We get asked these questions every week. Here are honest answers from Petro Tappouras, a Jim’s Driving School franchisee in Sydney, New South Wales. This article covers 5 common questions about Jim’s Driving School franchise vs. going solo, professional lessons, NSW learner hours, and booking in Western Sydney.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
What motivated you to join Jim’s Driving School?
Petro joined Jim’s Driving School mainly for brand recognition after working on his own for about a year.
He had already been trying to build his own driving school brand, but the work had been up and down. That is a common challenge for independent operators. You may be a good instructor, but finding consistent enquiries, building trust, and getting your name into the local market can take time.
Petro said he randomly came across an ad he “wasn’t supposed to see”, then reached out to his friend Chullo Lance. Chullo’s first question was, “how did you know about this?” That led Petro to attend training and look seriously at the model.
The key point for anyone comparing owning a franchise with Jim’s Group with going solo is simple: Petro wanted the brand working behind him. Parents need to trust the person sitting beside their child in a car, and brand recognition can help open that first conversation.
How are you finding the training so far?
Petro said the training has been a blast and has been quite good so far.
He also said a lot of the training had applied to what he does as an instructor. Driving instruction is not only about knowing how to drive. A good instructor needs to explain clearly, stay calm, manage risk, read the learner’s confidence level, and work through a structured process.
Petro joked that he had “managed to stay awake”, but the serious point sits underneath the joke. Training needs to be useful, practical, and relevant to the work franchisees actually do. The Jim’s Group franchisee training page gives future franchisees a clearer idea of what onboarding looks like across the wider group.
For someone weighing up Jim’s Driving School franchise vs going solo, training gives structure at the start. Instead of figuring everything out alone, a new franchisee can work inside a system, ask questions, and learn how the brand expects customers to be looked after.
What are the benefits of using Jim’s Driving School?
The main benefits of using Jim’s Driving School are professional control, dual-brake vehicles, a structured curriculum and stronger test preparation.
Petro explained that instructors use their own vehicle fitted with their own brakes. That gives the instructor more control over the environment inside the car. For a nervous learner, especially on a first drive, this can make a big difference.
He also gave a real example many parents will understand. When parents take their child driving for the first time, the child may panic and press whatever pedal sits in front of them. Often, that can be the accelerator. Without an instructor brake, the parent may only be able to react by yelling, which can make the learner even more stressed.
Petro also runs students through a curriculum. He takes them from the stage of never having seen a car before, through longer drives, and then towards the driving test. He said he has a first-go pass rate of about 75 percent, and that the second pass rate bumps up to about 93 or 94 percent. For parents looking at Jim’s Driving School, that mix of vehicle control, calm instruction and test preparation is the main value.
Are there any additional criteria in your state?
Yes, in NSW learners must complete 120 hours, including 20 hours of night driving.
Petro also explained an important NSW rule for professional instruction. For the first 10 hours a learner has with an instructor, they earn 30 hours towards their logbook. That is why he recommends parents book at least 10 hours with an instructor, so the learner can cover the majority of the basics properly.
The exact number of lessons still depends on the student. Petro said if the student is a fast learner, 10 hours will be more than enough. If the student takes longer, mainly because of coordination, they may need 20 hours.
He has had some students with him for 30 hours at the most. Older students, especially those over the age of 25, can also vary depending on how they learn new skills. Petro said many of those students will do roughly around the 30-hour mark and plus in hours. The practical takeaway: start with 10 professional hours, then adjust based on the learner’s confidence, coordination and progress.
Which areas do you service and how can we contact you?
etro services Western Sydney, including Parramatta, Ryde and Homebush, and customers can call 131 546 or book online.
He said he would be servicing the Western Sydney area around Parramatta, all the way up to Ryde, and out towards Homebush. He may also travel a little further depending on the student.
For learner drivers and parents, the easiest next step is to call Jim’s on 131 546 or use the booking option at jimsdrivingschool.com.au. You can also check the Jim’s Driving School contact page for current contact details.
For anyone comparing the business side, this answer also says something important. Petro is not trying to cover every suburb in NSW. He is focusing on a clear service area. Local territory, local enquiries and a recognisable brand can make a driving school business easier to understand than starting from nothing.
If you are a parent or learner driver in Western Sydney, Petro’s advice is clear: get at least 10 hours with an instructor and build the basics properly before relying only on parent-supervised driving.
If you are looking at the franchise side, his story shows why brand recognition matters. He had been working alone, found the work inconsistent, and saw value in having Jim’s behind him.
Call 131 546 or visit the Jim’s Group contact page to ask about services or franchise enquiries.