The AA Driving School Reviews

Name: The AA Driving School
Address: Fanum House, Basing View,, RG21 4EA
Rating: 3.99

4.0 Rating 1,124 Reviews

75 %

of reviewers recommend The AA Driving School

Company Reviews

Questions

Metrics

4.0

Based on 1,124 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 7th September 2025

"I passed my driving test today! It was my second attempt at the practical exam, and I\u2019m beyond grateful to AA Driving School and my incredible instructor, Junaid, for helping me get here.\r\nWhen I first started learning, one of the first challenges I faced was finding an instructor who taught automatic cars in my area. I felt lucky to discover Junaid through the AA Driving School website. Not only was he available, but AA\u2019s lesson prices were also more affordable than the local average.\r\nJunaid was a game-changer. He\u2019s not just a skilled driver\u2014he\u2019s a phenomenal teacher. Always patient, polite, reliable, consistently punctual, and endlessly encouraging. I\u2019ve struggled with confidence and can be quite emotional at times, especially when I made mistakes or failed my mock tests (which happened more than once!). But Junaid never let me spiral. He helped me believe in myself, build confidence, and stay calm.\r\nI\u2019ll never forget one moment when I was feeling overwhelmed. He pointed to the \u201cAA\u201d and \u201cL\u201d signs on the bonnet, then to the brake pedal under his seat, and said:\u201cDon\u2019t panic on the road. I\u2019m with you. Other road users can see you\u2019re a learner\u2014they\u2019ll be kind.\u201d\r\nThat simple reassurance meant everything. Whenever I felt down, Junaid reminded me of the progress I\u2019d made and helped me focus on the positives. His feedback was always constructive, and his deep knowledge and experience made every lesson feel purposeful. I could genuinely feel myself improving day by day. \r\nEven on the early morning of my test, I was a bundle of nerves. I was even thinking of cancelling the test. I messaged Junaid, and he replied me: \u201cDon\u2019t worry, just give it a go! Don\u2019t lose hope. I\u2019m with you.\u201d\r\nThat message gave me the courage I needed. On the way to the test centre, he kept reassuring me that my skills were solid and I just needed to stay relaxed. That made all the difference. Yes I was still a bit nervous during the test, but I didn\u2019t panic\u2014and I did my best. When the examiner said I\u2019d passed, I was in total disbelief!\r\nJunaid is hands-down the best instructor I could\u2019ve asked for. I can\u2019t recommend him highly enough. And huge thanks to AA Driving School for making this journey possible. I\u2019ll definitely be recommending AA to all my friends who are preparing for their driving tests!"

The AA Driving School 5 star review on 23rd August 2025

The AA Driving School 5 star review on 25th June 2025

Anonymous

230

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Filter: Rated 1 None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“My son had one lesson in 2 months, instructor constantly cancelled, then just dropped him and told him to use another AA instructor, the AA won't let us change instructor as he's had 1 lesson, complaints department are non existent, going down the small claims court to get our money back.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“DO NOT DRIVE WITH AA if you want to save your time and money. I had a few lessons with Stuart Bradley (Cardiff). Firstly, my first ever lesson with my instructor, I spent £28 to sit in the car and chat whilst my instructor sat on his iPad. Not once did I get to drive in my DRIVING lesson that day. Secondly, I took around 12-13 hours worth of lessons with my instructor. In that many lessons I expect to be on main roads and not driving on the same long stretch of road and doing the same left turn multiple times. I would’ve appreciated if the reason behind this was that I was not a good driver, however my driving instructor didn’t suggest anything of the sort. From experiences of other people my age taking driving lessons, they had completed so much more than me in a fraction of the time. When telling people how many lessons I had and that I’ve driven on the same road in a straight line, people were shocked. It took me a while to accept that it was not normal and wanted to give my instructor a chance and give him the benefit of doubt as I am a trusting person which may have served against my favour in this situation. Which is really upsetting to realise. Thirdly, in a 2 hour lesson I would not be driving for more than 1 hour or so. The time it took for my instructor to drive to and from my house to the location was 40 minutes and an extra 10-20 minutes constantly swapping seats so my instructor can drive us back to the start of the road to drive in the straight line again. If I am paying for a 2 hour lesson, I expect to actually be driving for 2 hours. It is my right as a paying customer to be getting what I paid for, which I didn’t. In my lessons with my new instructor, I’ve been driving for the whole 2 hours around Cyncoed and other driving test routes in Cardiff and drove home in my first lesson with him (something I never did with my old instructor). I’ve done many manoeuvres and other things on the road in 6 hours. Whist in 6 hours with my AA instructor, I drove in a straight line. When I made my complaint Stuart then gaslighted me and said he didn’t feel as though I was confident enough for main roads with AA simply protecting their driver and not their customers and they didn’t reply to my further emails.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Shocking driving instructor let my daughter down on 3 different occasions mostly at short notice. Asked to change driversand they wanted more money that the 280 I had paid.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“An inconsiderate instructor, Mr. Karim (Leicester) cancelled on a test less than 24 hours without notice, causing loss of test dates which is hard to come by and the fee. Instead of apologising, he threatened and suggested involving the police if his opinion was not regarded. He missed some classes and did not even refund. Despite notifying the appropriate complaints team, nothing was done because they said the evidence was insufficient. I honestly hope no one uses this agent or driving school as they are utterly disappointing and incur losses for people.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I have been facing unresolved issue in my dealings with AA Driving School and one of its instructors, Mr. Mihai Stanescu. I engaged in a transaction with Mr. Stanescu for a series of driving lessons, and I regret to inform you that this experience has been highly disappointing and unprofessional. Mr. Stanscu insisted that I have to pay urgently for the lessons, which I did. When I attempted to reschedule my lesson, he began ignoring my calls and messages, effectively rendering any communication with him impossible. Frustrated and dismayed by this unprofessional behaviour, I reached out to the school for assistance. Both the AA Driving School and Mr. Mihai Stanescu have continued to ignore my pleas for a refund and any form of communication. The response from the school, unfortunately, added to my disappointment. I was informed that the school could only cancel my lessons but could not address or rectify the issue of the funds I had transferred to Mr. Stanescu's personal account. Despite my repeated attempts, Mr. Stanescu has continued to evade my request for a refund. I find myself in a state of complete frustration and dissatisfaction as nothing has been done to rectify the situation. Both the AA Driving School and Mr. Mihai Stanescu have continued to ignore my pleas for a refund and any form of communication. I am at a loss for words regarding the lack of accountability and responsibility demonstrated by both parties involved. This situation not only tarnishes the reputation of AA Driving School but also undermines the trust and confidence of students like me who rely on their services. This ongoing ordeal has been incredibly distressing and disheartening. It’s going on for more than 2 months now. Lessons not delivered, refund not issued. Therefore I advise NOT to use services of the AA School!”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Absolutely shocking. Avoid at all costs. Could never get hold of the socal line manager. The driver trainer was spending 3 hours on eco driving. wasting my time and money. When you speak to the Dave harvey disagrees with everything you have to say. What happens to the customer is right. Unfortunately The AA are absolutely shocking. The Driver trainer. Was asking on my first lesson if i was transgender. How is this relevant. Then making home a phobic comments. I have to move from The AA to a different training company. Due to the training being carried out wasn't working and the comments made by the trainer. I paid for the course in full and have been refused a refund on the 14 hours i paid for.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I've had the worst experience with the instructor not showing up and not even giving a notice that he cannot attend. I've tried the online support which is absolutely useless. I have less than 2 weeks before my driving test and have no instructor assigned. This is so frustrating as I have no choice but to cancel/re-book my test and tests only become available for the next few months.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I had a very bad experience with an instructor who taught near Harlow-Epping region. This man was out of control, any time I do a mistake he used to yell at me in the car and threatened that he would cancel all my bookings with AA and blacklist my name as a dangerous driver, such that no driving school would teach me. I, on many occasions had wept during the classes and used to dread every time I had a class with him. As I was naive, didn’t know he had no authority to do any of things he said he could do. But this reduced my confidence of driving, failed my exam and never attempted to take any lessons for another two years. But I found a very good and experienced instructor with a different school after two years. The difference in teaching was day and night. I passed my exam with confidence.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I have my test in two weeks and it has been three weeks that the car I practiced with has been broken down and they gave a different car which is so different and I don’t have time to get used to it. I talked to company and they said they can’t do anything about it. So now instead of focusing on the test I have to be worried about the car. This is not acceptable and I’m not getting any support from the AA company.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Money driven, thats all Mr AA instructor cared about. Don't say "you're not ready for the test" without putting in the effort to make me ready for the test. I took additional lessons with a local, independent instructor and passed, because they put the effort in. The best part was mr AA turned up to a lesson after my test (which i cancelled but he still turned up), i told him i had passed, his bitter face and reponse of amumbled "okay" before driving off was the icing and cherry on the cake.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Mitchel Ford in Tamworth is the worst. We finished 15 min early all the time, no patience of compassion. Stopping the car all the time so he can say same things all over again On my first lesson with my new driving instructor I practised more than I did with him in 10 hours.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Paul sangha cringe instructor go’s on his phone during lessons and has no proper techniques and gives no refrence points and finishes lessons 15 minutes early when he charges double what other aa instructors charge not a good instructor he doesnt know what hes talking about and knows nothing about driving”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Had 2 instructors that would cancel with impunity, any time window before a lesson they liked. Both would make full use of the 48 hour student cancellation window that the AA provides however, your time is worthless and theirs is worth 100% of the overpriced £35/h they charge. Their customer service is absolutely shocking, prices are extortionate and availability is non-existent. Maybe it's just that the profession of 'driving instructor' only attracts braindead washouts with only one skill? F!ck the AA”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I was given an instructor called Paul. I only stuck with him for 2 lessons which were both 2 hours long. On the morning of each lesson he was late and by the time he had driven me to a location it was 10am. By the time the lesson finished he cut it short for 15 minutes early which I paid for lessons for 9.30 to start and 11.30 to finish which wasn’t the case at all. During 1 lesson he told me to me a u turn on a dip road which went down hill slightly then up hill. As I came out the road again to turn right bearing in mind I checked all the mirrors and there was no cars coming either way I had got onto the road again then there was a car coming to the left which slowed down to let me go. Paul got snappy and told me to pull up on the left which I did. He then had a go about me not checking the mirrors which I did before hand. I thought it was really unprofessional of him the way he had a go I wanted to end the lesson there and then. I’m a natural worried learner which I’m sure most Learners can relate too. I have not been back since I have now found a decent instructor who is calming and more compassionate.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I have taken 8 lessons from AA driving school. The instructor Monowara Chowdhury is worst instructor. She just doing time pass and tries to make you not fit for driving so that you will come to her for many more lessons, that way she can earn more money from you. She asked me to not book through AA and offered her personal bank account details to transfer money directly to book lessons. She and AA both are waste. Don’t waste money and time with AA. For sure you will loose your driving confidence if you land here with AA.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“My instructor Mr. Karim (Leicester) cancelled on me less than 24 hours before the test without prior notice, causing me to lose my test date and fee. He raised his voice at me and asked me to go to the police station if I wasn't happy with his opinion. Didn't do his penultimate lesson and didn't refund. Complaints team said they couldn't do anything as I had no evidence. Terrible. I would never recommend AA”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I booked my daughter 10 hours of driving lessons. The first instructor cancelled. Then booked another instructor who didn’t turn up and sent me a message saying “you may have cancelled it please check”. I think I’d know if I’d cancelled a lesson. I’m not impressed at all. The customer service has been good and my refund is being processed. But I don’t recommend”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I’ve had a horrible experience. I texted them a day before the class that I tested positive for COVID and I would rather reschedule to not put the instructor at risk. They told me it’s too late and I will be charged anyway. Absolutely ridiculous. The instructor was rude about it too. Avoid at all cost. I would never trust them again.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“the instructor is not patient and not professional. cancel classes 10 min before the class several times. my suggestion is to avoid aa driving school.”

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Posted 2 years ago

“Do not use. My sons driving instructor has taken his money without providing any lessons. We’re trying to get the money refunded.”

Helpful Report

Posted 2 years ago

The AA Driving School is rated 4.0 based on 1,124 reviews