We offer a comparison of Zemgale Auto Moto School (ZAMS) and Presto Driving School, updated in December 2020.

The table shows CSDD statistical data and the most important information about each driving school. Below the table we have provided a detailed comparison analysis – read it carefully!

	PRESTO Autoskola		ZAMS Autoskola
Year of establishment	2011		2011
	Branch locations and number
Riga region	34		-
Zemgale region	9		4
Vidzeme region	6		-
Kurzeme region	12		-
Latgale region	5		-
	Team
Lecturers	32		-
Instructors	35		-
Training languages	LV, RU, ENG		LV, RU
	CSDD statistics 01.12.2020 (last 6 months)
Theory	98.38%		95.28%
Driving	B: 42.68% A: 33.82% Others: 27.78%		B: 40.74% A: - Others: 57.14%

Training quality

What do CSDD statistics show? They indicate the success rate at which students of a specific driving school pass exams on the first attempt. The higher the percentage, the greater the probability of passing the exam on the first try. If the percentage is relatively lower, it means that the likelihood of paying for a retake is higher – EUR 12.63 for the theory exam and EUR 38.52 for the driving exam. Therefore, it is worth comparing these figures, as the most financially beneficial driving schools are those that demonstrate the best statistical performance.

Theory

ZAMS theoretical training level is 95.28%, while Presto ranks 1st among large driving schools in Latvia with a performance of 98.38%. The industry average indicator is 95.14%. Although both driving schools exceed this average, ZAMS still presents a slightly higher probability of taking the theory exam again and paying EUR 12.63 once more.

Driving

ZAMS students passed the practical driving exam on the first attempt in 40.74% of cases, while Presto students did so in 42.68% of cases. Comparing the exam success percentages between both driving schools shows that there is a slightly higher probability of paying the EUR 38.52 driving exam fee again when studying at ZAMS.

Service

By service we mean the level of services included in the price. Service significantly differentiates one driving school from another. The more formalities involved, the more time will need to be spent attending in person and the fewer opportunities students will have to plan their own schedules.

Unlike Zemgale Auto Moto School, Presto offers:

• The contract can be reviewed online before signing;
• The contract can be concluded remotely (distance contract) without visiting the school branch;
• All driving school services can be fully paid on the website;
• Free instructor change during practical training – allowing you to obtain your driving license faster and more affordably;
• The Presto profile clearly shows theory and practical lesson schedules;
• Electronic document management – enabling faster results;
• A total training cost calculator on each training category page;
• Articles on the website and videos on the YouTube channel to supplement theoretical and practical training for all categories;
• Video assistance about every nuance of training and the services offered by the driving school;
• Ensuring continuity of training (catching up missed lessons, relocation) throughout Latvia;
• The largest network of driver medical commissions in Latvia;

Promotions

Zemgale Auto Moto School offers each applicant a personalized discount depending on the time the training application is submitted. However, the listed prices for both theory and driving lessons are shown without VAT. This is a small trick that may initially lead future students to make incorrect assumptions about the real cost of training. More about promotion and coupon tricks can be read here.

Presto offers its students a permanent and motivating promotion – reimbursement of CSDD exam costs up to EUR 51.15 if the exams are passed on the first attempt within the specified time.

Contract analysis

The total cost of training is a considerable investment, therefore it is important to carefully review the contract and, if necessary, show it to a lawyer to check for hidden obligations (hidden costs) or risks.

Zemgale Auto Moto School does not provide an option to review the contract other than in person. This means you must specifically allocate time to study the contract during an arranged meeting or review its terms only immediately before signing. In such circumstances it is not always possible to carefully examine every clause, therefore important conditions may go unnoticed. Moreover, the fact that receiving the contract by email is not common practice creates additional doubt. Lack of transparency alone may indicate potential hidden pitfalls in the contract that the driving school prefers not to disclose openly.

The Presto Driving School contract can be reviewed by anyone here before signing. It describes the training process in detail and leaves no room for hidden costs. The contract is valid for 1 year.

Reviews

ZAMS reviews can be found on its Facebook page, however they are not published on the driving school’s website.

Presto has the largest database of authorized reviews in Latvia. Moreover, reviews can be viewed not only about the driving school itself but also about specific theory lecturers and instructors. No other driving school has as many authorized (genuine) reviews as here.

Complaints

The complaint portal sudzibas.lv is popular but sometimes not objective. Therefore readers should evaluate the context – the nature of the complaint, the driving school’s response and whether the issue was resolved or unresolved. It should also be considered that there is a correlation between the number of clients served, the size of the driving school and the number of complaints.

Sources:

presto.lv
www.csdd.lv
www.sudzibas.lv
www.zams.lv
autoskolas.com

Check comparisons with other driving schools as well:

Driving school Einšteins
Mustangs Driving school
BAVA Driving school
Driving school GROSS
Driving school Credo Autoprieks
Driving school Galvenais ceļš
Driving school Autostils-L
Vikingi Driving school
Driving school Autoprofs
DBS Driving school