Driving school? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Driving school?

394
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 07:51

Any personal recommendations for a good driving school? I also heard that now it is possible to learn/do the test in an automatic car opposed to the manual one as was the case a year back. Can anyone confirm this please? Thanks in advance.

394
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 20:43
ccdoha, I did have to buy a book at Al Rayah driving school which also contains a small booklet inside with only the road signs and a CD. The book is 185 pages long and costs QR 25. Never did get the time to go through the book or the CD but the booklet helped me to pass the theory test. Hope that helps!
374
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 16:01
Anne77 - we are in Qatar and the best schools here are self-teaching ;)!
3
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 15:52
Hi everyone - can anyone suggest either a private instructor or the name of a decent instructor at one of the schools in Dubai? Many thanks!
217
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 March 2011 - 23:32
Why would you need a booklet on how to drive over here??? Don't think anyone I've seen on the road has ever read it; ) Booklet should be named 'How to survive on the road':)
81
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 March 2011 - 20:05
When I signed up, they gave me a little pamphlet with road signs, and lines on the road that you do have to memorize for the test. I don't think driving schools will give you anything beyond that.
697
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 March 2011 - 09:05
thanks :)
394
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 March 2011 - 12:20
ccdoha, I will be signing up for the driving classes soon so if I get a book I will post back here. I so need to get a license...just about had it with paying the private driver for school runs!!
697
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 March 2011 - 10:48
I would like to know if you get a book on "how to drive" when you take these lessons?? I asked for a book when I got my license and they don't have them at the DL place and the woman told me to go to a driving school to get one. Kind of defeats the purpose to get one after the fact, I know, but I would like to read one, in English, if anyone has one.
697
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 March 2011 - 10:46
"coffee money" so that's what you call it!!! Love it! Whenever I try to tip the guy that washes the car or at the petrol station they just look at me funny, now I will say, "for you, coffee money" :)
81
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 15:12
Yup, it was Al Raya (spelling?) and not Al Rayyan. 44877774 Another heads up: I had to wait about two weeks for an instructor to be free and assigned to me. I think that's the average wait for most driving schools.
394
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 14:45
Ok I have never heard of Al Rayah which is why I guess I confused it with Al Rayyan. Anyways I will try to find the number and get further details from there. Thanks again.
61
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 14:17
Al Rayah, behind Al Mesilla compound or thereabouts. I had lessons and test on an automatic car. I had a fairly competent instructor. He wasn't initially and my regular taxi driver suggested that "coffee money" to the instructor might help. Surprise surprise, it worked - he turned up on time for lessons and taught me tricks on passing the test. I don't advocate bribery etc but when in Rome. . .
394
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 12:32
Thank you EW ladies as always. I know I will never pass the test if I have to learn on a manual car so perhaps Al Rayyan is the one to go for. Bubblewrap thanks for the heads up on the instructors; will definitely ask for a change if that happens. Oops just reread your post and u have said Al Raya? Did u mean Al Rayyan?
81
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 10:57
Actually, I took the test a few months ago. I learned on an automatic car, and took the test in an automatic car. I used Al Raya driving school, and I recommend it with reservations. I had a terrible instructor, who had trouble communicating in English, and was a poor teacher to boot, which made him one of those horrible bitter teachers. Sometimes he was unavailable and the school assigned different instructors who were much, much better. The lesson is, if they stick you with a **** teacher make them assign you a new one. A friend used Gulf Driving School and her instructor would routinely not show up to lessons. The school did nothing when she complained. Perhaps avoid them?
128
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 10:09
It's only manual for now. I just booked the test for next week this morning, the guy there said that "in the near future" you will be able to choose between manual/automatic. I booked it at Al Khebra Driving School but can't really recommend as I didn't take any lessons but I heard good things about it.