
PassWithBob.com

Information about PassWithBob.com
GL52 2NR, Cheltenham
Opening hours
- sunday: (closed)
- monday: 8h-16h
- tuesday: 8h-16h
- wednesday: 8h-16h
- thursday: 8h-16h
- friday: 8h-16h
- saturday: (closed)
Automatic tuition. Done right. I’m Bob Harding-Williams, a fully qualified Driving Instructor based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
PassWithBobdotcom offers you a simple formula: Really enjoyable driving lessons. With a cheerful instructor. Effective lesson planning to ensure great progress. And a Money Back Guarantee on every lesson.
Brilliant driving lessons. Every time. Or your money back.
PassWithBob.com: Reviews
Fantastic experience: I passed first time with Bob and felt confident thanks to his calm, clear, and supportive teaching. Driving used to terrify me, I’d had multiple instructors before and felt hopeless - but Bob changed everything. He’s firm but kind, and knows how to bring out the best in his students. As someone with ADHD and autism, I really valued his compassionate and direct approach. Lessons felt collaborative and empowering, and I made real progress each week. He was also very accommodating with schedule changes when given proper notice. I highly recommend Pass With Bob to equip students of any age to become confident and safe drivers.
Ah bless you E for a lovely review and kind words. Teamwork. That's what does it!
Fantastic experience: I've just passed my test at the first time with bob. Had really bad experiences with 2 driver instructors in the past I got in contact with bob and I can only say, it's money well spent. He is a genuine guy who knows how to teach and how to talk to people with calm. Really had a great time learning with him and not only driving but also some really interesting facts from British history as well. This man was born to teach. Definitely recommended.
Thank you very much for your fab review Diego. It was awesome to see you pass your driving test first time this morning. Very much down to the work you put in, not just my teaching. Very well done mate!!
Fantastic experience: Switching to automatic lessons with Bob was the best decision I made whilst learning to drive. Previous instructors affected my confidence. Bob was incredibly patient and understanding, taking the time to identify obstacles, whether practical or emotional. While I had a solid grasp of driving basics, my confidence was the issue. Bob worked tirelessly to rebuild it, insisting I wouldnt just learn to drive but learn to love it - and now, I do. Thanks, Bob!
Oh Holly, it was a real delight to see you doing so well during those driving lessons. And an even bigger delight to see you pass your driving test. Team work wasn't it? You put the work in and it paid off. Thank you very much for your fab review.
Fantastic experience: I couldn’t recommend Bob highly enough as a driving instructor. He’s kind, patient, and incredibly conscientious. After struggling with manual lessons in the past, I found Bob, and from our very first phone call, I knew I was in safe hands. So many driving schools I looked into sent very quick WhatsApp messages, Bob has a very different approach, he shows he has the time for you from the very get go. Bob’s teaching style goes beyond simply instructing—you gain confidence and understanding. His email reports and lesson plans helped me stay focused and prepared. His calm approach, very! in-depth knowledge of Cheltenham, and clear explanations made learning a joy. With his sense of humour and engaging stories, lessons were both educational and fun. The pre-test lesson was also a game changer, giving me the final boost of confidence I needed. I now drive daily with his lessons and tips in mind. Thank you Bob!
Alice, thank you so much for such a lovely review. It was a delight to see you doing so well and making great progress on each of your driving lessons. Very best wishes and thank you again.
Fantastic experience: Great instructor! Much more patient than other instructors I've had before, gave positive feedback, and had well planned lessons. Highly reccomend!
Thank you for your lovely review Rachel. And what a great result on Tuesday. Passed your driving test with style despite the snow! Examiner complemented you on the quality of your driving too!
Fantastic experience: Exceptional instructor, fantastic and fun lessons, great value for money, and brilliant results. I tried and failed to learn how to drive several times before and pretty much gave up. Bob's empathetic, patient, and positive teaching style changed all that, turning driving from something I dreaded into something I enjoy and look forward to. Bob is a consummate professional and a highly-skilled instructor who spends time getting to know his pupils and their learning styles. When I couldn't get something right, Bob found different ways of approaching the issue, always with patience and good humour. Whether you are just starting out or giving driving another go later in life, Bob is your man. I cannot recommend him more highly.
Thank you Jonathan and don't forget, you were a great pupil too. Your's was a well deserved pass today.
Fantastic experience: Learning to drive later in life after some previous failed attempts was daunting. However, Bob helped build my confidence with focused, patient & encouraging lessons. Now I can relax and enjoy driving, something I didn’t think was possible! Excellent instructor ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much for your lovely review Sandra. Relax and enjoy driving! Yep, that's what we set out to do. Mission accomplished!
Fantastic experience: Bob is a fantastic driving instructor. He offers enthusiastic, patient and professional instruction- a very talented teacher.
Thank you so much for that lovely review Ellie. Delighted to see Bella achieve her driving test pass on first attempt this morning. Cherry on the cake was the examiner complimenting her safe, considerate driving style during the end-of-test debrief.
Fantastic experience: Bob's professionalism and commitment to providing a positive learning experience were evident from the start. What truly set Bob apart was his interpersonal skills. His friendliness and approachability created a comfortable learning environment, and his calming presence made each lesson enjoyable. Even when I made mistakes, Bob's understanding and patient guidance helped me address and rectify them without feeling discouraged. The post-lesson email reports were a valuable aspect of his teaching approach. They not only highlighted our achievements but also outlined specific areas for improvement, providing a clear roadmap for my progress. This level of communication was reassuring and demonstrated his dedication to ensuring a comprehensive learning experience. One incident that left a lasting impression was Bob's understanding when I felt overwhelmed and upset due to work issues. He showed genuine empathy and offered the option to reschedule the lesson. Notably, he did this without any additional charges, emphasising his focus on the well-being of his students beyond just driving skills. Bob's teaching approach and personalised care played a crucial role in my success, as I passed my driving test on the first attempt. I wholeheartedly recommend Bob.
Thank you so much for your lovely review Aditee. It was a joy to see you progressing so well on every one of your driving lessons. And what a great result on the day of your Driving Test! First time pass and the examiner complemented you on your driving skills. Very best wishes.
Fantastic experience: The name really says it all as I did indeed pass with Bob! (first time too!) Bob and I got along well, and he had an excellent teaching style for me; very calm and reassuring throughout, even when I would be hard on myself at times! No question I had ever felt silly, and I felt like we made good progress on every lesson. His website is clear and extremely informative, in particular I really appreciated his transparency on costing, it was very helpful when looking into getting lessons. I had returned to learning to drive after a 10 year hiatus and by the time my test date rolled around I had gone from a fairly nervous driver to a confident one. I passed first time and was happily driving round town on my own that very same afternoon! (the Tesla is fantastic too, I'll definitely miss driving it!!)
Hi Fizz, thank you for a lovely review. You were a super learner driver and it was such a delight to see you pass first time. Your driving examiner even complemented you on a “really smooth drive”. Praise indeed. Enjoy driving and carry on being awesome!
Fantastic experience: I think Bob is a great guy and very accommodating. He has been kind enough to make special arrangements according to my test date. Highly recommended. Thanks Bob
Bless you Swati and all very best wishes with your Driving Test.
Fantastic experience: I have just passed my driving test first time thanks to Bob! Originally being a nervous driver, Bob helped me to feel very calm and confident during my driving lessons and I now really enjoy driving. He would always explain what we’d be doing and how, and would try to explain things in other ways if there was ever any confusion. Bob is very organised, having a clear lesson plan for all his students including every difficult road you could come across in the area and how best to approach it! By the time my test came around, I knew exactly how to deal with the route they took me on as I had experienced it already with Bob and learnt from my mistakes with him. As well as being a good teacher, Bob is a very lovely person - you’ll always come away from your test having heard a new story from him and feeling good about your lesson having had his ‘double thumbs up’! I would definitely recommend Bob to anyone, especially those needing more structure and patience.
Thank you so much Aidan. That's such a gracious review and a lovely surprise. You were a super learner driver and you worked enthusiastically through every one of your lessons. Enjoy driving!
Fantastic experience: from an anxious driver to a confident one....Bob has been a great instructor/teacher. I passed my test with all the support and motivation and encouragment from Bob and to trust myself. Very big thanks to Bob and will recommend Bob as a very good driving Instruster .
Fantastic experience: Great instructor! He gave me so many helpful tips for driving and I feel I received very valuable advice which I am very grateful for. I didn’t have a great experience with other instructors so I was very happy when I passed with Bob.
Fantastic experience: I had my lessons with Bob last year and I can’t thank him enough. I couldn’t find a driving instructor at all after I had a terrible experience with one. When my partner and I express how desperate we were Bob took it to the next level. He offered me lessons even when he was fully booked for months because he knew we were in a really difficult situation.The learning process was easy and enjoyable, he is such a good instructor, the way that he teaches assures you, you will pass, he takes extra care and thinks of all the important details, to be honest it was even hard to stop seeing him weekly, I miss our lessons but I am forever grateful to Bob. I recommend him 100%.
Fantastic experience: I passed with Bob 18 years ago having had a horrendous previous experience. I was an incredibly nervous learner and lacked self confidence. His patience and kindness was second to none. I have subsequently used him to teach my eldest son, this was into covid with all the additional challenges that this posed. He is now teaching my son with additional needs who is really enjoying his lessons. Keep up the excellent work.
Fantastic experience: I always have a great experience driving with bob, making me a better driver and giving me more confidence on the road. I always look forward to our lessons, I wish I started sooner!
Negative experience: My wife didn't get a chance to experience Bob's driving instructor skills. She was due to have a lesson on Tuesday 28th March but had been ill in bed for 4 days before, on Monday she felt a little better and hoped to make the lesson on Tuesday, she was looking forward to it. She travelled to a fund raising event on Monday evening returning very late at 12.30 and really didnt feel well again. She sent Bob an email immediately explaining that she was really feeling poorly again and couldn't make the lesson and in hindsight should of told Bob earlier. She has since been in bed again. Bob responded stating that he doesn't tolerate late cancellations and that we need to find another driving school. I have stated that we would be happy to pay for the missed lesson which Bob later refused. After reading the last review by Lauren Jennings I am glad that Bob decided not to continue working with us. Giving Bob 2 stars because we was really nice in the initial interactions. ADDITION AFTER BOB's COMMENT BELOW, AS TO YOUR COMMENT RE TREATING OTHERS BADLY YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW US WELL
Hmm… 2 star review. I’ll summarise. Customer books several driving lessons. Then cancels two lessons. One with only four hours notice. Doesn’t pay upfront for the booked lessons either. Driving Instructor decides this customer looks unreliable and is not worth the risk. He suggests the customer books another driving school. Customer tells the driving instructor that she’s been in bed sick for 4 days. Her husband tells the driving instructor that his wife has been in London attending her charity fund-raiser and returned home so late she would not be able to do the driving lesson. Come on guys. Get your stories straight. Whichever situation is true, there was still enough time to let the driving instructor know. That way he could book other pupils who are waiting patiently for lesson slots to open up. I suspect I’m not the first person this couple has treated this way. Raising charity funds and carrying out work that improves the lives of others is to be applauded. But that doesn’t give you the right to treat a small business with a lack of respect.
Negative experience: Do not invest your time and money into this business! Despite a luxury experience learning to drive in a Tesla, you may be abandoned 2 days before your test without an instructor! After 40 hours of lessons with Bob, I have had a negative experience that will provide clarity if you are considering him as an instructor. I chose Bob due to his website. As a teacher myself, I found his lesson plan structure comforting; Bob deserves credit for his detail in his handbook and lesson reports. However, I have experienced serious issues with his professionalism. According to Bob’s website, you should receive ‘really enjoyable driving lessons’ from a ‘trustworthy and thorough teacher’ who is encouraging and ‘patient.’ Unfortunately, my experience does not align with this due to moments of unprofessionalism. In my first lesson, I explained how being in a vehicle with anyone who raises their voice can trigger panic attacks/flight and freeze response and therefore, I laid out a very important boundary with Bob which he acknowledged. But he let himself down on 3 occasions: 1. When I almost clipped the corner in Swindon Village and Bob made me feel really bad about it - I had to remind him that I had no malicious intent to damage his car and that I was only learning. 2. He shouted at me at Montpellier Roundabout saying, “Go go go you need to go!” because there was an opportunity as a van was ‘blocking’ the cars to my right. I began to panic due to his sudden shouting – he prioritised not annoying the car behind us instead of ensuring a calm learning environment for me. 3. My final lesson with Bob (23/12/22) involved a frightening incident at Gallagher Retail car park and is the main reason for my review. 1 week before my test, I was struggling with my confidence in reverse bay parking where Bob was snappy and unable to provide suitable solutions to help my understanding, despite this being clearly advertised on his website. When I accidentally dry steered the car, Bob suddenly shouted at me saying, “All I see is pound signs when you do that!” followed by a huge sigh and suggested that I was purposely damaging his vehicle. The car fell silent as Bob put his head in his hands. My heart was racing and I froze. I knew I had to get the car in a safe place in case I had a panic attack and so I parked the car as Bob continued to sit in silence. Through my shaking voice, I finally said I was disappointed in how he spoke to me and that I was uncomfortable. I began to cry from the sheer shock when Bob then said he had ‘failed me’ and couldn’t be my instructor anymore. He then asked me to get out of the vehicle whilst he got into the drivers’ seat and reversed out of the space, turning to leave me there. At that moment, I was crying and I thought I was going to have to call my nan to pick me up. He then rolled down the driver side window and asked me to get in the car. He apologised, said he would still be my instructor and drove me home. As Bob advertises a money back guarantee, I later asked for a refund for that lesson because it was clearly not first-class tuition. To my surprise, Bob closed my pupil account and refunded me 3 lessons worth of payment. This left me with no instructor and unable to do my test 2 days later. Bob admitted to falling short of his standards and as an experienced instructor, he has let himself down because his behaviour was completely unprofessional and had he left me there, could have jeopardised my safety. After my commitment to Bob’s business, my family and I have been left speechless and absolutely devastated. I hope he can professionally reflect and support future students by ensuring a calm environment 100% of the time. I have been hurt by Bob as I thought he would be by my side on the day of my test. I urge anyone reading this to consider a more professional instructor who will calmly support you when you make mistakes and not abandon you days before your test because they can’t control their outbursts.
There are always two sides to a story. I’m not going to defend myself or try to argue against what Lauren has written here.
She is correct in her description of two incidents that occurred during the course of her driver training. I have a slightly different recollection of the third incident.
Nevertheless, Lauren is correct. It wasn’t good enough. I refunded her driving test fee, refunded the money for three previous lessons and refunded her pupil account balance in full.
I did my best. It wasn’t good enough for this learner driver.
Fantastic experience: Faultless in every way, absolutely first class instructor. Thank you Bob, Hilary
Bless you Hilary. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Fantastic experience: After having my first lesson with Bob yesterday, I would like to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great attitude towards teaching, with friendly and a very honest approach to driving.
Gosh, thank you for your kind words Maxine. So delighted you enjoyed your driving lesson. Kind regards, Bob
Fantastic experience: I saw Bob's car recently in Cheltenham and reminded me of my lessons. I passed back in 2004 after several failures. Bob was a fully committed and dedicated instructor who really went the extra mile. Very well planned and constructive lessons, Bob's enthusiasm for teaching and his many anecdotes made the driving sessions enjoyable and satisfying. I'm pleased for Bob he now has his own business and would highly recommend.
Bless you Tim. Thank you so much for your kind thought to post such a lovely review here. Very much hope you're doing well and enjoying life.
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