The day has finally come.
Your teenager has turned 17. They’ve got their provisional license in their hand, a massive grin on their face, and they are begging you for lessons.
For them, it’s freedom. It’s trips to the Bullring with mates, or driving to McDonald’s without asking for a lift. For you? It’s absolutely terrifying.
We get it. Birmingham roads aren't exactly a walk in the park. You’ve got the madness of the Spaghetti Junction, the aggressive drivers on the Coventry Road, and don't get me started on the potholes in Kings Heath. The thought of your child being out there in a metal box is enough to keep you up at night.
So, naturally, you want to find an instructor. But please, don't just Google "Cheap driving lessons Birmingham" and pick the top result.
I’ve been in this industry a long time, and I’ve seen too many parents get burned. They book a block of 20 hours because it was £2 cheaper per hour, only to find out the instructor spends 40 minutes of every lesson parked up at the side of the road "talking theory."
To keep your teen safe and save your wallet in the long run, here are the 5 tough questions you need to ask before you hand over your credit card.
1. "Are you fully qualified, or still training?"
This is the big one. Most parents don't know this, but a lot of big national driving schools use "Trainee" instructors.
These are people who haven't actually passed their final teaching exam yet. They are allowed to charge money to gain experience. Now, some trainees are great, but do you really want your child being the guinea pig for someone who is still learning the ropes on the busy A38?
What to look for: Ask if they are a "PDI" (Pink Badge - Trainee) or an "ADI" (Green Badge - Fully Qualified). At Newbie Driving School, we prioritize safety above everything else, which is why we only use DVSA-approved instructors who have fully qualified. If you’re paying full price, you deserve a fully qualified expert.
2. "Do you teach 'Test Routes' or do you teach driving?"
There is a massive difference. Some instructors will spend months just driving round the test centre routes in Kingstanding or South Yardley. They teach the student to memorize the corners.
That’s great for passing a test. It’s useless for real life.
What happens when your son or daughter passes, gets their own car, and has to drive to Solihull or navigate the M6 for the first time? If they’ve only memorized three streets in Erdington, they’re going to panic.
You want an instructor who teaches driving. Someone who takes them onto dual carriageways, tricky roundabouts, and busy high streets. Ask the instructor: "Will you be taking them out of their comfort zone once they are confident?"
3. "What happens if my teen gets anxious?"
Let's be honest, teenagers these days are under a lot of pressure. Exams, social media, uni applications. Adding driving on top can be stressful.
We had a mum call us last month from Harborne. Her daughter had quit driving for two years because her previous instructor used to sigh loudly and tap the dashboard every time she stalled. It destroyed her confidence.
You need to ask: "What is your teaching style?" If the instructor sounds impatient on the phone, imagine what they are like in a traffic jam on the Bristol Road. You want someone who specializes in nervous drivers (it's kind of our specialty at Newbie).
4. "Can I sit in on a lesson?"
This is a cheeky one, but it works. A good instructor will have nothing to hide. If you ask to sit in the back for the first lesson or part of it to see how they interact with your child, they should be open to it.
If they immediately get defensive and say "No, it’s against policy" or make excuses, that’s a red flag. You are the parent. You are paying the bill. You have a right to know your child is safe and being treated with respect.
5. "Do you have a progress log?"
How do you know if your money is actually achieving anything? Bad instructors keep it all in their head. They turn up and say, "Uhh, what did we do last week? Roundabouts? Okay lets do that again."
That is how you end up paying for 60 hours when you only needed 40.
A professional instructor will have a logbook or an app. They should be able to show you exactly where your teen is struggling (e.g., "He’s great at steering, but his observation at junctions needs work"). Ask to see an example of how they track progress.
The Bottom Line for Mum and Dad
You can't wrap them in cotton wool forever. But you can choose who teaches them to survive on Birmingham's roads.
Don't look for the cheapest. Look for the person who is going to bring your child home safely every time.
If you want to chat about your teen’s specific needs—or if you just want to grill us with these 5 questions!—give the team at Newbie Driving School a call. We’re parents too. We get it.
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