Comparison

DrivePro vs AA Driving School

The AA is one of the UK's most recognised driving school brands. But franchise fees are estimated at £200-250/week - that's potentially £10,000-13,000 a year. Here's how going independent with DrivePro compares.

Flat monthly subscription, no franchise contract

AA franchise fees are estimated at £200-250 a week on multi-year contracts. DrivePro is a flat monthly subscription from £16.66/month with no long-term contract — cancel any time.

Choose your own car

No mandatory branded car lease. Drive what you want, brand it how you want, and negotiate your own insurance deal.

Build your own brand

Your name, your logo, your reputation. When pupils recommend you, they recommend YOU - not a franchise. That goodwill stays with you forever.

No contract lock-in

AA franchise contracts typically run 1-2 years with notice periods. DrivePro is month-to-month. Cancel anytime with no penalties.

File tax returns directly with HMRC

DrivePro connects to HMRC for Making Tax Digital. File quarterly returns in minutes. AA provides no tax filing tools.

Set your own rates and hours

No franchise-dictated pricing or minimum hours. Work when you want, charge what you want, take holidays when you choose.

25 features compared, side by side

Based on publicly available information as of March 2026.

Feature
DrivePro
AA Driving School
Scheduling & Booking
Lesson diary & calendar
Online pupil booking portalAA allocates pupils centrally - you don't control your own bookings
Automated SMS reminders
Embeddable booking widgetEmbed on your own website - WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or any site
Waiting list management
Payments
Card payments from pupilsAA handles pupil payments centrally and pays you
Pay-at-booking (prepaid lessons)Pupils pay when they book - no chasing, no unpaid lessons
Automatic cancellation fee charging
Your own Stripe merchant accountEach instructor holds their own account — payouts go directly to your bank
Tax & Compliance
HMRC Making Tax Digital filingnative Making Tax Digital software - file quarterly returns inside the app
Income & expense trackingAA provides no digital bookkeeping tools
Mileage tracking
Profit & loss summaries
Pupil Management
Pupil supplyAA allocates pupils. DrivePro marketplace lets learners find and book you directly
Marketplace
Allocated
DVSA syllabus progress tracker
AI lesson debriefs30-second voice note generates a structured debrief for your pupil
Pupil self-service portal
Branding & Customisation
Your own brand identityAA requires their branding on car, uniform, and all materials
Choice of carAA dictates which car you drive (typically leased through them)
Set your own lesson ratesAA sets recommended pricing - limited flexibility
Set your own working hoursSome franchises require minimum weekly hours
Limited
Business Growth
Instructor marketplace directoryLearners search by postcode and book you directly
Business health dashboard
Pass rate monitoring
Standards Check preparationTrack all 17 DVSA competencies with scoring trends

Information sourced from public websites. We update this page regularly but cannot guarantee third-party accuracy.

Pricing at a glance

DrivePro

From £16.66/mo

Billed annually. Monthly from £19.99/mo. No contract.

  • 14-day free trial, cancel anytime
  • Full diary & booking management
  • Pay-at-booking & cancellation fees
  • HMRC Making Tax Digital filing
  • AI lesson debriefs
  • Marketplace pupil acquisition
  • Business health dashboard
  • Your own Stripe merchant account

AA Driving School

~£200-250/week

Estimated franchise fee. Includes car lease & insurance.

  • Branded AA car provided
  • AA uniform and materials
  • Initial ADI training included
  • Pupil supply through AA brand
  • AA brand recognition
  • No separate software subscription
  • 1-2 year contract typical
  • No tax or financial tools

Which should you choose?

Choose DrivePro if

  • You want to keep an estimated £10,000+ more per year
  • You want to build a business under your own name and brand
  • You want to choose your own car and insurance
  • You want total control over your rates, hours, and holidays
  • You need HMRC Making Tax Digital compliance built in
  • You want pay-at-booking so pupils pay upfront
  • You don't want a 1-2 year contract commitment
  • You want a marketplace that brings pupils to you on your terms

Choose AA Driving School if

  • You're newly qualified and want a car, insurance, and pupils provided from day one
  • You value the AA brand name for attracting pupils in your area
  • You prefer not to manage your own car lease and insurance separately
  • You want guaranteed initial pupil supply while building experience
  • You'd rather pay a single weekly fee that covers everything

Frequently asked questions

How much does an AA driving school franchise cost?

AA driving instructor franchise fees are estimated at £200-£250 per week, which works out at roughly £10,000-£13,000 a year. The fee typically includes a branded, dual-control car with insurance, AA uniform and materials, and pupil supply through the AA brand. Exact pricing depends on the package - confirm current rates with the AA directly.

What does the AA franchise fee include?

The estimated £200-£250 weekly fee typically covers a branded AA tuition car with insurance, AA uniform and marketing materials, and pupil supply through the AA brand. It does not include tax or financial tools, and a 1-2 year contract is typical.

Is an AA franchise worth it compared with going independent?

It depends on your diary. A franchise fee of £200-£250 a week costs £10,000-£13,000 a year regardless of how many lessons you teach. Independent instructors using software like DrivePro (from £16.66/month) pay for their own car and insurance but keep the rest, so the maths usually favours independence once you have a full diary and a local reputation.

Try DrivePro free for 14 days

14-day free trial. Set up in 3 minutes. See why ADIs are switching to pay-at-booking.

Start your free trial

Thinking of leaving the AA? Start your free trial and see the difference.