BSM Reviews

BSM is, without doubt, the very worst company and website I have ever used, let alone the worst driving school.

BSM is now the complete opposite of how I used to view this driving lessons business.

I passed first time with BSM around 32 years ago and at the time I would recommended its instructors to anyone who wanted to learn to drive.

Of course it has been a franchise for, well, there is no record online of how long the company has been a franchise. Established in 1910 and then bought for £1 in 2011 by AA might give some indication that this company has had its issues.

Nonetheless I did pass first time but this was down to my instructor, which was my third as my first instructor resigned to become an ambulance driver which is ironic as I suspected him of being an alcoholic, not that he taught me in a drunken state, but I wouldnt know if he was over the limit after binging the night before my lessons.

But there were things he did and said that would indicated he was a serious drinker.

I even asked him at one point if he was an alcoholic and he didnt give me a direct answer.

Having said all that he was a good instructor, albeit somewhat flawed with his teaching style.

My second instructor, on my first lesson with him, took over the pedals and my steering in order to catch up with a bus driver who had pulled out in front of him so he could shout abuse at him.

He had a pathological hatred of bus drivers and didnt agree that actually they have right of way in certain traffic situations.

I quizzed him about his actions, and that this was not leading by example. He agreed that of course I should never drive like that, but that he hated bus drivers having right of way, etc, etc. After the lesson when I got home I called the BSM office and asked them to provide a different instructor.

This was at a time when BSM had shops on the high street and actual telephone numbers. My third instructor was great as I mentioned earlier he help me pass my test first time.

But yesterday 5th August 2025, I wanted to book a series of refresher lessons with BSM

It took over two hours to try and book a particular instructor: I used my phone, laptop, and two browsers and I just could not do it.

To add insult to injury at some point early on I had to top up my account balance (I had successfully booked one refresher lesson in 2022 which was a good lesson except my instructor was swearing almost nonstop all the way through my lesson.

I realise now I should have complained but it was a good lesson).

Anyway I booked four hours worth of lessons for £131. 10, but as mentioned I could not book lessons with the instructor I wanted.

I would get as far as the section just before payment and the site would crash - this happened so many times that I almost had a panic attack. I would have given up after the first 15mins if I hadnt payed this incompetent company £131.10.

And the help and chat section was just intolerable - Ive asked for a refund and I hope that goes through and quickly.

But this franchise business is unaccountable - none of the phone numbers work - if there is a usable phone number Ive yet to find it.

I have now booked refresher lesson with a really lovely instructor with great accolades and at a far more reasonable fee and I even spoke to her on the phone last night.

BSM: 0 Stars and a very unrecommended driving school.