Automobile. Driving school: how to be sure you choose the right one?

To date, only 23% of French driving schools have the "Ecole conduite qualité" label. What is it for? What does this label guarantee? What specific training courses does it open the doors to? And why is it important to choose a certified school?

Of the nearly 12,600 driving schools operating in France, fewer than 3,000 establishments have the "École conduite qualité" label or the "Qualiopi" certification, issued by the Ministry of the Interior.

To obtain this certification, these schools must demonstrate compliance with stringent specifications. They can be identified by the logo on the driving school's windows, vehicles, and website pages.

Key points of certification:

1. Exclusive training services with training provided only by these certified schools.
2. Transparency of information and prices
3. The implementation of educational resources and quality training
4. Personalized support
5. Qualified and regularly trained teachers
6. Continuous improvement and satisfaction surveys

Certified schools must engage in a process of continuous improvement. To this end, they collect certified feedback from students and alumni—via an independent body or a questionnaire—on the welcome, availability of instructors, and training content. This feedback allows for the adaptation of practices and is supplemented by a complaints management system.

"We believe it is important to inform future learner drivers and their families about the existence of this label and the guarantees it provides, whether it is a serious learning experience, a high level of transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements. We recommend checking an establishment's label before registering, and remaining cautious when faced with offers that are sometimes attractive but often poorly regulated, which cast shame on the entire profession," explains Patrick Mirouse, President of the ECF.

An uncertified driving school isn't necessarily a scam. But these establishments may unfortunately have non-compliant or questionable practices.

A simple example: the "all-inclusive" packages at a very low price. These packages may be tempting but often hide omissions: application fees, exam support, or additional hours are not announced in the initial offer.