Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 18/03/2023 17:14

Meanwhile, OP has taken advice from the police and been told that she is not culpable; since thy took the driving instructor's details,it seems possible they think he might be the one to blame.

Original poster
Yupbabs · 18/03/2023 19:01

MachineBee · 18/03/2023 17:08

Oh come on! If you’re driving instructor has told you to drive wrong way a one way street, would you have just obeyed without any independent thought.

There is no magic age for when you ‘know’ everything. You are probably more expert in the digital world than most over 80s. Part of growing up means taking responsibility for yourself without waiting to be told. You decided to take driving lessons, and have had a poor instructor. But regardless of his shortcomings you were still responsible for the vehicle and the safety of your passenger and other road users around you. Showing you understand that is one of the things that driving examiners look for.

This is old news now, don’t know why you’re still writing comments as if I haven’t been told a hundred times over.
the police know, the driving school know. I did everything I could.

that is an awful analogy. the dodgiest of instructors wouldn’t tell you to drive down a one way street. I was still in shock and I panicked, what more do you want from me? The car hasn’t even been damaged. Give me a fkn break.

and what are you even rambling on about? The digital world lol what the actual fk does this have to do with anything?

OP posts:
Original poster
Yupbabs · 18/03/2023 19:03

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 18/03/2023 17:14

Meanwhile, OP has taken advice from the police and been told that she is not culpable; since thy took the driving instructor's details,it seems possible they think he might be the one to blame.

They asked for the driving instructors name and what school he worked for

they took my name, date of birth and address. that was 3 days ago and haven’t heard a thing.
of course he’s to blame, I’m not. I was literally told that by police and the driving school

OP posts:
Original poster
Yupbabs · 18/03/2023 19:50

MachineBee · 18/03/2023 17:08

Oh come on! If you’re driving instructor has told you to drive wrong way a one way street, would you have just obeyed without any independent thought.

There is no magic age for when you ‘know’ everything. You are probably more expert in the digital world than most over 80s. Part of growing up means taking responsibility for yourself without waiting to be told. You decided to take driving lessons, and have had a poor instructor. But regardless of his shortcomings you were still responsible for the vehicle and the safety of your passenger and other road users around you. Showing you understand that is one of the things that driving examiners look for.

I would just like to add, how on Earth do you know what I’m like just from this post? i make decisions everyday independently, I have an 8 month old!

this isn’t anything to do with age, more so a personality trait. there are compliant people in their teens and in their 80s. Everybody listens to those who are in authority and those who supposedly know what they are doing. If a scientist told you that a specific habit increases your risk for cancer YOU would believe him, because he is a professional and he is supposed to know what he’s doing.
the same as the fact that I put all my trust into the driving instructor, I listened because he SHOULD know best. he could’ve prevented the incident if he had used his voice, which he didn’t. He didn’t tell me to slow down, he didn’t tell me to move over. He is crap and 100% to blame. I don’t know why you are trying to turn it around on to me.
it was over 3 days ago now, nothing has came of it. it’s over.

OP posts:
Dagnabit · 19/03/2023 19:25

GoodChat · 16/03/2023 18:25

So many incompetent readers, too. Read the updates.

Show quote history

I did read the updates - which one exactly are you referring to? Don’t just put a comment on like an idiot without adding context 🙄

Shamdyhandy · 19/03/2023 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ellyeth · 19/03/2023 23:47

Take no notice of justpoppingoutto the shops and others who are just interested in sneering and trying to show how grown up and superior they are.

You won't be the only person who has had to have many lessons before passing. Being technically a good driver does not necessarily make a person a safe driver - it sometimes makes a person an over-confident driver, and, in my opinion, that is dangerous.
I wish I had continued with driving lessons. I was very nervous and I was afraid I would be a danger on the road but I think, eventually, I would have made a good driver.
Please don't give up your lessons. I do pretty well with public transport but there are times when It would be so useful to be able to drive - and it's a good skill to have anyway.
It seems to be all sorted out now so I hope you can find a good driving instructor. There must be reviews somewhere.

Cynderella · 20/03/2023 00:19

I've given up reading the whole thread, but like most people, I'm saying don't pay. I was a learner a long time ago, but I remember my instructor telling me how horrendously high his insurance was. It's because there is a high risk of cars being damaged.

I also remember him saying, 'today a kerb, tomorrow a child,' so I'm not minimising your incident, but it was a wing mirror. It happens. I have to park outside my house, and over the years, several times, the wing mirror has been knocked back because it's a narrow road and people have misjudged the clearing room. I've lost count of the times my wing mirror has clipped a hedge.

I would have done the same as you. It's all very well saying you should have done this or that, but that's not how it is when you're dealing with the unexpected and you're trying to read other people's reactions.

Keep going with another instructor - go on Facebook and join some local groups. If you do a search, you can bet other people have asked for recommendations. If they haven't, you can.

Original poster
Yupbabs · 21/06/2023 01:30

UPDATE:
I started automatic lessons immediately, was ready for my test within 5 lessons, got lucky with a cancellation and yesterday I passed my test! I kept slipping gears and people almost hit me up the back a few times, making so many mistakes was stressful. Hopped in the automatic car and immediately everything was so relaxed and simple.

i never heard from that instructor again. I just blocked the guy. Someone from the driving school phoned back and said that I don’t need to pay a thing and that the instructor made a mistake eye roll (definitely just trying to get money from me ffs) at least it’s over

OP posts:
NotEverORNever · 21/06/2023 01:48

What a brilliant update! Well done 👏🏻

MerelySnark · 21/06/2023 02:18

Congratulations! I wish you lots of happy driving adventures.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 21/06/2023 02:51

Oh fantastic. Well done.

godhowridiculous · 21/06/2023 03:04

Well done op. I'm glad you ignored the idiots telling you it was all your fault. Everyone on MN is a legal expert these days.

balzamico · 21/06/2023 05:08

@Yupbabs well done you.
Hope you enjoy taking your baby to those places, I'm interested to hear you took to an automatic so well (dd struggling to progress in a manual)

Catscatsandmorecats · 21/06/2023 06:56

That's fantastic @Yupbabs 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Well done and enjoy driving

lionsleepstonight · 21/06/2023 07:00

Congratulations, I didn't comment on this thread originally but remember it well.

Well done you on passing your test.

(And your ex driving instructor sounds like a knob).

VerbenaGirl · 21/06/2023 07:06

My daughter took the wing mirror off her instructor’s car and a parked car. Instructor dealt with it all and there was no charge.

SinnerBoy · 21/06/2023 07:20

Well done and good for you!

LemonySippet · 21/06/2023 07:40

That's brilliant OP, I didn't read the thread the first time around and have just read it all now aghast at the unnecessary roasting from some commenters. Hope you enjoy a happy automatic driving life, I've recently switched to an automatic and it's a million times better, I'd never go back 🥰

QuiteScaredReally · 21/06/2023 08:10

Superb🌷🌷🌷🌷💪

strawberry2017 · 21/06/2023 08:15

Congratulation! X

GiraffeInABath · 21/06/2023 08:16

Amazing outcome! Well done

WaterIris · 21/06/2023 08:16

Great update, congratulations OP.

lieselotte · 21/06/2023 08:27

Fantastic news - well done OP and enjoy many years of driving pleasure.

And thank you for coming back to update us!

peachypudding · 21/06/2023 08:31

Fantastic update! Well done!