The AA Driving School Reviews

Name: The AA Driving School
Address: Fanum House, Basing View,, RG21 4EA
Rating: 4.00

4.0 Rating 1,193 Reviews

75 %

of reviewers recommend The AA Driving School

Company Reviews

Questions

Metrics

4.0

Based on 1,193 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 25th October 2025

Srivallikanthan Kajeevan

The AA Driving School 5 star review on 8th October 2025

235

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

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

“I had a very disappointing experience about 11 months ago with AA driving school Basildon. Their instructor Darren wasn't at all professional! Very impatient, very patronising, made me feel nervous not only about the road but about his attitude. I had done over 12 lessons and on day in the middle of the lesson he snapped after I've done a mistake, said the lesson was over and he can't teach me anymore. This has been truly traumatic for my confidence in driving,luckily I had found the courage to start again and I found another instructor (not AA) that was absolutely the opposite of Darren and within 20 lessons I had passed my test at the Basildon test centre wich is known to not have the best pass rate. My point is, not everyone can be an expert at driving from the beginning, and the whole point of having lessons it's because you need to learn. So yes, I'd expect another attitude! Again maybe I would've left it, but after I had lessons with someone else I saw the difference, and I can compare, and I hope this feedback would be taken as it is!”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I had my driving lessons with Zahran in Newham. Honestly, it was a waste of money. How was he teaching me? I have to change the company, and I'm happy. ”

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Posted 1 year ago

“My son had over 20 lessons with Ronnie, the local AA instructor. He came home after every lesson with not much feedback, or progression with his driving. Lessons would be cancelled because it was raining. Surely they have to learn in all conditions? Sometimes dropped off before the hour was up. One day, he is informed this would be his last lesson, as he has another job to start. No notice whatsoever! My son is now with another instructor and coming on leaps an bounds. Funnily enough, still see Ronnie on the road giving lessons.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“!!!The most terrible school in Nottingham!!!! I had driving lessons with Darrin an АА instructor for half a year. He assured me that I was ready for the exam, but it turned out that he did not show me half of the maneuvers. Of course I failed. The second time I failed due to poor observation, although I asked the instructor 100 times about my mistakes. He again said that I don’t have them. And then he disappeared... he just didn’t come... Then I tried to book a lesson with a new instructor. He was rude. When I asked him to explain to me the difference between a manual transmission and an automatic transmission, he told me to drive. I had never driven a car with an automatic transmission before. Halfway through the lesson, the instructor said that he expected more from me... But I decided not to give up, and again booked an instructor with AA. His name was Mihai Stanescu. I had 2 lessons with him and loved them. He offered to pay him for 10 lessons in advance, assured that all this was legal, wrote me a check and I received a booking confirmation from AA. He didn’t come to the next lesson, then he didn’t come again. He didn't answer my calls. I had to write to support for several days, but I did not receive any help. Later, Mihai himself called me and cried that his wife was sick. I felt sorry for him and we agreed on other lessons, but he never came. He blocked my number. I started looking for him again through AA support, but to no avail. After 5 days he appeared in touch, and I asked for a refund of my money. Or I'll contact the police, which I did the next day. On this day, he returned only part of the money. But he still owes me over £300. Unfortunately, the police did not help me.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“They don´t answer complaints and it´s not possible to call them!”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Had a lesson booked with a trainee instructor in sheffield for an automatic lesson , did not even bother to turn up for my lesson, ignored my texted and call, now im having to request a refund a nd can only get that if the instructor confirms the lesson didnt go ahead terrible service avoid if you are in sheffield area”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“Don’t book the lesson with Mr Taimoor in reading. He refused to take me to driving test in the week of exam date just two classes before and placed unfair demands on me like book two classes and I have to find another driving instructor at very short notice which resulted in unnecessary panic, pressure, and ultimately led to failure in my first attempt. I have encountered the following issues during my driving lessons with Mr. Masood: 1. Rudeness and Aggression: Mr. Masood consistently displayed rude and aggressive behavior towards me during the lessons. He would frequently raise his voice, use derogatory language, and make demeaning remarks, creating a hostile learning environment. 2. Two-Hour Classes: Mr. Masood insisted on conducting two-hour classes every time, despite my preferences and availability. This inflexible approach made it challenging for me to manage my schedule and resulted in mental and physical fatigue during the lessons. 3. Unjustified Extension of Classes: Mr. Masood made excuses to extend the number of classes required for me to complete my training. He would deliberately withhold information or provide vague explanations, leading to unnecessary delays and additional expenses. 4. Intentional Demoralization: During mock tests, Mr. Masood intentionally demoralized me by highlighting minor errors and exaggerating them into major mistakes. This approach was aimed at undermining my confidence and discouraging me from taking the driving test. 5. Magnifying Minor Errors: Instead of providing constructive feedback, Mr. Masood had a habit of magnifying minor errors and turning them into major faults. This not only distorted my perception of my progress but also created unnecessary anxiety and self-doubt. 6. Tense and Fear-Inducing Environment: Mr. Masood consistently created a tense and fear-inducing environment during the lessons and mock tests. His constant scolding, shouting, and aggressive behavior left me constantly anxious and fearful, negatively impacting my ability to focus and learn effectively. 7. Scolding for Preemptive Errors: Mr. Masood would scold me even before I made any errors during the classes. His unwarranted criticism and harsh remarks created an atmosphere of tension and fear, making it difficult for me to concentrate and learn effectively. 8. Withholding Mock Tests: Mr. Masood refused to take me for mock tests unless I booked additional classes. He would inform me just before a mock test that I needed to book two more classes, creating an unfair and manipulative situation where I was forced to spend more money before being allowed to assess my readiness for the exam.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“If I could give 0 stars I would. Purchased 10 hours lessons in December for my partner with Karen Sharpe based in BS32. I paid her £400 up front to get him on the books and priority for booking in lessons in the new year. In the new year an attempt was made to book in for lessons, only to be told by Karen that she’s put him on the books from March. This is not what was agreed and what was said. I was told the sooner I pay the sooner lessons will be booked in. We waited till Mid March and had heard nothing for booking in lessons. A message was sent to Karen who said she had broken her toe and couldn’t do lessons. This is understandable but no update or communication was provided for this. We asked to be booked in with her Husband who is also an instructor. She never got back to us about this. We then seen her a few days later taking a lesson in our road!! Karen was also advertising spaces for lessons in March and April yet we still weren’t booked in after paying back in December!! I messaged Karen asking for a refund. She repeatedly gave me excuses and then said it would take a month to get a refund. She eventually processed this 3 days later after me trying to get a refund. It has been a month + 6 days and I have still not received my £400 refund!!! The AA customer service is useless. They no longer have a phone line for customer service. They advise you to use the online chat service during 9am-5pm. I tried that at 2pm in the afternoon and i had an automated response to say they were closed and to try again during work hours. I was trying in their working hours and no one was there. Shocking!!! I am so close to reporting to the Bank as a scam/fraud. The AA are all about taking your money and not giving you any services for it. Trying to get your money back is merely impossible which is why I am going to have to go through the bank to get it back. Do not bother using The AA. My partner was hoping to be driving by now but he has been let down. His career has been jeopardised due to this. Just terrible.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“The first lesson was fine, The second lesson he text me, his Bank details and a list of the new prices. He was clearly trying to undercut the AA driving school, then he said to me I'm not trying to trick you but that made me feel really uncomfortable and I wanted to cancel but obviously where I didn't read the fine print. You can't cancel any lessons within 48 hours so I ended up losing a bunch of money plus the time I booked off of work..”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Book a Pass plus for my son with you .and you instructor informs me does not do it paid my money”

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Posted 1 year ago

“The AA is a Waste of time paid for 20 lessons 2 lots of tens and keeps on cancelling. Can’t get continue lessons everything done on the computer you can’t speak to anyone they just take your money Warning, don’t use them”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Driving instructors are awful, cancelling lessons at 10 minutes notice on many occasions.Parking the car to tell me the driving test is not appropriate to speak about but isn’t this the whole point of learning to drive. I requested to understand why and i was sent graphic text messages from my instructor. The customer service team also thought this was appropriate and did not provide a response for at least a month which was NOT dealing with the issues raise. AWFUL and would not recommend.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I booked Morden’s AA Driving School Instructor for my driving exam and 4 weeks prior to the exam he calls to say I need to book more lessons with him and then “maybe” he’d let me use his car for the test. Pure blackmail to make me pay for an unspecified number of lessons and claim he has discretion over when I’m ready or not to use his car. Avoid at all costs, unbelievably unprofessional & dishonest. I told the instructor this didn’t make sense and I would contact AA about it. He promptly cancelled the session I had booked for my driving exam, leaving me with no car to use just weeks prior to the exam.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“AA driving school is wrong in so many ways, first one of your instructors arrived for a lesson cutting the corner of the street and drove at over 20 mph limit hare in Wales, along the street to his appointment, a didn't see the car leave but I did see it return with the student at the wheel, going way over the speed limit, if this is the way your instructors lead by example or allow the student to drive then it's a sorry state of affairs. So I guess the AA can get your licence quicker by skipping the best practice driving and going straight to the bad habits.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Liar , evil and corrupt people. Customer services did everything to defame my character and humiliate me with their lies ; Paula , an agent is an Evil who did everything to stop me from having the driving lessons for free which I was entitled to. I just pay that the Lord , one day will cast out all of the out of the word !”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Stay away from the AA driving school especially the Manchester area. Terrible experience for my child who is 17 years old. Promised lessons from August 2023 last year. Samina based in Cheetham Hill driving instructor, promised lessons October, November, December then January 24. No communication to say she couldn't do the lessons. As of March 2024 made an official complaint about all their lies, not offered one lesson. Paid for an intensive course from a more reliable company, she passed in 12 weeks! Not one no show. Absolutely dire and want to warn others to go elsewhere.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Very rude instructor from Dartford/Greenhithe area name of Anthony. Will not be using them again.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Never join their ADI training to become an instructor..their trainers are ok but the AA as an organization is useless. They claim to have in-depth knowledge about DVSA ..but they are completely incompetent...”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I wish I could give zero stars! My driving instructor was called Gopal Dey. We did a 2 hour session and all he did was shout. He called me stupid and said that I did not have a brain. This has to be the worst driving experience I had so far as I just ended up with a headache from the his shouting and did not learn anything. Very shocking behaviour. It was a waste of time and money!”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I would give zero stars if I could. Paid £500 upfront, first lesson cancels an hour before. Second lesson a no show and ‘cancels it’ 48 hours after he should have turned up to teach my son. Absolutely shocking behaviour snd no returned calls. No etiquette or terms and conditions to protect the consumer. Ok not to show up but we round be charged for less than 48 hours cancellation. It’s do poor they don’t even cancel! Rogue traders cord to mind.”

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Posted 1 year ago

The AA Driving School is rated 4.0 based on 1,193 reviews