Driving Lessons in Abingdon

Don is not only an exceptional driving instructor but also a great personality. He provides encouragement, instills confidence in your abilities and is especially good at identifying your weakest points in order to help you become a safe driver. I passed in under 24 one-hour driving lessons and with only 2 minors - from a complete novice to a confident driver. Don's pass rate speaks for itself and his experience really is a credit to Oxfordshire.

Absolutely amazing instructor and would highly recommend. All the reviews are true. Got a nervous middle aged woman to pass ready and feeling much more confident very quickly indeed.

My instructor was ace he made me so comfortable because I was so nervous and he helped calm my nerves, I would definitely recommend this driving school :)

Don is a really great driving instructor. He is reassuring, patient and honest and I really recomend him as an instructor!

I was so nervous at the prospect of driving. After just one lesson I felt at ease. I couldnt of asked for a better instructor to fill me with confidence. You can see the improvement in every lesson and I couldn't recommend him more.

Dom the legend him self a god amongst men a top quality driving instructor with good sense of humor and positive attitude. Would definitely recommend

I had the pleasure of doing a week-long intensive course with the man, the legend, Sir Don Russell. I had 25 hours of tuition with him and passed my test at the end of the week.

Don was a very calm and pedagogical instructor, whose focus was to get me to meet the required standards in order to pass at the end of the week. He knows his stuff, and knows what the student will be expected to demonstrate on the day. Importantly, Don was always in a good mood and seemed genuinely happy to be teaching. His uplifting mood was instrumental in building a rapport with me, which is pretty important if you're committed to spending ~ 25 hours of your week next to a stranger!

Don was recently awarded the 1st place out of 300 instructors by DriveJohnson's, for the most pupil passes in 2017. Well-deserved! I'll be back for the PassPlus course.

I can't really recommend Don enough. He is a very experienced driving instructor with a LOT of patience! He will always remain calm no matter what the situation on the roads, and he really gives you the confidence to believe in yourself. Both my wife and myself passed first time with Don, and we both started out as complete beginners! Most importantly, he is such a nice chap! He always manages to make you feel at ease with cheery chit-chat! He's also very honest and will always give his opinion where needed. If you need lessons in or around Oxford, then look no further!

Don has been a great friend to both my wife and I for well over a year and we'll both miss him! x

A masterful technician in his trade!!
Thank you my coach??

Amazing driving instructor felt very comfortable, always so cheerful and never in a bad mood. Would 100% recommend him to anyone of all ages. So glad he was my driving instructor!!!!! Can't recommend him enough.

Don is the best instructor I could wish for. He is supportive, patient and knows how to make you feel confident behind the wheel. He has a relaxed approach but he will push you where he thinks he should. It was very enjoyable learning with him which I'm sure helped me pass my test first time. I would highly recommend him to everyone. Thank you very much for everything!!!

Alhamdulillah I passed my test today! With a special thanks to Don who gave me encouragement strength and belief ! Definitely recommend him! Thanks a lot Don!

Passed 1st time! Thanks to drive Johnson for supplying their information pack and the videos! And huge thanks to Don for being a great driving instructor! Highly recommend Don and drive johnsons !!

Don is an excellent driving instructor. He is patient, encouraging and gives constructive comments. I highly recommend having lessons with him. I am really grateful for all his help.

Couldn't think of a better driving coach - charismatic, intelligent, friendly, compassionate, witty - someone so much more than merely a 'driving instructor'. I've made a good friend and also managed to pass my driving test having turned 17 two months ago and having had no prior experience in a car nor how a car actually works. I am in no doubt I wouldn't have been able to do so without Don guiding me. If you're not sure who to book as your instructor then I stress you must book Don! Thank you so much for everything, owe you big time.

Cheers coach,

Louis

Don is a great instructor firm when he needs to be but always fair. Knows exactly what's needed to be gone over and when to go over it. It also doesn't hurt that he's a great laugh!

The best instructor a man/woman can ever ask for! Informative, funny and most of all... He's the man!!

Don is a very good instructor and very friendly. I will recommend him to anyone wanting to learn how to drive.

Don is a great instructor I had an international licence and needed to pass my uk test and Don was recommended to me by my wifes friends. He is calm, patient, very helpful and gave me great confidence, I had about 10 hours of lessons with Don and passed first time.

Don does his job so well and you can see he's so passionate about it. Amazing funny guy and he will have you passed in no time!

An unforgettable experience. Such a great coach with a smile that is forever present.
It was a long journey but a memorable one too. I would not of been able to manage if it was not for Don being by my side, I have already recommended him to many of my mates and will carry on to do so.

Thank you so much for everything you have done!!

Hugh

A great man and teacher. Chad shows professionalism and a range of knowledge in every lesson making you feel at ease that you are in the best hands.

Chad is such a kind, helpful and caring instructor. Never made me feel pressured or panicked and every lesson was a relaxing and helpful experience. If you want to learn with someone that works at your pace and wants to see you succeed then he is your man.

after failing my test 4 times with another company I came to Johnsons for a fresh start and im so lucky I did as my instructor paul gave it his all to help me pass.

Thanks drive Johnsons, special thanks to Coach for teaching me and ensuring I focus and improve my driving every lesson. I passed my test first time! Thanks again drive Johnson, would recommend Don to any potential trainee looking to pass.

I passed first time with Don as did my brother who recommended him to me in the first place! Don is an amazing instructor and wastes no time! I've already recommended him to many people and will continue to do so!

. Don's freindly and relaxed style made the learning process a pleasurable one. I couldn't recommend the man more, looking forward to continued learning out on the road. You'd do well to have him instruct you... Can't stress this enough: MONEY WELL SPENT.(I'm proper tight , so belive it!)

Don is the best instructor anyone could ever ask for!
He was the only one to support me in this long journey. When I started I was so insicure and scared but Dons' great teaching abilities, and of course his great sense of humour made it all so fun and easy. I always looked forward to having lessons with him.

Thank you so much Don, I could not have done this without you! I'm so happy to have passed my driving test but most importantly I'm so happy that I've found a life long friend like you! :)

Simmy

Paul Houghton is a great instructor, I learnt a lot with him and he has a lot of patience for new learners. I would recommend anyone that wants to start taking lessons to take them with him.

Was so nervous to start driving but Paul instantly made me feel at ease and safe. Paul is so good at what he does and helped me learn so quickly. Can't thank you enough!

Go on Don!! Legend! Such a great coach! I Go to Portsmouth uni but travel back to oxford just to do lessons with him! I'm a nervous driver and make silly errors but I passed in no time!!! Great teaching method! Great service! Go to Don aka coach! :D

Passed my test with just 2 faults today! So happy and grateful to my instructor. He has been great and really encouraged me in my lessons. Even when i wasn't the best of learners and made so many mistakes. If you are looking to learn to drive you wont go wrong with Chad.

I already had driving experience in the pass but I needed to get out of bad habits and up to standard to enable to pass my driving test. I didn't pass 1st time due to a silly mistake of my own, but Dom helped me to correct my mistakes which enabled me to pass 2nd time. I would definitely recommend him.

Patience, humor, challenge and a deep knowledge of how to pass the test. Don knew when to push me and when to shut up! He is a natural born coach. The rumors are true: he really is the best instructor in the UK!

Thank you for helping me pass first time :)

Eleri

I really enjoyed my driving lessons in Oxford with Don. Passed first time! Thanks :)

When I first started taking lessons with Don I was a terrified learner (trainee as Don prefers to call it) driver and I have just passed my test with only 3 minors! I couldn't have done it without Don! Lessons with him are engaging and fun. He has a way of making you feel at ease, but at the same time not letting any bad driving practice slip through the net. He is very encouraging and does not ask you take any more lessons than you need, a rare trait! He keeps calm in what could be potentially really stressful situations, and really treats you like you're one of his cadets- he took the trouble to come in and try and jumpstart our car when it broke down, without asking anything for it. My husband is now taking lessons with him, and I would whole heartedly recommend him to anyone!! Thanks coach! :D

Dos is a top guy ,
Moved from Italy last year was struggling with other driving instructor, but then came across don after hearing from a friend
He's a great guy and has got such a great asset to the department of transport
Grazie Mille don!

Donovan is a great driving structor who I would highly recommend without hesitation he is amicable and made me feel at ease he gave me the confidence and knowledge to allow me to pass my test first time with only one miner for not indercating into the test centre (my fault) if your'e looking for a instructor for yourself or your children then don russle is the guy to go to!

Being one of Don's cadettes has been an absolute pleasure. He is not only statistically, but also practically, the greatest coach ever. He really knows his stuff - couldn't have done it without him, the legend. Other talents include dancing, taglines, and takeouts. 10/10, would do the 30 hours all over again!

Remember; if you can dream it, you can do it

Don is the best instructor I could of found. He came highly recommended. Don was very calm and keen to push me to learn to drive as fast and safely as possible. Could of done it this soon without Don.

Cheers Don

Hector

My parents had brought me a voucher for some lessons for my Birthday so I could start my lessons and im so glad they found Drive Johnsons as I passed my test today with 3 minor faults.

I was super nervous about driving but Don quickly put me at ease, was patient and encouraging and didn't fail to make me laugh when I needed to calm down! Couldn't have passed my test without his support. I would (and have already) recommended him to others!

Don - the man, the myth, the legend. I went from pretty much never being behind the wheel to passing on my first go in 6 weeks. He truely knows his stuff when it comes to coaching how to drive - even to students like me who question and debate every instruction, so that not only do you become a good driver in general but also know how to pass the driving exam. So overall you can't go wrong if you go with Don :D

Don Russell - A League of His Own

I came to Don sceptical, sceptical of the claims made in his bio but I can tell you hand on heart Don Russell changed my life. I had been to driving instructors from John O Groats to Lands End none of which understood me for me. When I entered the car for the first time with Don it was a totally immersive experience. I was the car and the car was me - I suppose you could say the car became an extension of me. Forthright in his approach, firm in his beliefs, a coach who builds a team ethic with a strong, hard working philosophy but at all times fair Don made me realise that driving is more than just ignition, clutch, gas and go. Yes we clashed at times and yes we would discuss things me with my point of view and him with his but we would always and I mean ALWAYS be productive. When the day came to part ways after an astonishing zero minors on my test I can honestly say that tears were shed. Tears of appreciation to a man who's methods may not always be conventional but they always get results. Finally, I wouldn't say Don was the best instructor in the world but he's definitely in the top 1.

Such a talented instructor. With a great depth of knowledge.

Don has been a great driving instructor over the months the best I have ever had. Upon getting in the car with him for the first time I knew he will be the coach to get me through and pass the first prestigious time. I highly recommend Don is one of a kind driving instructor and I will continue to tell all my friends and family about him. Sadly our ways have to part now as tears where shed It was a happy yet emotional day . 10/10 genuine down to earth guy I'm glad to have met him . Will take his great advice with me to the grave .
Fair well my Coach

I phoned the drive Johnsons office and spoke to a really bubbly lady who advised me to take 2 hours per lesson which is brilliant advice because I would never learn in just a 1 hour lesson so anyway after 34 hours I passed my practical which I’m so happy with.

He is a professional instructor. He has an excellent experience. He gave me many valuable advices. He helped me so much and prepared me well . I could pass my driving test from the first time . Thank you Don .

A coach of impeccable driving integrity.Remained true & consistent to his views & principles for the entire duration of the course.
Thank you very much!!!

Great teacher, lots of patience. One good aspect is that he tries to fit round your schedule. I passed second time, but after i failed the first he helped motivate me into passing the 2nd with barely any minors.