The AA Driving School Reviews

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

4.0 Rating 1,123 Reviews

75 %

of reviewers recommend The AA Driving School

Company Reviews

Questions

Metrics

4.0

Based on 1,123 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

“The instructor was late, rude and then proceed to tell me he will take me for a drive even though and I quote "the DVLA says tou can not drive because of your eyes" how do you let people continue a lesson when they can not see?”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Disappointing experience. Had one..ONE two hour lesson.. booked in 34 hours worth of lessons in advance. After 5 lessons cancelled by my instructor for various reasons I've given up. My first lesson was over a month ago, which feels like a waste because how am I supposed to remember what I learnt for two hours over a month ago. I've now asked for a refund and will find someone else.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I live in Battersea the area. The lessons are expensive which I did not mind but AA lessons are absolutely not worth the money. I chose AA for their excellent reputation. However I had a very rude instructor who was critical and shouting at me during lessons. I did not learn anything at all. I tried to complain and get support to change instructors and after 2 weeks of trying I still have had no support from AA and I have paid for a block of lessons! There is no phone number for customer service, if you need support it is all online and they are unresponsive!! Highly disappointed and giant waste of time and money!!”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I've giving this service a one star, not because I think it deserves it but because I can't give any lower. Where to start? Well I guess I should probably lead with this. If you're looking to use this service with the hopes of reliability and punctuality, then don't and if you're hoping to pass with quick succession then don't, as well. I understand things happen, once, maybe even twice if you're unlucky, however, after about the forth time you start wondering what sort of sevice this company's offering? Driving lessons or lessons on how your times being wasted? If I was you I'd look into other instructors which will probably do you better than this company has me. I did try to get a new instructor using their website where you can request a change, but that was the last I heard about it, no email, no action, no nothing. Not only is their reliability questionable but I was supposed to have a lesson today at 13:30 (23/2/24), which per usually is a no show, but they haven't even had the decancy to inform me that they wont be showing up. Hence why I'm writing this review. Not only that but before my first test I had to have three lessons, one day after another (Saturday and Sunday) as my test was on the Monday. It was intended to be the Friday also but heyhoo, take a guess - They cancelled that one resulting in four hours of driving on the Sunday, which to a student can be quite draining and intimidating. Hell, it only took one day before my test to be told how to use the head lights. However, if you're still interrsted in using this company for lessons, good luck. Because you'll need it”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I had a very bad experience with the AA driving School in Bournemouth. The allocated driving instructor Mr Anthony Ball did mot turn up for lessons on six occasions and on rhree of these he did not bother to reply to my messages or answer my calls. Avoid AA, no point in wasting your time, find a local driving instructor that you know or recommended from friends and relatives.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I booked my first two hour lesson because I the reviews on this forum were better when compared to other driving schools. However, my experience was disappointing. I had to wait a couple of weeks for my first driving lesson because the only viable instructor in my area didn't have any slots for a while. I didn't get to have this two hour lesson because he cancelled it at 10:38 pm the night before I was meant to have an 8 am lesson. So less than 12 hours before the lesson was supposed to start although he knew he had car trouble for a few days before this. I requested a refund that night and again two days later. For 5 days I didn't receive a refund processing confirmation so I messaged an agent via a chat box and it was then that she told me she would process the refund. This means that if I didn't get in contact with the team directly they would have never processed my refund although I requested it through their online platform already. I have chosen a more reputable and local driving school instead. Sometimes bigger isn't better.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“My daughter has been learning with the AA they sent a third party to teach her he's been breaking the law answering the phone during lesson which is totally illegal and dangerous the AA allowed him to do this and let him charge for lessons he didn't teach her basically rip people off beware of the AA their is much cheaper driving lessons and better instructors than the AA is providing so avoid them at all costs”

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Posted 1 year ago

“A whole year of paying for driving lessons for my daughter to then find out the instructor was a trainee who then failed his own driving exam and no longer doing it. We've just been told by a proper qualified instructor that my daughter isn't ready to take her second driving test!!! So obviously was no where near ready for the first! Time and money wasted when times are hard enough as it is. DISAPPOINTED as well as fuming right now.....”

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Posted 1 year ago

“AA allowing driving instructor to use their phone while teaching my daughter to drive they said that he can use his phone whilst not driving this is entirely breaking the law the driving instructor can be banned from teaching people whilst on the phone while teaching them the AA is a rubbish driving school avoid them at all costs their expensive and law breakers”

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Posted 1 year ago

“My son used to take driving lessons from an AA driving Instructor. 3 days before his driving test his driving Instructor met with an accident and his vehicle was not available for my son's driving test. I requested the driving Instructor as well as AA that atleast for my son's driving test a replacement car should be made available to him, they refused saying it was not possible because they did not have any cars available. I had to hire a vehicle from Arnold Clark for the test since the test amount was non refundable. After the test (which he did not pass) I asked AA to compensate us for the test and vehicle hire which they refused saying that they would have compensated if he did not sit for the test. Very disappointed with their customer service. After having spent thousands this is the service we received and that to from a reputed company which was not expected.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“If you want to waste your money and time chose AA. Mark the driving instructor I would say he stole my money. he booked upfront lesson even if you don’t have any bookable hours later when you top-up he charged for the day he booked and you didn’t do. Basically the The AA driving school is very unprofessional and doesn’t practice rights, they always safeguard their instructors not their customers. I have been charged 70£ for not doing a lesson, which I didn’t book from my end or myself. The instructor booked it upfront and didn’t let me aware, later he charged money from my future bookable hours. I thought the AA will assist me in this regards but they are too hunger of money too I didn’t realise. They protect the instructor and said instructions has right to charge money. They didn’t even try to understand my concern. My question was to them that: when I already finished my 6 hours package. How can I book further lessons without getting paid. The instructor booked a lesson upfront without informing me but I had not money at that time to do this lesson. Laster when I top-up my account he charged for the day he booked lesson for me and I didn’t do. The system is too ridiculous they are try to cheat you by book your hours advance without letting you know. Later they will charged you even if you don’t do lesson. They will not refund that lesson money even though you know you are right. They always save their instructors not students who invest their hard earn money. So think 100 times before choosing the AA. Very unprofessional and hunger for money.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I would not recommend AA driving school. I am writing to express my deep disappointment and frustration the recent cancellations of my scheduled driving lessons. I had eagerly awaited these sessions for two weeks, only to have them cancelled twice , resulting in a significant waste of my time and inconvenience. I then asked my instructor for the reason of my cancellation and was not told anything but to contact AA to change instructor. I contacted them and was told there was an instructor available for a month later. I had made my payment a month in advance but nothing was useful . Just a waste of my time . I would not recommend AA Driving school to anyone.”

Helpful Report

Posted 1 year ago

“I have had 8 lessons with the AA and my driving instructor, Lisa, was always very condescending, rude and would sometimes overreact when I messed up. For example, if I broke hard she would jolt her body forward almost as if the make me feel bad. She also waits to the last second to tell you when to make a turn as if she expects you to already know. And instead of reminding me to indicate, she will instead say something along the lines of "are we just not indicating now then?" Which just isn't ideal when you're concentrating. Overall, quite an unprofessional experience. Furthermore, the car itself has a limiter, which makes it nearly impossible to exceed the speed limit. This is a function that I was forced to use at all times, so when I got my own car, which did not have a limiter, as most cars don't, I found myself speeding quite often. The reason I have cancelled all of my lessons with the AA is because my lesson was cancelled far too many times. I was supposed to have my test on the 1st of February (it is now the 30th of January) and I haven't had a lesson in well over 3 weeks due to weather conditions, even though there were multiple other instructors out on those days and the weather was actually fine. I was supposed to be a priority because I had my test coming up so I don't want to imagine how people who aren't a priority must be doing.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Anyone wanting to learn to drive, don’t go with AA Driving School. I know it’s a franchise so everyone is self employed, but absolute diabolical. Son was told to put in for his test for end of January (got date 1st Feb), but instructor cancelled loads of lessons because it’s ’to windy’ or ’to frosty’, when others instructors were still out teaching. Also, she’s been teaching with speed limiter set, so any student doesn’t have to worry about speed limits !!, great yeah ?, NO….. because as soon as they use a car without speed limiter, they need to learn to stay below speed limit. THAT should be something they learn before doing a test (no wonder there’s so many idiots on the roads these days, may as well pass in a self driving Tesla. So 4 days before test, she cancels his lesson before his test saying he’s not ready ?, and now he’s had to cancel his test meaning he’s lost his money. I’ve taken him out 3 days out of last 4, he getting use to his car, but in my opinion he would pass now. So don’t tell my son he’s not ready when you told him he was, and you’ve cancelled every lesson for the past month. Stay away from AA driving school, absolute useless.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“My wife booked a package of lessons for my son. They have been cancelled or postponed on every occasion. Their customer service team close at 4”5pm and their online support is non existent.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Don’t go with James Clark, he clearly does not know what he is doing and trying to milk people for more lessons. After doing lessons for nearly a year this instructor won’t let me take my test multiple times. He has no confidence in you and will put you down. He hates his job and clearly does not have any experience and no idea on test routes. Go save yourself some money and fimd another instructor that will help you pass the test. Really upset of being scammed and hope i can get the £1500 i spent on 50 hours lesson back”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I paid for 10 hours of driving lessons, but instead of receiving the full 2-hour sessions, I was only getting 40 minutes or less each time. This is completely unfair, and I feel like I've been scammed.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“Absolutely Appalling Treatment. My daughter had been learning to drive with the AA for over 18 months, she had her driving test on the Sunday 8th October and had booked the 2 hour slot with her instructor Richard from Tonbridge Area. Everything set to go months in advance. Then on Tuesday 3rd of October, Richard from Tonbridge Area decided that he was going to cancel the lesson and pull the car from the Examination, meaning my daughter had to do her test in an unfamiliar car. He's taken the money for 18 months and then did her over when she needed the car. Totally unreliable and we wouldn't recommend this company as there is no monitoring of the instructors. A Bully & a Coward.”

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Posted 1 year ago

“I just hade bad experience with AA YF71JNK FORD PUMA CAR He doesn't know howto drive car On road Not in traffic as well . He is with his family In AA driving school car . We have some words He use Swere Words evan is Kid as well .I don't know who cannot teach manners his kid How would he teach car driving to students 🫡🫡”

The AA Driving School 1 star review on 3rd December 2023

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Posted 1 year ago

“Don’t do driving lessons with AA driving instructor Mihai Stanescu. He is very unprofessional, he smokes in the car , on his phone during the lesson. Is Inappropriate and has also borrowed money from me and not gave it back.Avoid”

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Posted 1 year ago

The AA Driving School is rated 4.0 based on 1,123 reviews