• driveJohnsons

driveJohnsons

Overview

driveJohnsons has a rating of 2.82 stars from 57 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. driveJohnsons ranks 9th among Driving Schools sites.

  • Service
    17
  • Value
    16
  • Shipping
    9
  • Returns
    10
  • Quality
    15

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
0
Negative
5

What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • My previous instructor was great from that company, but I had lost his contact details so couldn't resume with him.
  • Arranged for Saturday lesson and to book a block of 10 lessons.
How would you rate driveJohnsons?
Top Positive Review

“Brilliant Just Brilliant!”

Anthony J.
1/13/23

I passed first time with Dave in Milton Keynes - I took a 20 hour course and passed this morning with 2 minor faults. Wooop Woop! Thank you drivejohnson's and Dave! I would recommend Dave to anyone who is nervous he will 100% look after you.

Top Critical Review

“Avoid instructor Naila Mansoor!”

Sophie S.
9/24/23

Appalling experience with driving instructor NAILA MANSOOR. Driving instructor to empty your pockets on lessons with no taught content. The instructor uses her phone during lessons, turns up late and doesn't actually teach you anything; she wants to make a profit. I was not taught to complete cockpit checks, and the handbrake was always left down. How to do an emergency stop, moving away and stopping, safe positioning, mirrors (vision and use), anticipation and planning including MSM and PSL routines, how to use junctions, crossroads and slip roads. How to use rounadabouts safely and confidently as she would just grab the wheel or abruptly press the brake if I was in the wrong lane. I was not taught any of the manoeuvres including reversing and turning the car around. I was supposedly taught a parallel park but she lost temper after two attempts saying to leave this for another day. I could go on about the beyond poor experience. Customer service initially responded to my complaint but then allow Naila to make inadequate excuses which just proves I will not be the last pupil to suffer from poor experience and be out of pocket. "Helping pupils to learn to drive safely and pass fast is our speciality" clearly not. Avoid at all costs.

Reviews (57)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

instructor (28) 10 lessons (3)
Thumbnail of user sr700
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 26th, 2024

I had a medical emergency with my daughter and gave my instructor 1:15 minutes advance notice of having to go to A&E. She was annoyed I had to go to A&E with my daughter and insisted on rescheduling for the same day whilst I would be at A&E and insisted the cancellation policy is 24 hours - no further option. I raised a complaint with DriveJohnsons with proof of A&E calls and Uber receipt but they refused to help further as its at the discretion of driving instructor. I lost £64 for a situation I couldn't control - no compassion whatsoever.
Be careful with what you do here esp. If you are booked with Hatifa in Pinner!

Tip for consumers:
Don't pay for block of lessons - pay for 1 trial lesson at a time.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user armourflyer
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 13th, 2023

Driving instructor sabia was lovely at first then soon it became obvious she is sabotaging and preventing me from learning at a quicker pace. When I prompted at her to tell me the 'show me tell me' questions, she would say yes then not do it at all. Another scenario included when I found out after being with her for more than 4 months, she did not take me to test routes so when I requested she teaches me bay parking and test routes. She said ok. On the day of teaching me the bay parking, I reminded her at the beginning and then 10 mins of the lesson left. I reminded her again and she turns around and says 'yeah sorry thats for sharper drivers' i was speechless at that deceit to get me to pay her. She has berated me before and brought up my family upbringing when I did my first paralell parking and she expected me to get it right the first time and justified her attacks. Teachers should show some decent teaching skill, and patience rather than patronising and discouraging learners.

After posting this review on her yell.com she has breached confidentiality by spreading my personal information to men to intimidate me to remove my review. AVOID at all cost. It came to the point of threatening violence from the man. Police have been informed.

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Thumbnail of user skyayla21
1 review
1 helpful vote
September 24th, 2023

Appalling experience with driving instructor NAILA MANSOOR. Driving instructor to empty your pockets on lessons with no taught content. The instructor uses her phone during lessons, turns up late and doesn't actually teach you anything; she wants to make a profit. I was not taught to complete cockpit checks, and the handbrake was always left down. How to do an emergency stop, moving away and stopping, safe positioning, mirrors (vision and use), anticipation and planning including MSM and PSL routines, how to use junctions, crossroads and slip roads. How to use rounadabouts safely and confidently as she would just grab the wheel or abruptly press the brake if I was in the wrong lane. I was not taught any of the manoeuvres including reversing and turning the car around. I was supposedly taught a parallel park but she lost temper after two attempts saying to leave this for another day. I could go on about the beyond poor experience. Customer service initially responded to my complaint but then allow Naila to make inadequate excuses which just proves I will not be the last pupil to suffer from poor experience and be out of pocket. "Helping pupils to learn to drive safely and pass fast is our speciality" clearly not. Avoid at all costs.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Thumbnail of user radu20032000
1 review
1 helpful vote
August 29th, 2023

I just booked my driving lessons a week ago with this company. BIG MISTAKE! Waste of time and money. The instructor, if he is an instructor totally rude and no teaching skills at all. First he told me I was drunk lol. Seriously? I told him I'm not drinking at all and especially before driving? The 2 hours driving lessons is actually 1 hour as he was complaining about waking up 7 am and was tired. About the practice totally useless he was like " why you did that, did I tell you to do it? ", very strange and rude behaviour. He even asked me if I have a driving licence?!?!? Totally wrong, was expecting me to drive perfectly after 20 minutes in traffic. Stay away from those novices, they after your money and nothing else. Not even have the slightest teaching skills I told him I happen to be a teacher for 10 years so I have a clue about what it involves. Whatever, they deserve less than 1* I think.

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Thumbnail of user erajzfr
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 11th, 2023

I booked 2 hrs lesson but the instructor did not arrive.Very unprofessional and awful behaviour.When I called them they even do not know,why he was not arrived.Totally waste of time.

Thumbnail of user anthonyj1073
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 13th, 2023
Verified purchase

I passed first time with Dave in Milton Keynes - I took a 20 hour course and passed this morning with 2 minor faults. Wooop Woop! Thank you drivejohnson's and Dave!

I would recommend Dave to anyone who is nervous he will 100% look after you.

Tip for consumers:
Dave is very nice and friendly. He made the lessons enjoyable and put me at ease.

Products used:
Driving Lessons

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Thumbnail of user aminap4
1 review
2 helpful votes
February 6th, 2022

Cancelled my FIRST driving lesson 3 time total lack of communication from the company office to its instructors waste of time I booked a lesson called the day before to confirm however they didn't put into the system and since then it just gotten worse. Don't waste your money or your time.

Thumbnail of user kayleighb37
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 14th, 2022

I could not have asked for a better driving instructor. John Sundaresan has been amazing to me. He has been patient, kind, flexible, and consistent. He's given me all the necessary skills to be a safe and confident driver and I'm so grateful and so happy I passed my test today 14/4/22 1st time with just 4 minors, thank you so much

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Thumbnail of user yvanr3
1 review
1 helpful vote
August 16th, 2021

After making the payment, the instructor failed to arrange the classes, he would tell that he would call back and I wouldn't hear from him for weeks, until I reached him back to ask again.
When I contacted the customer's services complaining they just sent an email apologising but did not take any further action, either to refund my money for the classes I had remaining nor to book the classes with another instructor...
Lack of professionalism and respect for people's money and time!

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Thumbnail of user chuerngm
1 review
1 helpful vote
July 22nd, 2022

Booked a first lesson with this driving school, the instructor was very condescending, almost to a point of ridiculing me, doing little for my self confidence in driving, i am by no means a complete novice learner, as i have sat 40+ hours many years ago with AA driving school with a very good instructor who taught me extremely well all what i know today. During my first lesson after a huge number of gap years break in lesson, i found that the instructor didn't take the lesson very seriously, as he was looking at his phone the whole time, kept saying, "Take the next left" over & over & over for the entire lesson, i was simply driving around a block of flats for 2 hours, thats it. That was the lesson. The instructor didn't involve himself in the lesson, didn't give any helpful tips at all, was very rude, in a condescending way. I simply dislike this instructor, i just don't like his attitude at all.

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Thumbnail of user angelikaw7
1 review
2 helpful votes
October 3rd, 2021

Very bad instructor I was shocked when driving as he was swearing at people. I was very nervous for my first lesson and I couldn't concentrate. I don't recommend as it's a waste of money. If I could I would not even give 1 star as the instructor doesn't deserve it. Thanks God that I only have booked 2 hours not more.!

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Thumbnail of user phoenixw13
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 22nd, 2021

DriveJohnson's is a fantastic driving school and I highly recommend them. After being let down by another driving school at last minute and with a test coming up, dj really same and saved the day! They managed to find me an excellent instructor quickly who gave me a few lessons before taking me to my test and passing first time. Thank you for all your help and support!

Thumbnail of user ianal
1 review
2 helpful votes
May 7th, 2021

OK I am not really a person who complain but that is over everything! First of all they offered me to refund my money but already 3 weeks no money! I tried to call many times they always say I will call you back ( Sara, Lisa, etc) and never call! They couldn't find a driver for me and offered me refund it is not my fault. If so give me my money back, I don't understand what is problem with this company, the service is below everything, I am really angry and nobody even trying to help me.

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Thumbnail of user michaelf1958
1 review
3 helpful votes
September 12th, 2020

Not sure about these 5 star ratings. My experience with this company has been pretty much the same as the other 16x negative reviews. Booking goes through fine. Then all of a sudden, the lesson is cancelled at the last minute. Trying to arrange a new lesson is almost impossible, due to them "experiencing a lot of calls" (I call b. S.). And therefore the chances of getting my money back is even more remote. I would avoid this company like the AIDS virus!

Thumbnail of user andresa91
1 review
3 helpful votes
September 26th, 2021
Verified purchase

About a month ago I decided to book my first ever driving lesson with this company. Everything went well until the instructor postponed the lesson that I already had booked. I tried to fix another day we could meet that week, he told me what days of that week we could meet, and after I chose one day, he changed his mind and left it for next week. After this, he told me that the lesson was going to be the following Monday around 10ish because he was away on the weekend for bank holidays. After saying that he would confirm the exact time later in the evening, he didn't. I waited until Sunday when I sent him a message asking to confirm the lesson, he didn't answer. The following day in the morning, when I woke up early to get ready, I sent him another text asking him to confirm at what time exactly we would meet. He replied that he was supposed to come back from holidays the day before, but he was still away and that he was going to let me know about another day in the afternoon, again he didn't. The following day, tired of chasing him and waiting for my lesson, I called his head office and asked to swap instructors, to which they told me that they only had that one in my area and that he would put me as a priority later in the process when I have spent more hours with them. Overall the experience was extremely frustrating; communication from the instructor was almost non-existent. They made me feel like my money wasn't worth it because I only paid for one hour as I wanted to test their service first (fortunately) instead of a 10,20 or 30 hours bundle. Needless to say, I requested a refund and tried another company. I would definitely not recommend this company.

Tip for consumers:
Stay away!

Products used:
Non

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Thumbnail of user stefand77
1 review
0 helpful votes
August 30th, 2022

Thank you to Mahmood for all his help, guidance and patience in helping me pass my driving test today in Morden. Would highly recommend him as a driving instructor

Thumbnail of user alistairo2
1 review
1 helpful vote
June 20th, 2022

Paid for lessons in bulk and the instructor didn't honour the 3 last lessons, no contact from him and apparently the lessons expired. I tried to get in contact with the instructor but no response.

Tip for consumers:
Stay away, feel like I got scammed.

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Thumbnail of user cb554
1 review
1 helpful vote
March 16th, 2020

Leighton Buzzard - instructor Mark

Got to test and randomly charged extra right at the last minute. Went back to driveJohnsons - not interested. Very poor.

Thumbnail of user abbiep14
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 18th, 2020

DriveJohnson's have been fantastic from start to finish. Their bookings process is simple and easy, the staff on the phones are really friendly and happy to answer any questions you have. I was allocated a brilliant instructor who explained things thoroughly and made lessons enjoyable. If you want to learn to drive, don't look anywhere else.

Thumbnail of user ap362
1 review
2 helpful votes
February 29th, 2020

I booked for my sons birthday. Instructor did not show up. When I called head office they contacted her and she said she had been outside the house ( Blatant lie) Office staff very apologetic and rebooked for another instructor a week later. He actually turned up and lesson was ok. However for 10 days since then I'm trying to book another and it's impossible. He is refusing to give me one hour slots and the next lesson is 2 weeks away at not a convenient time. This would have been a month since the first lesson was scheduled. Awful service and not acceptable. I will have to try elsewhere as this whole experience has left a bitter taste in my mouth

Thumbnail of user sadafh
1 review
5 helpful votes
November 13th, 2019

Unprofessional, they steal your money, drivers waste your time, cancel lessons, dont show up etc. Admin are equally as useless (although some are fairly nice, but no one actually solves your problem). Avoid. I learnt relatively little and my driver bailed on me and stopped teaching about less than 2 weeks before my test :)

Thumbnail of user melissae145
1 review
2 helpful votes
January 7th, 2020

TOTALLY UNRELIABLE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR! THE COMPANY DOESN'T KNOW WHO WORKS FOR THEM OR WHO THEY EMPLOY, LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM! THEY WILL STRING YOU ALONG FOR 30+ LESSONS AND THEN ONCE YOU BOOK YOUR TEST THEY DROP YOU BEING VERY ARROGANT AND RUDE THINKING THEY KNOW BEST LEAVING YOU WITH NO CAR OR INSTRUCTOR. THE COMPANY DOESN'T HAVE THE INSTRUCTOR ON THEIR SYSTEM AND ARE UTTER USELESS WHEN DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS. THE INSTRUCTOR ISNT WHO HE SAYS HE IS! WOULD NOT RECOMMEND, STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!

Thumbnail of user litart
1 review
3 helpful votes
May 4th, 2021

Had my first driving lesson booked for 2pm on 14th April- had a call from the DJ team at around 11 on the day to which I answered and they put the phone down straight away tried to contact back via email and call no answer contacted instructor also no answer so waiting to 2pm cause I wasn't sure what was going on, instructor never turned up so I called DJ again finally got through, they tell me instructor wasn't feeling well and had to cancel and they will contact me within 2 working days - which I understood especially during Covid times, but no 0 contact. I waiting over a week, then decided to call back as it was getting ridiculous- called back lady apologised and rebooked me for 10 May- almost a month later, which I thought okay, there's probably a back up of bookings and accepted...

4th May I called back as I've been checking my the app daily, lesson still said unconfirmed. Lady on the phone say lesson was declined because I was too far, gave no explanation whatsoever as to why I was not contacted earlier, absolutely terrible - would never recommend to anyone, pay that little extra and go with AA or Red. What an absolutely waste of time and energy I am the paying customer, I should not be the one chasing for a product I have paid for.

Products used:
Nothing

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Thumbnail of user duncanf22
1 review
1 helpful vote
August 8th, 2022

Warning! Many of the instructors are actually just trainees (PDI) 'Potential driving instructors' not actually 'Approved' driving instructors' (ADI) which is the standard you should be looking for; drive Johnsons wouldn't confirm how many of their drivers are still in training to save embarrassment so it's safe to say a considerable amount are not actually approved otherwise there would be no need to hide the figure.

Make sure you get an APPROVED instructor, most schools are more transparent about trainees, but you should ask no matter how much you trust the school, you can ask to see the badge and check their number with the DVSA.

The instructor my son was assigned (who turns out was a trainee PDI) would often give conflicting advice and be unsure of the rules of the road himself, took personal calls often talking for extended periods of time while my son was driving and turned up late for most lessons. Communication was always poor and often my son found it hard to even arrange lessons.

After months of unknowingly driving with his trainee instructor and going out with me my son was ready for a test, this was his second test, and he was well prepared having driven a considerable amount with myself. On the day before his test the instructor didn't turn up for the lesson they had planned, only when we rang he claimed he'd had an accident and sent two pictures of his car completely undamaged, seriously he sent two pictures of his car parked close to another car!(no idea what thats all about) We were then kept waiting throughout the day being told a new car would be arranged with no communication from the instructor on what to do, in the end someone from Drive Johnson office correctly predicted the instructor wouldn't be able to get a new car in such a short space of time and asked if we had a vehicle we could use instead, this was at 4pm and the test was the next day at 8am! Our only option was for my son to use a relative's car, I provided L plates as the instructor didn't have any once at the test centre the examiner got into the car and immediately noticed there was no additional rear view mirror, required by law but apparently our instructor was un aware of the need for it! The examiner was fuming and stormed inside to look for a spare telling my son his test would almost certainly have to be cancelled, after several minutes the examiner returned having found one by this time my son was a 'tad' more nervous! Having a car change at the last minute and a 10-minute delay while an understandably miffed examiner hunted for a mirror my son was more nervous than normal and didn't pass which was in no way surprising.

Drive Johnsons refused to take any responsibility and stated that they don't take any responsibility for any of their instructors or trainees stating several times that they are simply self-employed and not employees of Drive Johnson. We choose drive Johnson because we thought choosing a bigger well-known school, we would be in safer hands whereas it's quite the opposite! It turns out they provide/sell the 'training' for these candidate instructors so have flooded their ranks with them, great little business they've got going on.

I strongly advise you to look for another school but do your research first and insist on an APPROVED driving instructor.

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Thumbnail of user cynthiab344
1 review
5 helpful votes
June 7th, 2019

I had booked a driving lesson over the phone, got a text confirmation and the driver didn't turn up. I rang to make a complaint no one has got back to me. I called again and was given another appointment and a confirmed text, the next day the instructor cancelled the appointment said he was fully booked. A very poor service all round.

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From the business

We are a driving school providing cheap driving lessons in the UK. Our driving lessons are tailored to the pupils requirements to help them pass first time.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user anthonyj705
Anthony J.
Typically does not respond to reviews

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