Comparison
Orbit vs AA Driving School
The AA is one of the UK's most recognised driving school brands. But its All-Inclusive franchise costs from £201 a week, or £10,452 a year, plus a £180 admin fee (AA published pricing, checked 28 September 2026). Here's how going independent with Orbit compares.
At a glance
Free for instructors, no franchise contract
The AA's All-Inclusive franchise costs from £201 a week on 12 or 24 month contracts, plus a £180 admin fee and £170 deposit (AA published pricing, checked 28 September 2026). Orbit is free for driving instructors: no subscription, no contract, no card needed.
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 and Solo contracts run for 12 or 24 months, with a £170 deposit up front. Orbit has no contract and no penalties.
Making Tax Digital built in
Orbit totals your lesson income and expenses into your quarterly Making Tax Digital updates, built on HMRC's MTD for Income Tax API. Live submissions open once HMRC approves Orbit.
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.
Information sourced from public websites. We update this page regularly but cannot guarantee third-party accuracy.
Pricing at a glance
Freefor instructors
No subscription, no trial, no card needed. Every feature included.
- Free for instructors, no card needed
- Full diary & booking management
- Pay-at-booking & cancellation fees
- Making Tax Digital records (HMRC approval in progress)
- AI lesson debriefs
- Marketplace pupil acquisition
- Business health dashboard
- Your own Stripe merchant account
AA Driving School
£201/week
All-Inclusive package, from price inc. VAT, plus £180 admin fee and £170 deposit (theaa.com, September 2026). Fuel not included.
- New AA-branded car provided
- Maintenance, repairs & AA breakdown cover
- Uncapped pupil supply through AA brand
- AA brand recognition
- Diary management app included
- Solo car-only option from £181/week
- 12 or 24-month contract
- No tax tools listed in the package
Which should you choose?
Choose Orbit if
- You'd rather not pay £10,452 a year in weekly franchise fees
- 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 want Making Tax Digital records built into your diary app
- You want pay-at-booking so pupils pay upfront
- You don't want a 12 or 24 month 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?
The AA publishes two franchise packages (checked 28 September 2026): All-Inclusive from £201 a week and Solo (a dual-control car only) from £181 a week, both including VAT, on 12 or 24 month contracts. Both carry a £180 admin fee and a £170 deposit. At £201 a week, the All-Inclusive fee comes to £10,452 a year. Confirm current rates with the AA directly.
What does the AA All-Inclusive franchise fee include?
The AA lists uncapped pupil supply, its diary management app, a new AA-branded car, car maintenance, repairs and replacement, AA breakdown cover, marketing and business support, and career development opportunities (theaa.com, September 2026). Fuel is not included, and the published mileage allowance is 48,750 miles a year.
What is the AA Solo franchise and how much does it cost?
AA Solo is essentially a dual-control car lease: from £181 per week on a 12 or 24-month contract, plus the £180 admin fee and £170 deposit (theaa.com, September 2026). You get a new unbranded car with comprehensive insurance, maintenance, breakdown cover and tyre replacement - but no pupil introductions, no AA livery and no diary app. You find your own pupils and run your own diary, much as an independent instructor would.
What is the difference between AA All-Inclusive and AA Solo?
All-Inclusive (from £201/week) adds AA-branded livery, uncapped pupil supply, the diary management app, and marketing and business support to the car. Solo (from £181/week) is the car, insurance, maintenance and breakdown cover only. Both carry the same £180 admin fee, £170 deposit, 12 or 24-month terms and 48,750-mile annual allowance.
Is an AA franchise worth it compared with going independent?
It depends on your diary. At the AA's published All-Inclusive rate of £201 a week, you pay £10,452 a year in weekly fees regardless of how many lessons you teach. Independent instructors using software like Orbit (free for instructors) 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.
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