price. I no have any problem payd money what is missing. Exacly I have pay Darren pn webside 50£ less. Ok I no have any problem payd. A have booked my last lesson for bad proce 33,50 per one hour. I pay 2 hours. That was 67 pound. Company canceled my last lesson and take 67 pound and I I unintentionally "owed" only 50 pound so that's mean company was take 17£ more from me. That's silly price I no want and I do no will solve 17£ I don't give a sh#t about that's embarrassing price in addition. But after these Darren me write he no wont me learnig because from my language barrier. That's was about money from sh#ts mistake your company. No about "barriers my language". I doing with driving mistakes because I need learning of course. But Darren now very good my english no is extremely bad. But after all Darren is realy good patiently instruktor if you will take attention from good price from silly AA webside. I can say you will with Darren apparently satisfied. I'm just disappointed that my language barrier wasn't a problem until the embarrassing organization wrote me a bad price.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Awful driving instructors so rude and unpaient I was parking up outside my own property and I waited for them to move back I waited paitent until the car was back then I slowly moved forward and he horns at me when I wasn't anywhere near to the car at all but he clearly chose to me rude and asked why wouldn't I wait when I already waited and my foot was still on brake. I felt ridiculously humiliated and he said to me I should take my driving test again clearly disrespectful to the effort I have put to pass my driving how rude of him are these the type of instructors you have in company he shouldn't even be a driving instructor clearly he doesn't know himself how yo teach driving to his customers if his just spoken to me that way! Absolutely awful experience”

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Posted 2 years ago

“I highly recommend taking lessons with Jesuthasan Rajkumar (Raj). Raj is a friendly person and he made me feel comfortable. He was quick to establish my needs and most importantly he was very helpful and patient. Raj was very accommodating and professional. My confidence has grown since taking lessons with him.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“I embarked on an ADI driving instructor course over three years ago, and the end result was a total disaster in my opinion partly due to the inaction of the AA when I expressed concerns about my readiness to do the part 3 test. My initial training was good, so I can’t fault my first trainer at the beginning. I was well on my way to passing he said. Then the pandemic hit, no fault of the AA of course but that obviously threw this he off kilter for a while. But then my trainer left the AA to pursue another career, and the new trainer seemed reluctant to provide more training, he just persuaded me that a mentor session would be adequate to pass the part 3 test (which is regarded as the most difficult part to pass). However, my main concern was that due to other work commitments, I was unable to have enough time to make having a ‘pink licence’ worthwhile. And so have very little opportunity to have real pupils. All throughout my training, it was known to my trainers that I would only be able to have a full license holder as the part 3 “pupil”. No training or advice was given on this in any shape or form. My part 3 was a distaster. The last mentor session seemed to suggest everything I was doing was fine. I put their advice into practice during my test and the examiner said I needed to do things very differently to pass. It was as if all the training was wrong. Don’t believe what the AA tell you about instructors having toprovide client centred training to the pupils. The AA didn’t make me the client when I expressed real concerns before the test. No help was given here. The bottom line is, if you don’t go for the pink license route, I would avoid this training like the plague. All their virtual classrooms and training is centred around non license holders and first time drivers. I hope this helps many in not making an expensive mistake, in financial, effort or time stent.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Christopher Stewart was my son's instructor, absolutely legend ***** He was calm and explained everything clearly. Always polite, on time and incredibly professional. My son is just 17, no previous experience driving, passed his test on the first time. Cannot thank him enough! If you are looking for an instructor around Swanley, Dartford area look no further. The AA website and booking system are quite a let down though, needs urgent improvements! I'm very glad Chris more than made up for it.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“After previously failing I decided to have a couple of sessions with a new voice, so booked via AA. I had a fairly good first double lesson with instructor Colin in Carshalton, and we agreed on a second double lesson the following week. Unfortunately, my mother had a serious stroke the day after the lesson which understandibly occupied my time. Meanwhile Colin attempted to message me about my up coming test, but, because of circumstances, I didn't answer for 24 hours . Sadly, by the time I'd got back to him he'd cancelled the lessons and the AA had emailed 'goodbye'. What a bunch of cunts.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“To my fellow newbie drivers, I highly recommend taking lessons with Deepak Patel. A single lesson with him taught me every safe-driving tips and tricks that accessors will watch closely. He made me feel safe but also didn't take over my driving. He also gave me the reasoning behind every tips he taught and is very informative when asked questions driving-related. He's also very honest when giving feedback, which I believe is very important when learning to drive. If you're nervous about your capability, sit in a lesson with Deepak. You'll find yourself practicing these tips in no time and having a good laugh with him after the lesson.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“avoid, waited for my first lesson, day before told it had to be cancelled for a further 2 wks, tryed to get my money back was told no, i am still trying, waste of time, no one to speak to, only emails and live chat which is rubbish never again”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Where do I begin. My first instructor was verbally abusive and destroyed my confidence and when I changed instructors the new instructor scammed me out of £60. He didnt text me till the day of our lesson (despite being assigned to me 2 weeks previously) then claimed I was too far away and cancelled. Aa customer service basically told me that that was within their policy. Joke. If youre in surrey area go with Surrey driving force. More expensive but much better and my instructor Debbie was an absolute delight.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“The worst company i have ever seen. Take the money. Driver did not showed. Till now no response.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Terrible service from instructor Ed Pratt cancelled every lesson less than 1 hr before and was offended when I said I needed driving lessons from someone who doesn't keep cancelling really shocking that he wasn't embarrassed at his own unprofessionalism clearly has some issues going on in his life probably for the best he didn't teach me So thank you Mr Ed Pratt for letting me down remember you don't like it when other companies have let you down last minute. Just to add you can't talk to anyone when you have a problem it's all web chat and operater can't tell you anything as it's a franchise and instructors have no one to answer to so s$_t all over a large name like the AA now the fun begins to get my refund as they have no other instructors and I paid booking fees on top I really did try to be understanding but the instructor just clearly has no shame or value other people's time I lost a days wages and was sat waiting 3 times with a no show then a sad excuse of how frustrated he was for letting me down unbelievable don't take people's hard earned money especially in this climate to let them down with not even a sorry”

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Posted 2 years ago

“i would like compliment your instructor BRIAN McCLUE IT HAD BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I HAD DRIVEN A CAR SO I DECIDED TO BOOK A LESSON TO FAMILIARIZE MY SELF WITH DRIVING AGAIN NEED NOT HAVE WORRIED BRIAN MADE ME FEEL COMFERTABLE IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS WOULD RECOMMEND THIS INSTRUCTOR TO ANYONE LIKE MY SELF OR BEGINER THANK YOU”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Honestly, I wish I could put 0 stars. Been with the AA from March to August, I've booked lessons every week but only actually got to drive 3 times. Yes, that's 3 lessons in 6 months. I've had multiple instructors, all cancelling lessons 30min ahead of time. I've had to take time off work or arrange work to go around these driving lessons and they kept cancelling without notice, as I get ready to get out of my home, pretty much. I've not received any compensation or refund for this. Waste your money at will with the AA. In addition to this, one of my instructors lost their license as I was about to get into a driving lesson with them. Go with the AA at your own risk. Finally, out of the 3 lessons, one of them, my instructor was 1h late and hadn't even checked where to pick me up. I need to pass my license soon as I will be moving out of the country and they've just wasted my time and put me in great difficulty. In addition, to not answering my complaints/sending me a refund.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Absolutely Awful. Their website is a nightmare. A "glitch" cancelled my lesson that I did not know about until the instructor didn't arrive. This caused a huge inconvenience as it was at 8am and far from my home. Zero compensation.”

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Posted 2 years ago

The AA Driving School is rated 3.9 based on 860 reviews