Is it possible to hire an aircraft and then pay an instructor to train for the PPL?
Again, like previous posts, the answer is yes .... but .....
Most aircraft owners will not hire to student pilots, only licence holders.
The aircraft that you hire, will have to be on Public Transport C of A.
Any prudent instructor will need to check, that the aircraft owner is aware that the aircraft is to be used for instruction & presumably also for the student flying it solo.
The instructor should also check that the aircraft is fully insured for instruction & student flying solo. (Aircraft not owned by schools, are often only insured for qualified pilots).
Most reputable schools, insure their intructors, but in this case the instructor would have to do this himself.
You may save a bit via this route, if you can find a cheap aircraft to hire & a cheap instructor. Otherwise, in most instances the seperate costs of aircraft hire, plus instructor, will be much the same as the charge for the 2 together, from your local school.