smartdriving.co.uk Reviews 269

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.6

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Review summary

Based on reviews, created with AI

Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their friendly and helpful approach, noting their patience and clear explanations. Consumers appreciate the prompt and informative responses received via phone and email, highlighting the team's efficiency and willingness to go the extra mile. People feel supported throughout their journey, with staff members being understanding and accommodating to individual circumstances. The user experience is also highly regarded, with reviewers finding the online system easy to use and well-structured. The training materials are considered informative and enjoyable, and the support team is commended for being responsive and having the customer's back. Reviewers highlight the positive and encouraging communication, which eliminates frustration and provides clarity. Overall, people express gratitude for the exceptional service and support received from the company.

Based on these reviews

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Adam! Thank you for taking my call and answering all my questions in such a calm and professional manner. Your patience and clear explanations made the whole process much easier for me. Smart Drive... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I signed up at the beginning of April 2025, and passed my Part 1 test today. Every question I have asked has been answered fully, and the course material is thorough and, in my opinion, comprehensive... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great training material, help at hand if you need anything. Lovely and friendly people. Andy the ADI who I did the 8 hours drive time with was brilliant, really helpful with advice. Very imformati... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

SmartDriving is brilliant in every way! If you are thinking about becoming a driving instructor. I highly recommend them. Today, I had a polite discussion with Angela regarding my bad injury. I polite... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

If you're thinking about becoming a driving instructor I would highly recommend smartdriving from day one they have been there for any kind of quires either on the phone or by email helping me every s... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The study units on the website are excellent and I very rarely need to contact support. When I do, everyone has replied promptly with the answers I required. Today, Adam has replied to my email with a... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

So far, every contact I have made with SmartDriving has been friendly & professional. I spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Sarah Carter who was patient and extremely helpful. Because o... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When looking at the driving school companies and providers to become an ADI driving instructor I undertook to do my usual due diligence. This is why I selected SmartDrive. The package, the price, the... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Whenever I need to call the training team. Angela, Alice and the team are amazing. They're always willing to help and totally understand the problems that I have and they make you seem like I know the... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have chosen SmartDriving school to become ADI. I have done a lot of research before signing up with them. They have beaten the school package prices as well as Franchise package price and contr... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have registered with Smartdriving in 2024. Unfortunately last year has been a very tough one for me. I was suffering from anxiety and depression. But I didn’t give up on my dream to become a driving... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A massive thank you to Sarah Carter for being so clear and honest about what to expect when training as a Driving Instructor. The Drive Team have been very upfront with an introductory webinar that wa... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Staff have been so accommodating! I have been unable to complete the course in the timeframe due to personal circumstances so I requested an extension. I spoke to Angela who was so understanding and h... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very knowledgeable, good price and helpful both on the phone and by email. Online system works well and all the information seems to be where you'd want it to be. I'm looking forward to continuing... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Amazing is the only word I can use for the amount of support I have had during this course. I had a lot go on with my health and they were so understanding giving me more time and no pressure to get t... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The journey i have been on with Smart Drive has been very good so far. The course is professional and well set out. They make sure that you are ready before putting you onto the next step. I have ju... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had the pleasure of speaking with Angela from Training Support Team. When ever I speak to Angela she is amazing understanding and friendly. Thank to her help and support she has help me over com... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoying the study program! Very rarely need to contact support who always responds within 24hrs weekdays with clear information. Thank you Angela!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have only just joined the company for training, i have been looking into this now for 3 years and found it impossible to brake into until now. Drive listened to my concerns as a single parent, fina... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I've been training to be an ADI with SmartDriving and & am just starting the part 3 study. Some criticise the "larger schools" and franchises but I have to say to date, I've been very impressed. The... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The training team are super helpful, making clear any questions I have had. Next steps are easy to follow, and the webinars I’ve attended are very useful. Big thanks for helping me on my journey so fa... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Met with alison at the driving instructor conference and what an experience. Went there doubting myself and thought i would not carry on but when I spoke to alison she showed me a whole different ligh... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When ever I need to make a call it's always met cheerfully and politely. Add to that efficiency without being spoken down to, it's always a pleasure. Luckily I don't have to call very often as the web... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Smart driving has supported me through out my journey to become a ADI instructor, I recommend smart driving to anyone who is looking for a new career. The staff members ( Angela and Jos ). at smart... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Not as a complaint but as a warning to others: 1. I was offered the online course for £1400 but with an additional option for fast-track for an additional £500 which I paid in Dec 24 (wish I ha... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Angela gave first class service. Helped me all she could , her manner calmed me down in a frustrating situation re my DBS application

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The training team are busy and cannot always accepting incoming calls but they always respond within the 48 hour SLA. More call handlers would help but the service is good.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have joined Smart Driving in September 2024 and since then I hardly had to wait for 1 day for any queries. I always received a quick response from the admin team specially Jos. I was offered for my... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Angela , thank you very much for taking my call and answering my questions in a very calm manner. Smart Drive has offered me best service so far .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

All staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The course is great so far and easy to follow. I've just passed part 2 following great in car training with the instructor provided. On to part 3!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I finally got through and spoke with Jos who was exceptional helpful at advising, redirecting and supporting me on my query. The communication was positive, it eliminated the frustration of the long,... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really helpful staff, always friendly and encouraging. One in particular gave me great advice on how to approach the hazard perception tests, really put it into perspective for me when I was slightly... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellant service and support for ADI programme. Plenty of resources and if practiced enough- prepares you for the test thoroughly !

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

What can I say, I've just had my last Part 3 in car training and it's just been so thorough, right from the start, when working towards getting the theory test passed. The amount of information, train... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had my CBT a few weeks ago. The whole process was first class. I booked with Alan and had my CBT with John. I cant recommend SMART AYRSHIRE highly enough. I will book for driving lessons soon.i will... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Staff have been amazing and so helpful. Everything is easy access and couldn't be simpler. You just need to bring the hard work.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I spoke to Angela at training support at Smart driving today regarding my training ,I'm very happy with the outcome ,Angela was very supportive ,friendly and understanding .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Guys at SmartDriving have been absolutely fantastic with me since my return due to my injury, professional and helpful, Thankyou!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Superb support all the way through, very clear and no hidden costs

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Just signed up about 10 days ago. All good so far, very professional

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

really friendly staff, very helpful and kind, nothing was too much trouble

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I would like to thank Jenna for all the help and support over the the last few weeks. Jenna's advice has been a great help. thank you :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

All of the team I have spoken to have been lovely. Specifically Fiona was very helpful.


Company details

  1. Driving school
  2. Coaching center

Written by the company

SmartDriving was founded in 1999 by industry expert John Farlam to help driving instructors realise their full potential and build lifetime careers in the driver training industry.


Contact info

4.6

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

269 reviews

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Replied to 25% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 24 hours

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

So far I'm very impressed

I've been training to be an ADI with SmartDriving and & am just starting the part 3 study. Some criticise the "larger schools" and franchises but I have to say to date, I've been very impressed. The online material and access to tools is extremely good and comprehensive. Yes, you need to put in the work but this is a career so you'd expect that. But all the information is there and when you need help, you get it. The face to face training was superb and reinforces everything you've previously learnt online. The support team are very responsive and you feel like they have your back if you have any questions. Add to that the online community, webinars etc. and in my opinion at least, the overall package is a good one.

I'll be honest, I had my doubts at first and it took a few weeks for me to sign up! But I haven't regretted it at all and have thoroughly enjoyed the journey so far. I'm now looking forward to the next phase.

22 January 2026
Unprompted review
smartdriving.co.uk logo

Reply from smartdriving.co.uk

Hi Neil,

Thank you for your great review and sharing your experience!

I will pass your thanks onto the team and wishing you the best of luck as you start your trainee licence!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great mazerials and support

Good quality practice material and helpful support staff. A trusted partner for this journey

24 December 2025
Unprompted review
smartdriving.co.uk logo

Reply from smartdriving.co.uk

Thank you David!

I am glad you have found the support staff helpful and good luck with your future journey to becoming a Driving Instructor!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great training

Great training material, help at hand if you need anything.
Lovely and friendly people.
Andy the ADI who I did the 8 hours drive time with was brilliant, really helpful with advice.
Very imformative and enjoyable course work

15 December 2025
Unprompted review
smartdriving.co.uk logo

Reply from smartdriving.co.uk

Thanks so much for your feedback!

We’re really glad you found the training helpful and enjoyable.

Andy will be happy to hear your kind words.

It’s great to know the team made the experience friendly and easy to get help when needed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When looking at the driving school look no further than SmartDrive.

When looking at the driving school companies and providers to become an ADI driving instructor I undertook to do my usual due diligence. This is why I selected SmartDrive. The package, the price, the agreement going forward and the support package available. I was not disappointed, they have supported me the whole way and are understanding helpful and efficient. I would recommend this course out of the many providers available. But don’t just take my word for it, check them out for yourself !

9 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

CBT DAY

I had my CBT a few weeks ago. The whole process was first class. I booked with Alan and had my CBT with John. I cant recommend SMART AYRSHIRE highly enough. I will book for driving lessons soon.i will also upgrade with CBT soon too.

25 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Training Team & Support

The training team are super helpful, making clear any questions I have had. Next steps are easy to follow, and the webinars I’ve attended are very useful. Big thanks for helping me on my journey so far.

10 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Just awful

The interaction i had with this company via a Facebook advert is absolutely shocking. I wouldn't trust this company to deliver satisfactory results and I certainly won't be recommending them. Whoever manages there social media is rude and passive aggressive and is not doing smart drivings bottom line any favours

22 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great advice and support

Met with alison at the driving instructor conference and what an experience. Went there doubting myself and thought i would not carry on but when I spoke to alison she showed me a whole different light of the situation as she said she will help with some of the study im struggling with also thank you to DRIVE for giving me a chance

28 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Smart Drive Driving Instructor Training - contract terms and timeline not made clear at the outset...

Not as a complaint but as a warning to others:
1. I was offered the online course for £1400 but with an additional option for fast-track for an additional £500 which I paid in Dec 24 (wish I hadn't in hindsight as there's no chance of fast-track due to backlogs in DVSA). **Please do not take the offer of a fast-track option for additional cash as it is misleading!
2. You need 40 hours tuition before you can get a trainee license. Smart Drive will sponsor you after completing 40 hours of tuition and initial online training with them but you can only start the 40 hours if you sign the contract. The catch here is that they want you to sign the contract which locks you in to paying £99 franchise fee per week from the point you get your trainee license. This contract does not however guarantee you enough customer bookings in your local area to cover the franchise fee and your related costs. (The "guarantee of customers" is not contractually binding on their part).
I've since moved to a different instructor offering part 3 tuition as the comms with Smart Drive did not help to reach a fair position and left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed with the contract terms which they were outright unwilling to amend in any way, shape or form.

The only positive for me was that the study content was useful to help with my study for both part 1 and part 2 however I would suggest that it was certainly not worth the £1900 that I paid and you could use apps and youtube videos to get through part 1 and part 2 (hindsight is a wonderful thing!)
Best of luck to those of you seeking a future career in driving instruction - it is rewarding but the journey to get there can be time consuming and somewhat expensive!

1 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12 star ⭐ service as always

Whenever I need to call the training team. Angela, Alice and the team are amazing. They're always willing to help and totally understand the problems that I have and they make you seem like I know them on a personal level which really helped me with my issue about having the training team and the whole lot of drives are bringing company and I'd recommend using it for trainers

8 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The study units on the website are…

The study units on the website are excellent and I very rarely need to contact support. When I do, everyone has replied promptly with the answers I required. Today, Adam has replied to my email with all up to date information and support for my issue with hazard perception videos. Great service from everyone.

2 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Polite, cheerful and courteous

When ever I need to make a call it's always met cheerfully and politely. Add to that efficiency without being spoken down to, it's always a pleasure. Luckily I don't have to call very often as the website is always most helpful

28 August 2025
Unprompted review

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