Driving instructor stringing us along

DS passed recently and said the examiner wouldn't shut up. Sounds like they chatted about all sorts.

Yes he's taking the p. Find a new teacher.

It's actually VERY hard now to pass your instructor test. Only a third get all the way through. That should give you an idea of how many try because they think it's easy. It's not. However those who already teach don't always get checked up on often enough because of dvsa backlogs and staff shortages. It's a fact.
Yes you can take your own car to test and actually I shouldn't say this but it appears "private runners" as they're referred to in the business, get easier test routes etc. The dvsa would of course say this isn't the case.

I think they vary in quality. But they are not above taking it slower to get themselves extra work if they think they can get away with it.

I remember when I passed my test I went a long time before driving again and I didn't have much experience and needed to drive. So I booked 5 lessons to get some time in.

I ran the 5 lessons at the end of it I thought I was doing OK and felt pretty confident. The instructor said I needed many more and wasn't ready.

I felt I was ready and already had the licence. So that, as they say, was that.

I think a lot of driving instructors went into the profession thinking it would be a bit of a doddle and easy money. Despite having no actual ability to teach others.

Why are MNetters so keen to think this instructor is not taking the piss? Of course he is! Your DD should be test ready now. He's laughing all the way to the bank.

Definitely swap instructors.

@emmaempenadas dds had about 10 lessons with young driver. She's 17 in March and should only need road craft. They're expensive lessons but so worth it.

@amalfilemonpie the driving instructor dd has chosen for March when she's 17 told us the same. He's told us to book 10 lessons to see of he's a good fit. He also said after 10 lessons she should be OK without dual controls and can drive dhs car.

I would definitely change instructors. I had my lessons 25 years ago but the instructor( always smelt of alcohol and couldn't tell the difference between the gearstick and my knee) encouraged me to push myself even when he could see I was terrified.

@MalewhoisLaffinalltheway I don’t know the ins and outs to be honest. I know it’s fine to use cars normally but OP said it one post that they can’t use theirs as they are hybrids 🤷🏻‍♀️

We’ve had a very similar situation with our DD who has ASD and diagnosed anxiety. After a 4th fail with a disinterested instructor we decided a change of instructor would give a fresh set of eyes and it was horrible to discover the first instructor had not given adequate instruction on the basics. Ten hours with a new instructor who really understood anxiety and I’m delighted to say she passed this morning!

Talk to the school, ask them who they would choose for an anxious person and switch, DD felt so much more confident going back to basics with a fresh face

I don't think there's anything to stop you using your own car providing you've updated your insurance etc.

I remember many years ago taking my actual test in my Mum's car as the one I'd been learning in had a massive prang on the morning of my test.

I would definitely change instructor and see if it makes any difference. Also - I know you can’t use your own cars but some of the car hire places near us (I think it’s Arnold Clark 🤔) allow you to hire dual control cars. That could be an option to allow you to see what her driving level is for yourself?

I started lessons Jan 2020 just before all the covid lockdowns and really didn’t get on my instructor. He was honestly useless!!

Given how long waiting lists are for driving instructors I don’t think there’s a need for any to be stringing people along at the moment…..
It could be the instructors style doesn’t suit your DD or could be she is needing to take things slower.
Agree that practice in between lessons would be better- do you have access to a family members car you could take her out with? My DD was put on DB’s insurance as ours is an automatic.

Don’t use National Intensive. The instructor they put me with was frankly a madman.

All a test proves is that you can control a car safely. When my husband passed his test the driving instructor said Well done son now go and learn to drive .

One instructor would take student to drive far away from home, whereas my instructor got me familiar with my local area around the local driving test centre.

It shouldn't be either or. The second will help in getting you through the test but the first is good to get you driving properly on the roads. Passing the test doesn't mean you're a good driver, unfortunately.

I had 10 lessons and did everything necessary - roundabouts, dual carriage way etc

if she is finding it difficult, would learning on an automatic car help? she could get an automatic only license?

I had an instructor pre lockdown and wasn't comfortable with him at all. Binned him after 4 lessons just driving round in circles on the local housing estate. Couldn't get lessons during lockdown and last year went via Pass Me Fast. They were rubbish and I had to chase them loads and got contacted within 24hrs when they finally put my details on the instructor portal. Got a lovely lady who got me through my test in just over 3 months. We are now booking my daughter in with her.

I was ripped off many years ago by my first Driving instructor, literally "taken for a ride" I block booked and paid for 10 x 2hr lessons. This was pre internet days where you had to scrawl the yellow pages, local papers etc. so no reviews to go by. I still get mad thinking about it now😆20 odd years later.
He would pick me up and he would drive me to a trading estate up here in the North East often in still rush hour traffic on the A1 motorway. Would take 20/30 minutes to get there he'd talk for 10/15 mins about the lesson, I'd actually drive for 45 minutes and then he'd drive me home again. I never got off a straight road around the whole place, never even got up to 4th gear ever with him.
He then kept ringing and ringing and ringing leaving messages on answering machine to book for weeks until he finally took the hint and gave up.
I was actually put off for a good while from learning and took another 5 different instructors and another 12 years before I eventually decided to start learning again.

Blimey, I passed my driving test at 17, many moons ago. It took me a while after that before I could chat and drive at the same time. So I couldn't have chatted while driving before I passed the test - unless we were stationary with the engine off and no traffic around.

It's fine to change her driving Instructor. I did, when learning to drive about 27 years ago. I was an older learner ( not particularly nervous) and the first Instructor, from a big, well-known driving school was an absolute arse.

First lesson, after I had told him that I had never ever driven a car before, he took me up a very busy road and told me to turn right into a road off it. I didn't turn the wheel very hard and could easily have had an accident ( daughter nearly had a fit when I told her where it was.) Instructor was very ratty about it. Lessons 2 and 3 were ok but not brilliant. Lesson 4 we were doing junctions. He told me to keep going, but I could see a big black dog running down the road towards my car from the opposite road where I was supposed to be going so I didn't move. Instructor was ratty again. I sacked him!

Found another Instructor who was very calm and explained things well. Passed my test 1st time. But I also got lots of practice in our own car with my DH - commuting from our home to a big city every day

I found that too, that some instructors use younger students for their emotional needs.

It’s nice to have a chat but not when your students are paying you to teach them.

It took me 2 years on an automatic to pass. Not because I'm nervous, but because I'm bad at it. Some of us just don't have those abilities.

The source of the answers to all this is your DD herself.

I also had to take my driving instructor's son to different places! Some people really take advantage of young learners don't they?

I swapped instructers a few times but then went with one of the big companies and had a much better experience. Gave me a booklet of what we would be covering and when so I knew what was coming up. Passed quickly after that.

Have read the thread til this point, so sorry if anyone has pointed it out since, but you can hire dual control (manual) cars by the hour from e.g. Arnold Clarke. Much, much cheaper than paying an instructor.

(I am assuming you have a manual licence yourself.)