To ask to change my driving instructor?

[StannisTheMannis]

I paid for 16 hours of lessons and have around 8 hours left.

Current driving instructor hasn't done anything majorly wrong but I just don't feel that I'm learning to the best of my ability with him.

Firstly, all my lessons with him have to be two hours long (he says because I live so far from the test centre) but I find two solid hours of driving very intense.

He seems to think I'm more confident than I am e.g. Had me on a dual carriageway on my second lesson, driving round a busy city centre in my third. I am not a confident driver and find this terrifying. I don't feel I'm learning at my own pace but more like I'm being pushed in at the deep end.

He is very nice overall but I didn't like being asked "why did you make those silly mistakes back there?" I don't know, maybe because I've never done this before! It's only a small comment but I felt quite taken aback by it?

Am I overreacting here?

[teacherandguideleader]

I suffered for over a year with an instructor who wasn't right for me, requested a change and got one who was fab.

[MalcolmTuckersMum]

Change. No question. I wasted 8 months on a guy who didn't like me and I didn't like him. Failed twice under him then as luck would have it he left and I got a new guy - a really nice funny kind instructor. Passed three weeks later!

[Carolra]

I agree. I changed too, if its not working for you then change. Lessons are expensive and you deserve to get the most out of them!

[milktraylady]

Change!
I had my first instructor exactly like this. Awful for my confidence.

I needed a different teaching style, explaining why to do stuff and building my confidence.

He was male, second instructor female who actually listened to me.

Maybe ask for a female instructor?

[MaterFacit]

No yanbu. If it isn't working for you then it isn't working. Have you tried talking to them about how you are feeling.

I have had a few issues with my driving instructor but asked him to change a few things which he was willing to do. It's your money, you should feel comfortable and safe whilst learning to drive.

Good luck learning to drive- I have my second driving test in a fortnight and I and desperate to pass this time!

[SnookyPooky]

Change, I gave up for a while after having an instructor that I didn't gel with. Started again with a new one and passed. He was great, funny, really patient and kind.

[namechangea]

2 hour lessons because you live so far from the test centre?!?!? What a load of shite, at this stage you're just learning to drive and don't need to be worrying about test routes. I suspect it's either because you are 'far out' and easier and cheaper for him to do your lessons in blocks or he's trying to gallop you through so he can get his next payment from you.

[milktraylady]

Yes the 2 hour lesson thing is rubbish.
It sounds like its for HIS convenience.
But anyone sensible knows a new learner will be very tired after an hours lesson.

[Bogeyface]

My sister wasted 2 years and hundreds of pounds with a crap instructor. She gave up thinking she would never be able to learn to drive. I passed my test having never driven, in 15 lessons, so she signed up with the instructor I used and passed in 6 weeks.

Definitely change.

[StannisTheMannis]

Thanks for the replies, yes the thing with the two hour lessons is strange. Dh thinks so too. Funny thing is I live directly in between two test areas, both of which are around a 20 minute drive away (with a normal confident driver anyway!)

Why do I feel so bad for asking to change! It's my money!

[Bogeyface]

My sister felt bad changing, because her first instructor had been the one a family member raved about, so she stuck with him.
But like you, she had absolutely no confidence, which changed practically on the first lesson with the second instructor.

[vivizone]

I take 2 hours lesson but they work for me now. When I first started lessons, I used to be shattered by all that driving. I'm used to it now and enjoy it.
My instructor also placed a lot of confidence in me when I had none! He took me on dual carriages on the 2nd lesson! But he works for me really well. I have learnt so much from him after wasting money on crap instructors in the past. You should def change. Do it via email if you can't face facing him.

[IControlSandwichMonkey]

Yes you should absolutely change instructors if you aren't happy. Of course, you're paying for this.

BUT

Feeling shattered and drained after each lesson is normal and you'll feel this way regardless I suspect. And 2hr lessons make perfect sense sometimes. I live half an hour from the town and test centre so if I'd had an hour's lesson, I'd have about made it to the town and then would have to drive straight back. No point learning to drive without the challenge and eventually, the familiarity of the area where you're going to be tested. 2hrs does seem a long time but if I was feeling frazzled, my instructor just took me somewhere quiet and we'd pull over, do some admin or some theory stuff or some manoeuvers and then we'd start again 15 minutes later.


And they do challenge you quite quickly on dual carriageways and similar as they have dual controls and you are safe if you listen. Otherwise, you build it up as this huge thing and you'll take forever to learn.

I started learning in February and passed in April with 2hr lessons twice a week. I was thrown in at the deep end each time, I was exhausted, dehydrated and shaky after each lesson. But I loved my instructor, he knew what he was doing and I passed first time, with no mistakes.

Change if your DI isn't right, but change for the right reasons.

[IControlSandwichMonkey]

And it's important that he asks you why you make mistakes so he can know whether you're misunderstanding instructions, suffering with nerves, unsure on what to do or struggling with a particular part of driving. The word silly might be what stung though? I can understand that annoying you.

[IloveJudgeJudy]

Definitely change instructor. You won't learn so well with someone you don't click with. With regard to the length of the lessons, could you ask him for 1 1/2 hour lessons? That's what DS1 had when he was learning, because he couldn't afford 2 hours, but 1 hour wasn't long enough. I believe lots of instructors offer that now.