AIBU to think DS should not pay for damage to driving instructors car?

[Humpyrumpy]

DS damaged the wheel of his instructors car today. Instructor suggests he pays for repair.
AIBU to think that is what insurance is for and that driving instructors cars will inevitably get damaged?

Oh, good point CW. I don't know why I assumed it was he steering wheel. If he kerbed a wheel or hit a pot hole or something then it's definitely an insurance job, and the instructor should be teaching him how to avoid obstacles.

My DD managed to damage her instructors car but she didn't have to pay anything. She drove into a jagged edge pot hole by the side of the road which was full of water so you couldn't tell. Could have happened to anyone.

no one can answer this accurately unless you know how he damaged the wheel.

WooWooOwl
"I can't believe people are answering you with YANBU before they even know what your son did."

They already know what he did.

That is pay to learn to drive and any damage should be covered by the instructors insurance.

(I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic)

One of DH's pupils pulled the gear stick out! It cost a fortune to repair but that's what his insurance is for.

No they don't Boney, we have no clue as to whether it was an accident or not.

"My driving instructor's car was written off in my first driving lesson."

Holy fuck, why on earth would you continue with an instructor who wasn't focusing enough to stop you doing that?? Unless someone else hit you, in which case, ignore me!

They already know what he did.

That is pay to learn to drive and any damage should be covered by the instructors insurance.

Well, no. He could have repeatedly hit the wheel with a hammer, slashed the tyre or deliberately driven over a low wall.

One of DH's pupils pulled the gear stick out!

I didn't know that was possible!

No, he definitely shouldn;t pay - the instructor is responsible for the learner's driving, if the learner caused damage it is ultimately the instructor's fault for failing to prevent it.

I'm not surprised he's trying to avoid making a claim on his insurance though; premiums for driving instructor vehicles are astro-fucking-nomical.

I shudder to think what they would go up to with a recent fault claim and corresponding loss of no claims discount.

If the damage was malicious, as opposed to accidental, then it becomes a rather different matter though...

One of DH's pupils pulled the gear stick out!

Did he tell him to put it away?

It was a rear wheel, v possibly an alloy if that is remotely relevant, which he damaged against a kerb while turning a corner.

Santana - neither did DH!

On the proviso that he didn't maliciously damage the car, tell the driving instructor to fuck off and find another one who isn't a money grabbing shyster

Woo woo I didn't ever suggest it wasn't an accident....

In that case OP, no, definitely not.

The instructor should have prevented it from happening either by grabbing the wheel or utilising the dual controls.

Cheeky blighter. (instructor, not your DS!)

What kind of dickhead uses alloys on a driving school car, given that they are going to get curbed to buggery within a fortnight?

Stupid having alloys on a learning car.

iklboo I can't stop laughing at the image of someone literally holding the gearstick and their instructor's absolutely horrified face I have to ask- did they go on to pass?!

Is this instructor new to the business? Surely he knows his wheels are going to be cut to fuck by the end of week 1 of giving lessons! Either he is new and clueless or chancing his arm. I'd report him to his licensing body.

On the assumption that it was accidental damage (I'm not inclined to think the DS's of any given mumsnetter is inclined to set about the driving instructors car with a hammer, so I am taking this on trust ) then no, it's a hazard of the job.

Still assuming it was accidental damage, get a new instructor.

Intrigued to know how it happened though and why he thinks your DS is at fault? I know not everything can be prevented by dual controls / grabbing the wheel, but a lot can be!

You don't suggest that it was either! I assumed it probably would be, but I wasn't going to say either way until it was confirmed.

But from the information you have now given, I completely agree that your ds shouldn't have to pay.

I scraped the whole side of my instructors car on a tree branch and he never mentioned it.

Don't worry about WooWoo. She likes to go against the majority.

YANBU. I hope you told the instructor where to go.

I once drove my instructors car into a muddy grass verge. He tried to choke back laughter as I burst into tears. And then joked that I should pay to wash the car. But it was that, a joke!