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Original poster

Had an accident in driving instructors car - he said I have to pay for it

590 replies

Yupbabs · 15/03/2023 14:48

A question for uk learner drivers

I had a driving lesson today and I had an accident, I took the wing mirror off when passing a parked car. Instructor said he’ll try to lower the price as much as possible but he’ll be in touch with how much I need to pay. Is this right? Do I need to pay? My previous driving instructor said if there was an accident then his insurance covers the damage

I feel like he’s trying to con me. This was the first lesson I ever had with the guy, I had about 50 lessons with my other instructor and he made sure I didn’t have any accidents by using the dual control. This guy today just tilted the steering wheel away from the parked car and it still hit it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yupbabs · 15/03/2023 15:12

@Forestdweller11 even people who have passed their tests do it. Everyone makes mistakes.

I couldn’t even see the edge of the car and where it came to. With that being said, i was only 10 minutes into the lesson and I haven’t driven a car for 15 months before that, I definitely should’ve been more careful.
it has put me off driving lessons completely though. I shan’t be doing them again. Driving isn’t for me

OP posts:
iaapap · 15/03/2023 15:12

Dodgy AF
That's what insurance is for

Shesasuperfreak · 15/03/2023 15:13

Yes, if his hands were on the wheel and he has over riding pedals then surely he is at fault here.

Tell him you have no money and to claim on his insurance.

B0g · 15/03/2023 15:15

You’ve had fifty lessons? 😨

Nooyoiknooyoik · 15/03/2023 15:15

You could turn nasty and tell him you have whiplash and your solicitor will be in touch.

Floralnomad · 15/03/2023 15:17

Yupbabs · 15/03/2023 15:12

@Forestdweller11 even people who have passed their tests do it. Everyone makes mistakes.

I couldn’t even see the edge of the car and where it came to. With that being said, i was only 10 minutes into the lesson and I haven’t driven a car for 15 months before that, I definitely should’ve been more careful.
it has put me off driving lessons completely though. I shan’t be doing them again. Driving isn’t for me

Don’t give up over this , just find an instructor who specialises in nervous / anxious learners . Everyone has the odd little bump .

Original poster
Yupbabs · 15/03/2023 15:20

@B0g yes, what’s the issue?

OP posts:
NowAAT · 15/03/2023 15:21

No OP you don't have to pay not one penny. Please ignore this instructor. Block him and go on your merry way. You are not in trouble. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.

Laurabeee · 15/03/2023 15:21

I agree sounds dodgy. He needs to sort it out with his insurance. Do not feel any pressure to pay!

I am sure you will learn to drive, but not with that instructor! I’m sorry to hear it knocked your confidence.

Original poster
Yupbabs · 15/03/2023 15:21

@HJ40 i just found this on their website ! I never saw this. What does this even mean?

Had an accident in driving instructors car - he said I have to pay for it
OP posts:
FlyingCherries · 15/03/2023 15:22

It does sound like he is avoiding going through insurance, unless he’s getting you to pay his excess. Before you go getting angry with the driving school though, bear in mind that it may be to your benefit to not go through insurance. The claim will name you as the driver and you will have to declare it when you pass and take out your own insurance. The additional cost for insurance will probably well exceed paying to fix a wing mirror.

Original poster
Yupbabs · 15/03/2023 15:22

@NowAAT i was feeling so relieved reading these comments until I saw this on their website

what does this mean? That I’m responsible for the damage to the car?

Had an accident in driving instructors car - he said I have to pay for it
OP posts:
billyt · 15/03/2023 15:22

That's the driving school covering their back. He's a sub-contractor by the sounds go it.

Allblackeverythingalways · 15/03/2023 15:24

I'd be telling him to claim on his insurance.
I'd probably argue that he was in control of the car when it happened too.

billyt · 15/03/2023 15:24

That is saying you can't claim against the school. Bit the DI should have his own insurance.

Imagine if a student in their first minute of their first lesson rear-ended another car. That would be down to the DI

FlyingCherries · 15/03/2023 15:24

fucking hell, do not ‘block him and go on your merry way’. He’ll have insurance but YOU ARE THE NAMED DRIVER WHO CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. This will affect your insurance in the future so you need to be fully involved.

cakeorwine · 15/03/2023 15:25

Sad face article needed in the local paper.

Then when someone researches their driving instructor, they will read the article.

I don't think he will want bad local publicity.

Jackthelast · 15/03/2023 15:28

Don't pay. I learned to drive with an independent instructor and a council van ran into the back of me when I braked for a dog running into the road. He should have insurance to cover it. I didn't pay a thing, nor did it affect my insurance premiums.

DawntilDusk4 · 15/03/2023 15:28

It will be in the terms and conditions. Legally if the other car was damaged details should have been left. Generally though the drivers instructors binsurance would cover this. However, learners who speed or go through red lights should understand it is their license that will have the points put on it not the driving instructors whether it’s provisional or not whoever is driving and breaks the law gets the points.

saraclara · 15/03/2023 15:29

The 'driving school' is simply an agency for self employed driving instructors by the looks of it. So they're unlikely to adress this on your behalf.

billyt · 15/03/2023 15:29

Do I need learner car insurance for driving lessons with a qualified instructor?

No. If you only drive with a professional instructor you do not need to worry about learner car insurance.

The fee you pay for your driving lessons will include the cost of car insurance cover, which should be arranged by your instructor.

B0g · 15/03/2023 15:30

Just seems like a huge amount, and really expensive.

Original poster
Yupbabs · 15/03/2023 15:30

@DawntilDusk4 he didn’t get out and check. He just looked at the car in the rear view mirror and told me to drive on.
and I looked on the website and they are self employed driving instructors, they don’t work for the driving school

OP posts:
SchoolTripDrama · 15/03/2023 15:30

Forestdweller11 · 15/03/2023 15:07

Instructors insurance should pay. It might be it's under his excess so not wanting to declare but that's what insurance is for and part of the reason why driving instructors charge a shed load of money.

But I will comment (as someone who took 3 attempts to pass driving test) about your driving - if you've already had loads of lessons and you still swiped someones wing mirror I'd think some self reflection on your skills is in order. You won't always have the luxury of dual controls and an instructor ready to step in and assist.

This was bang out of order. OP is a learner driver and everyone makes mistakes. Stop virtue signalling and apologise ffs

Monoplane · 15/03/2023 15:30

He was driving the car as much as you were, legally. Sounds incredibly dodgy to me. I absolutely wouldn't pay. The most he could do is put in a claim against you in small claims but I don't see that having legs.

Definitely find another instructor. A bad instructor is money down the drain.