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The AA Driving School Reviews

4.1 Rating 1,389 Reviews
77 %
of reviewers recommend The AA Driving School
4.1
Based on 1,389 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Postal Service
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Under An Hour
Read The AA Driving School Reviews
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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 14th March 2026
Arnold
The AA Driving School 5 star review on 7th March 2026
Anonymous
The AA Driving School 5 star review on 6th March 2026
Carmen
The AA Driving School 5 star review on 21st February 2026
Anonymous
The AA Driving School 5 star review on 20th February 2026
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The AA Driving School 5 star review on 20th February 2026
Anita Vekaria
The AA Driving School 5 star review on 19th February 2026
Gezo Issi Bozkurt
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Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
Don't go with this driving school they will just waste your time. Their drivers cancel last min and have no regard for someone who might have taken time off work etc for the lesson. They literally cancel 10mins before the lesson time without any explanation!! When you ask their customer service for refund, they run from the chat - plus there is no customer number to call either!!
The AA Driving School 1 star review on 3rd August 2022
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Posted 3 years ago
Wish I could have rated zero Stars. I asked for a refund after the second lesson I had with a man called Steven Armstrong. The first lesson seemed to go okay, he was quite blunt and direct than what I was used to and he seemed to reiterate his experience incessantly so I kept schtum about any red flags I had. The second lesson was an absolute nightmare, my teacher was an incorrigible browbeater who didn’t seem to realise that it was my time and my money that was the prerogative. I was very rusty on my theory at this point, I had been let down and getting an instructor had been difficult this was not made easy by him interrogating me/ playing twenty questions about roads etc etc which I didn’t mind until he was deliberately misunderstanding me and not allowing me to get anything right, he wanted exact lingo and generally wouldn’t let up. By the second lesson I had spent considerable time on the apps he had shown me (about a week between the two lessons) but this didn’t seem to change much. The foreshadowing red flags I had seen in the first lesson we’re in full swing. He told me that in this car he is right about everything, and he brought up his 30+ yr experience as if no else knows how to drive a car. I’m a learner and I’ve had lessons with an unreliable instructor before (scheduling issue and delays were the issue there) but this guy takes the cake for being very arrogant. He pulled me up at the side of the road, he said I muttered “no” or something when he asked me to turn in the left hand lane (even though I did it?) well, we went through a heated discussion for about 10 minutes. I wasn’t about to admit to something that I didn’t remember because I was trying to focus on the road but I did end up apologise if I had and repeatedly asked to continue on with the lesson that I was paying for and said that I trust his sodding experience. This wasn’t enough for him and for the rest of the drive, he was snarky, and quite loud. There was a moment where his yelling caused me to accidentally accelerate rather than break which has never happened to me before outside of my lessons with him (I believe this is a testament to the tense environment that my teacher created). At the end of the lesson, I was pretty much and decided that I would not be getting in a car, plane or any other mode of transport with this man, ever. I had never felt so defeated and so discouraged to drive before. He told me that I needed to know what a handbrake was and decided that this would be a good lecture. I explained to him that I obviously knew what a handbrake was, it was just that I had never physically used one until the last lesson and that before it was a different form (button) that I had used one. He wanted to argue semantics on something as simple as that and it was here I told him plainly that I believed he was deliberately misunderstanding (maybe as some sort of ego thing? Couldn’t say). He revealed to me that he tells off his nephew in the same way and it was then that confirmed to me the type of person that was teaching under AA. I have no time for bullies and considering it’s my dime and my time, I wasn’t about to book another lesson. This person wanted to lecture rather than be direct, straight to the point and advise (his one purpose that I hired AA for) I brought this up and left the car. I had just had a blood test so I wasn’t feeling great that day either, I left feeling deflated but determined to get a refund. Now, onto AA for the worst customer services that I’ve seen in a while. They have an online chat that you have to queue up for about 15 minutes to use. The people there won’t give you a straight answer and you’ll often need to leave and requeue. Immediately I requested a new instructor and relayed what was essentially the worst experience driving I’ve ever had. On their messaging system they told me that Steve was apparently the only one available on driving an automatic and that Trevor had left a voicemail message, when I asked them to relay the message they said I would need to check and requeue (aka another 15-20min wait) I asked for any other form of contact other than ridiculously queuing, an email or a phone number would’ve been easier but I was told no. The voicemail offered me a spot on BSM which initially seemed like a good replacement. It was only after waiting again that I was told that it costs £42.75 per hour and that I would need to pay £70.50 upfront. For what? Placement? Either way I’m no mug especially when they were not going to take these funds that I had already placed in my AA wallet. I asked for a refund right then and there.
The AA Driving School 1 star review on 30th July 2022 The AA Driving School 1 star review on 30th July 2022 The AA Driving School 1 star review on 30th July 2022 The AA Driving School 1 star review on 30th July 2022 The AA Driving School 1 star review on 30th July 2022
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Posted 3 years ago
Shocking experience , booked a 10 hour block booking, on first 2 hour lesson instructor called me at time of lesson to cancel !! a bit of notice would have been appreciated. second booking waited for instructor to turn up, rang 10 mins after waiting no reply, kept ringing, 3 hours later managed to get through only to be told she never had lesson booked even though i sent her proof on AA app of confirmation!!! AA has a great reputation, don't know how and difficult to find a spokesperson to complain...have done so on their complaints dept but that will be brushed under the carpet !!!
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Posted 3 years ago
I raised my initial complaint back in April 2022. The AA were unable to provide me with consistent lessons as my instructor was always on holiday. He failed to inform me in the beginning that he has regular holidays and for at least two weeks a month he was away. I am yet to receive an outcome of my complaint.
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Posted 3 years ago
advertised at £24 per hour, but my 19 year old granddaughter had a 2 hour lesson one hour the instructor spent arguing with her and called her a lier, when we cancelled was told he charged £34 per hour so lost money on refund be aware.
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Posted 3 years ago
Three times in the run now the driving instructor has cancelled my lessons with very little notice. Tried to contact the AA but they won’t do telephone calls and the online service won’t get me anywhere. Very frustrating- wasting time and money.
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Posted 3 years ago
Been learning with Abdulagafoor ifthikar..... and today he has cancelled all my lessons 8days before my test in Bletchley. I have tried phoning him to find out the reason why he has done this, but he doesn't answer ,I then message via WhatsApp & normal tex aswell but he doesn't reply. I joined AA in good faith believing that this is reputable company for learning. And I am totally shocked from the treatment I have received. I am totally disappointed and disgusted 😔 I believe this should be dealt with by the AA to find me a replacement instructor in time for my test. I have not even been given an explanation/phonecall from the AA driving school, explaining my shocking treatment How is this even fair ????
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Posted 4 years ago
Driver showed up half hour late, was parked around corner of my house which is 5 min walked and didn’t bother calling. I told him I was upset and he kicked me out of the car and told me the lesson is over. I tried to get in touch hairy AA for a refund but they are useless, no accountability over their employees
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Posted 4 years ago
my driving instructor was good at first however recently,since my test is closed he seems to me really negative , his pointing out mistakes that I do that he has never told me before previous to my test , Costantly reminding me that my driving is bad and I’m not test ready two days before my test . He takes fag brakes during my lessons which wastes my money and is really u professional , he made me fill up his car during my lesson because he said he hadn’t had the opportunity to fill it up yet , he should have done that in his own time rather then wasting my time to practice this close before my test . This instructor has just truly knocked my confidence in driving , he decided to point out mistakes a week before my test that he has never told me before and I’m only just hearing this now . If I fail my test I am definitely changing instructors and moving away from the AA company , waste of money and time .
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Posted 4 years ago
Awful experience. Spent over a 1.5k on lessons and when I finally found a test he said he was unavailable. Ridiculous. Would Not recommend AA driving school
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Posted 4 years ago
I paid 133 for the 4-hours lesson but they only topped up my account for 2 hours. They do not answer my phone calls and my emails. There is no one to talk to.
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Posted 4 years ago
The quality of the instructors is not good enough. I worked with 2 instructors from the company, the first one would not point all the errors in driving, too much chatting. I changed to another instructor who was charging 40 pounds an hour! her name was Minara bibi (Goodmayes area), she asked me to travel to goodmayes for every class, but charged me for the distance to my house address, which was a total rip off, when I pointed it out, she got super upset, but took her time to take revenge, she cancelled my test appointment 3 days before the final test!!! leaving me in a bad situation. With a 6 month waiting period for a new test, I had to go with a super expensive temporary car and a new instructor for the test. She also gaslighted me and told me that I would not pass the test, I passed the test with just 2 minors on a new car!!, I reported all this to AA driving with messages and my test pass certificate as a complaint. AA driving not only let me down by not arranging an alternative vehicle, they also ignored my multiple complaints and let the scam go on. I am sure Minara bibi is still scamming people with poor lessons, unreasonable demands and costs, undermining confidence and gaslighting their driving. Horrible experience. Take references from friends, never with AA.
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Posted 4 years ago
Awful, that’s the word. Instructor stopped the lesson to smoke. Cancelled and changed lessons. Absorbed my 10 hours I drove 2 of them. No phone lines to call. I’ve been chasing my money back or a change of instructor for a month. Not had any call back, no real reply of any note. The worst service I’ve ever experienced. Instructor would not do pick up or drop off as was sent from a different area to me. Expected to travel to him. Ridiculous
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Posted 4 years ago
Manchester - AA absolutely appalling service. The first driving instructor's vehicle broke down during the second lesson I had to get an UBER back to the location. The second instructor canceled the lesson the same day due to illness. Then kept canceling in favor of other students. The lessons finally started consistently for five weeks sometime two lessons a week then they advise during a lesson I must look for another instructor because the pickup location is not convenient for them. The third instructor did not show up for two lessons and advised the AA that they did point-blank lying. I have a test booked in July 2022 I am no further along despite persevering with the company for seven months since November 2021. The customer service never responds to emails the online chat function is very often not available there are glitches in the system that give incorrect available hours and calculate refunds due @£8 per hour instead of the actual amount of £29 per hour. Advisors state that there isn't anything they can do because instructors are self-employed they always side with the view of the instructor instead of the facts or maintaining the balance of customer service with the student/client. There are many more issues I have experienced firsthand over several months all of which amount to poor inadequate lack of professionalism.
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Posted 4 years ago
Having driving lessons with the AA since October. My driving instructor who was excellent is packing up with my test 6 weeks away. Hard enough to get a test anyway. Cannot speak to anyone only on line chat who promptly told me they cannot give me any lessons nor get me an instructor before my test. Do not go with the AA unless you want to be dumped just before your test. Even worse no one to talk to directly about the problem. Only after your money.
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Posted 4 years ago
Very horrible customer service team, phone call only for booking lessons not for dealing with problems/complaints, the only service channel online chat always not available. The instructor decided to leave AA but they hid the info from you to waste your time/money, definitely avoid this unprofessional company
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Posted 4 years ago
I had Andre Quincani as an instructor (North London) and he’s the worst instructor. He cancelled my lesson times numerous times and changed to a later time when I’m not even available. He puts his availability as morning so I book it and he changed it at least 10 times. AVOID AA AND ANDRE QUINCANI. I also had a rubbish experience with BSM instructor Raj (North London) where he never turned up and never answered calls. Please avoid AA and BSM, especially Andre Quincani. He cancels your lessons and doesn’t inform you about it. RUBBISH DRIVING SCHOOL !!!!
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Posted 4 years ago
I paid for 6 hours with AA. I i booked my first lesson for early March. The instructor never turned up and called/texted/emailed. I let AA know immediately that they never turned up. No response to that. I then used the chat function to again reiterate what happened and that I wanted the hours reimbursed. They said that they needed to “speak to the instructor before they did that.” Again no response back whatsoever. I’ve put through another complaint and a request for a complete refund. Await no response. Very very poor service. I will advise everyone to avoid.
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Posted 4 years ago
Stay away from this company if you want to pass your exam on time. Their instructors cancels lessons whenever they want without any warning.
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Posted 4 years ago
I booked a lesson for £76 then my instructor cancelled the lesson. It asks me to book an alternative time online but offers no slots. I still haven't received a refund.
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Posted 4 years ago
The AA Driving School is rated 4.1 based on 1,389 reviews