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

[Yupbabs]

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.

I really do recommend an automatic- I failed 4 times in a manual then gave up for years. Passed first time in an automatic , it is so much easier!

Run a mile from him

A nee wing mirror for my car was £600!

An automatic is far easier to learn to drive in and to drive in once you’ve passed your test. Years ago I was just 18 and with BSM and a really useless instructor who’d take me a lot round huge big roads with huge houses and say he’d taught women who lived there (very quiet roads) and then take me on busy dual carriageways and busy junctions and expect me to be able to cope. He also had me making out cheques to him rather BSM as he called them “bring some money”. I had lots of lessons and then changed driving school and instructor and then passed first time round.

Op if you do ever drive i highly recommend getting a car with a seat that adjusts upwards as well as forwards/backwards…it makes SUCH a difference to visibility when you’re short

Surely, it is a try on. You are not insured but he is.

I would absolutely agree, with the single added proviso that you do need to be able to reach the pedals with your feet.

Don't give up driving because of one bad experience and comments on here. Having a bump in a car is not the end of the world and is very common, if it wasn't car insurance would not exist. We had an old aerodrome in my home city where you could pay for an hours driving practice in your own / family members car. It's private land so you can drive around with other learners and get your confidence back, practice clutch control, parking roundabouts ect. Maybe have a google and see if theres anything like that near you. You'll probably end up being a better driver because of this so don't give up. :-)

what cars suit your daughter, out of interest? It seems as though almost every car I get into I feel too short.

Is there no option to raise the seat? I’m under 5’1 and so is DD but never had an issue as we raise the seats in our cars. Our family ranges from us shorties to DH and the boys all over 6’ and we all share cars no problems. We have 1 auto setting for DD in each car and I use that and just adjust slightly for myself and the other auto setting is for the boys and each adjusts according to need. Our cars range from large SUV’s to small hatches. I’ve not known a modern car (over last 15 years at least) where you can’t raise the seat.

Please don't give up on driving because of all this negativity. I didn't learn til I was in my late 30s because I became so anxious about and it took me ages to pass. The driving instructor should have ensured the accident didn't happen. They should also have ensured you were sat correctly in your seat in a new car. None of this is on you. Keep going! Also a decent instructor will tell you if they think you should learn in an automatic. You'll probably be fine. Please ignore all these negative comments and keep going.

It's like most other threads here - the meanspirited and downright nasty brigade swoop in and take over! @Yupbabs I have a DC your age learning to drive. I'd be really upset for DC to have been the butt of some of the horrible comments directed at you. Nothing but a pack of mean bullies.

Please don't give up on driving! You will always be glad of being able to drive. I passed my test when I was 17 and have always appreciated it, although I had a period of years when I didn't drive at all.

You've been unlucky with driving instructors. Ask around - who did your friends have, or check on community social media. You need someone patient, kind and thorough. They are out there. Someone independent might be better.

You're well rid of the shyster. Good luck x

OP I had a great instructor when I learnt to drive who was great with nervous drivers (which I definitely was for a long time). As others have said go back sooner rather than later and find an instructor who comes well recommended. Glad you got a sensible answer from both the police and the driving school. The guy sounds very dodgy, definitely write a review about him so others can be aware....

He probably doesn't want to pay a stupid amount of excess for something that should cost less than £100 to fix. Assuming the electrics work and no damage was caused to the paint work that is. The would be no driving instructors if they claimed for every minor damage. Also he can't reach across and grab the steering wheel from you, do you know how dangerous that would be!

Hi OP,
Glad the police have put your fears to rest. Good luck with your lessons. Hope you and your little one have some great adventures when you've passed your test.

It’s not just the type of car but also the model (re seeing over dash). I drive two different Fords (Fiesta and Focus), and have driven five different models of them. Some are fine, and some really don’t have great visability even with the seat as high as it goes. I think it does help getting used to different cars and where the pillars etc are. I’m short but not unusually so.

I’ve also driven a rental transit van which I was worried about and that was much better at the front (but obviously no rear view!)

Are there cars which don’t adjust seat heights? Other than my very old car I learnt to drive in I think they’ve all had a lever to pump the seat up. Genuinely asking so I can avoid them as I wouldn’t feel save to drive if I couldn’t get the seat higher.

And after passing their test people shouldn’t be overtaking me at a junction while I’m indicating to turn right, but I’ve had that and many equally moronic things done to me.

She’s a learner, she’s made a spatial awareness error, she’ll learn.

50 lessons! 🙈changed instructor alarm bells ringing. Maybe just walk 😳😂😂😂

@Yupbabs

He’s clearly a chancer, also, he shouldn’t have driven away. Get someone else to teach you and please don’t give up. I took a lot of lessons, many more than you (talking 100+, though I did take 18 months off halfway due to illness and lost all my confidence) I had four tests. Twenty years later I’ve driven all over Europe. Honestly, you’ll get there, you will.

as well as trying in an automatic @Yupbabs, see if there are any local instructors who have experience with neurodiversity. different kinds of brains have different learning styles and you may find that you've been struggling so much because of instructors assuming a neurotypical learning style.

@Yupbabs

I don't know where you are, but if you are in Northeast England, this lady is very popular:

www.passudriving.co.uk/

Also, if you look up PNG and Easy Pass, they have plenty of female driving instructors. Many women do better with a female instructor.

easypassdrivingschool.co.uk/
Specify female drivers on website.

passngo.net/our-prices/
Don't seem to, but I know women work for them, although my friend has just packed in.

Ex driving instructor here, if it was a lesson then you are not liable for the damage.

If you were out in test then you are liable for the damage, the difference essentially is that on test the examiner is there to "observe" whereas on a lesson the instructor is there to instruct and take control as and when necessary to prevent accidents.

I don't know why ppl are being so weird.
You did a completely normal thing of 'driving off' because you were in shock and your teacher told you too.
You were a learner, the instructor should have been in full control of the situation if they aren't they shouldn't be teaching someone.

But no they have insurance for this reason, he's trying to con you.

Also don't give up on driving it takes time and a good instructor. Imo don't ever go through a big company, look for individuals with their own company check out Google reviews or yell.

A good instructor starts a new student by driving them to car park or not very active area where you can get a handle of the car and they can get an idea of you.
It takes time, I know great drivers who didn't learn to drive until they were 34 and shit ones who passed first time at 18 and totaled their car by 19.
I hope it works out for you.

The terms seem to suggest they are not liable to you. I can't see anything about damage you cause or you being liable? I drove into a bollard just before my test (ironically I passed). The Instructor laughed and told me not to do that during the test. No mention of me paying for damage. It definitely sounds like a con to me.

OP, I hit someone's wing mirror around 2 months ago and I've been driving for 9 years! Passed my test on the first go as well, so what's my excuse?! Honestly don't sweat it. We all make mistakes. Old drivers, new drivers and learners. You're only human after all, and still bloody learning! Ignore the miserable feckers on here. Don't be too hard on yourself, and don't give up. Driving gives you so much freedom, so keep at it it'll be worth it in the end. Good luck!