AA Franchise - Driving Instructors

The AA Driving School Franchise Take One



I've held an AA Driving School franchise twice, and would like to share my experience with any PDI or ADI thinking of taking out one.

I first joined the AA Driving school as an ADI in late 2003, at the time I had recently become a driving instructor, and needed for my new driving school business to grow, and the way the franchise was setup at the time suited me very well. There was the weekly fixed fee which was about £160 and they then charged you about £150 for every pupil they supplied you over a 10 week period, but the good thing was that they only charged you for a maximum of 10 pupils. They also had an introductory offer which meant that I didn't have to pay the fully weekly franchise fee until I had been with them for 10 weeks. I also think it was one of the cheapest driving school franchises at the time, at least compaered to BSM, RED and probably LDC.

My first franchise with the AA Driving School at the time was very good, I had lots of pupils and didn't have any complaints as an instructor with them, in fact I had to limit the number of pupils with them, as I was getting very busy. I had to give up my franchise with the AA driving school due to some family problems about 2 years after I joined them.




AA Driving School Franchise Second Time


I decided to rejoin the AA driving school as a franchisee in 2007 having sorted out my family problems and having looked at the various driving school franchises around including the Red Driving School, Safeway, the AA still offered the best option for my needs, and since I'd had good service from them the first time round, I had no reservations becoming a driving instructor with the AA for the second time, however things were not going to be the same I later found out.

Just before I left the AA driving school the first time I had a franchise with them, there were a couple of changes made, one of them was a different way of charging instructors for allocated pupils to via insite. Instead of the system I mentioned eralier, there was now a flat £30 fee for each pupil introduced to the ADI. This new change also meant that the instructor was no longer guaranteed a minimum number of lessons with the learner driver pupil. The AA's spin on this was that after their 1st lesson, that pupil was now profitable for the instructor, while this was true, what actually happened in reality, was that there were a lot of instances where the pupil either did not turn up for the lesson, took only one or two lessons and then didn't want anymore (at least not at the AA recommended price anyway), and unless the instructor was very dillegent in checking the insite website, you could end up being charged with a fee for a learner that had cancelled their lessons.

AA needs Driving Instructors

Apparently the AA driving school is looking for more fully qualified instructors to join them. I recently received a letter in the post from them, which is probably part of a new advertising/marketing campaign for the year 2009 advising me on the new opportunities that they can now offer ADIs that take up a franchise with them.

As an ex AA driving school franchisee, I'm fully aware of the benefits of being with them, and would currently prefer to remain an independent instructor, and won't be tempted by their 24 hour vehicle replacement service, the discounted weekly fees in the first 8 or 10 weeks, though the new feature where they offer a free week after 6 and 12 months is quite tempting!



Pupil supply is something that I'm not totally sure of, and anyone seeking to go with the AA driving school franchise is best advised to check with local AA instructors to see if there is enough learners being supplied to them before committing to the contract, as not everyone can be a fleet, or instructor trainer, and you need to be with them for at least being considered, and there is no guarantee that you will be accepted.

Don't be totally convinced by the highly hyped and well written marketing material you got in the post, as you will always have to pay your weekly franchise fee irrepective of whether you get enough pupils or not, and pupil introductions are additional costs for the AA driving school instructor.

AA Driving School Franchise 10 facts

The AA driving school franchise is not a bad deal, and is a very good way of starting your driving instructor business as long as you are aware of a few things.

1. The AA is a strong brand which is very good for instructors getting new learners privately, but don't expect them to pay the full lesson price for their area when coming to you directly.

2. Don't take an AA Driving Instructor franchise expecting them to give you all the pupils that will make your business successful, you need to do your own marketing as well, and expect to keep doing this until you are established.

3. You can't use the AA logo on your personal website, stationary, but you can mention you are an AA driving Instructor. Photos of your car can not also be used on private marketing materials.



4. You get all the stationary you need to run your business free, but cards, AA approved marketing materials are provided at extra cost.

5. The franchise fee is payable weekly, and is usually off set by any AA driving lessons you have given which have been prepaid to the Bristol office. AA pupil introduction fees are additional.

6. The is an introduction franchise fee discount for new driving instructors which could be up to 10 weeks, and there could be other offers as well. The introductory discount means you don't have to pay the full weekly fee which is very helpful for a newly qualified ADI to build their client base.



7. There is a 2 day induction course before you take up the franchise. You will get your ford focus driving school car during the induction course.

8. You only need to give 30 days notice to end your AA franchise.

9. You will undergo a credit check when applying for a franchise, and there is a deposit (payable by card) when you apply.

10 The AA driving School makes money from its franchise holders, so make sure you get the service you deserve.