How to choose a driving school: questions to ask before enrolling

The right driving school for you clearly explains its quote, schedule, included services and contract terms in a way you can verify.

Ask specific questions

Before enrolling, ask for a written quote listing every item: application handling, access to lessons, excluded medical examinations or payments, driving lessons, certified practice sessions, use of the car for the test and possible retakes. An advertised price does not tell you which services are included. Ask how much an extra lesson costs and whether cancellation or rescheduling fees apply. Compare schools using the same items; otherwise, a lower total may simply leave out services already included in another quote.

Check the actual availability of instructors and vehicles, not just the number of lessons offered. Ask about available times, how far in advance you need to book a lesson and how the school arranges certified practice sessions. For category B, the MIT publishes obligations and requirements; Ministerial Decree 294/2025 introduces a new framework whose effective date depends on an implementing decree for the platform. Ask the school which rules apply to learner permits issued when you will start, and how your lessons will be documented.

Assess the teaching and organisation

During a trial lesson or meeting, notice whether the instructor explains the goal, gives you time to think and clearly identifies what you can improve. Useful feedback points to a specific behaviour: checking before moving, keeping a safe distance or preparing for an intersection. Be wary of promises that you will pass or that the process will take a guaranteed amount of time, because exams depend on your preparation and the office’s availability. Reviews may describe other people’s experiences, but they do not replace checking the contract, prices and lesson quality.

Ask who handles bookings, how you receive updates and whom to contact if you need to transfer your application. If you have doubts, check the driving school’s location and authorisation in the registers or with the competent authorities. If you want to study the theory on your own and pay only for driving lessons, ask whether the school offers a partial course. The best choice for you is the one that provides the support you need, has understandable costs and offers a schedule that fits your daily life.

Questions to take with you

• Which services and payments are included in the quote?
• How much does each extra lesson and use of the car for the test cost?
• How far in advance can I book driving lessons?
• How are the mandatory practice sessions applicable to my learner permit certified?

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