How to choose the right driving instructor
What to look for, and the questions worth asking before you book.
Kent's Best Local Driving Instructor 2025
By Geoff Newman, driving instructor in Sevenoaks
In short
- I was named Best Local Driving Instructor 2025 in Kent at the Automotive Awards.
- The winners' listing describes me as a calm, patient and professional instructor with a very high pass rate.
- The credit belongs just as much to my learners and the families who recommended me.
I'm delighted to share that in 2025 I was named Best Local Driving Instructor in Kent at the Automotive Awards.
The winners' listing describes me as "a calm, patient and professional driving instructor", which is exactly what I try to be for every learner, whether they've never sat in the driving seat, need a polish and some mock tests before their test, or are rebuilding their confidence after a break.
What it means for my learners
Awards are lovely, but what matters to you is what happens in the car. In practice, that means:
- Calm, patient lessons, where you never feel judged and always know what you're working on
- A high pass rate: in 2026, 87% of my learners' driving tests ended in a pass, against a Sevenoaks average of about 59%
- Real test preparation: I've sat in on over 100 Sevenoaks tests, and my mock tests are built on what I've seen
- One instructor throughout: you learn with me from your first lesson to test day
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who has trusted me to teach them or their children, everyone who has recommended me to friends and family, and everyone who has taken the time to leave a review.
This award sits alongside the Education & Training Service Excellence Award I received at the Prestige Awards 2026.
- See the official winners' listing → (opens in a new tab)
- Read my Google reviews → (opens in a new tab)
- More about me →
87% of my learners' driving tests passed in 2026 (45 of 52 tests so far, counting every attempt). Sevenoaks test centre average about 59%, DVSA data.
More guides
A parent's guide to helping your child learn to drive
How to help between lessons, calmly and safely.
Taking a mock driving test in Sevenoaks
What a mock test involves, and why it helps on the day.
About the author
I'm Geoff Newman, a patient, calm driving instructor, born and raised in Sevenoaks. I taught my own sons to drive, and 87% of my learners' driving tests passed in 2026.
Let's see if we're a good fit
Tell me a little about the learner and when you'd like to start, and I'll get back to you.
Please note I don't hire out my car for tests, take people to test without lessons, or offer short-notice lessons.
Prefer email or WhatsApp?
Thanks, your message is with me. I usually reply within a few hours, often by email, so it's worth checking your junk folder too.
No pressure, no obligations, just to see if we're a good fit.