To change driving instructor?

[DrivingNightmare]

Hello, any advice would be greatly appreciated! Should i change driving instructor, or just get my test over and done with with this instructor? He is constantly half an hour late, with no apology. He makes me drive and wait in the petrol station while he grabs a coffee and a snack. Has personally commented on my appearance negatively. He also chats to me about other pupils, and even showed me a photo of one saying she "looks fit." Really innappropriate I though. States all other driving schools are crap...pot kettle? Says I remind him of his girlfriend, definitely a strange remark.

I've already had 2 driving instructors. Should I change, or just stick it out for another test. It's taking me so long and far too much money to pass a test and I'm getting a bit fed up...has anyone else had similar experiences? The problem is he lives locally and I'd probably see him around a lot...what should i do if I switch instructors and he texts me? 😬

Sounds inappropriate and unprofessional, always follow your gut instinct, don't use him again.
Say you're having a break from lessons, busy time at work/college, shunt after xmas or something?

Christ, do you really need to ask ? He sounds like a total dick and an unprofessional one at that. Bin him off and don't bother worrying about his hurt feelings or seeing him locally. Quick message to say 'Please cancel my upcoming lesson on DATE. Many thanks' and don't rebook. You are under no obligation to answer his questions on why unless you want to be honest. Book another instructor. I started off with a crap one, changed and advanced more in three weeks than I had in three months.

I had an instructor who was AWFUL, he used to actually shout at me if I made a mistake and lean right into me when he did so his face was right by mine. It made me very uncomfortable and I really did not like him. I ended up finishing a lesson and not booking another at the end like I usually did, saying I'd get in contact, and didn't. He then text and I replied saying unfortunately I wouldn't need him anymore so he called several times. Got my Dad to answer (I was 17 and nervous!) and tell him to stop calling and we wouldn't be requiring him anymore, and I found a lovely new instructor who I stayed with until I passed. Funny how my driving dramatically improved with the nice instructor!

Change, he sounds horrendous! You don't owe him an explanation.

You should definatly change, i had one like this, was more interested in sitting on his phone, would call other pupils to me. I knew he wasn't watching what i was doing so went round corners in 4th gear to see if he said anything, spent an hour doing stuff like this and he didnt notice. He told me i was ready for my test so i just drew it out taking another 10 hrs worth of lessons with him. He turned up 20 mins late on test day and i had a mass panic to get to the test center on time, I failed with 13 minors and a serious. I changed instructor and he couldn't believe some of the stuff i was doing so i ended up having another 18hrs with him and passed my second test.

A decent instructor makes all the difference and will also save you money and time, don't even try and plod along if your not comfortable, just change, its not like there are not loads to choose from. My second one was found through word of mouth, 2 people i knew passed with him and he was fab.

I had an instructor who used to shout at me if he had to get out of his car and ring the door bell. I was just supposed to stand outside until he turned up, despite the fact that he was always late. I'd be out there until 1:30pm for a 1pm lesson if he had his way. He also made fun of the fact that I had never been on a proper holiday by his standards. I really resent the fact that I handed over my hard earned money to that idiot. I switched instructors after five lessons but I should have done it sooner. Definitely change instructors.

Definitely change. I'm having lessons now and can recommend a brilliant instructor if your near Cardiff

Is it my ex husband

If you didn't like the service in a shop or a cafe, you wouldn't go back would you? Don't go back to this driving instructor, then. Sounds like a dick so get rid.

Maybe change school to?

I didn't realise my old driving instructor was still working!

I switched, got a lovely woman instructor (rare at the time) and passed in one go.

Change, mine was like this, I wasted so much time and money failed 4 times

I should have just realised earlier but I kept thinking it was me who was crap, it was when I had absolutely no idea what I'd done wrong when failing the 4th and later realising how stupid and obvious the mistake was that I decided I need someone who is actually going to be honest with me about whether I'm doing well or not!

I will definitely change then...I've Already had well over the recommended 40 hours...I wonder if they'll even want to take me on as a pupil 😬 @MrsMaxwell he regularly complains about women and marriage, so I don't think he's ever been married. I pity the woman who would marry him!

Definitely change! My DD had an instructor for about 6 months who was pleasant enough but she wasn't getting anywhere so we just "paused" with him and went with someone else. She passed her test 6 weeks later.

I would see if you can find people who have passed recently in your area and see who they might recommend ... I think getting the right person to teach you is probs one of the biggest hurdles in passing!

Good luck ... honestly, if my DD could pass ... you can!!!

@Choconuts unfortunately I'm not in Cardiff otherwise I would have loved to have your recommendation.

However, if anyone is in the Essex area and knows anyone who is good, please PM me or post on this thread?

Sounds awful. I went through 4 driving instructors before I found one who I was happy with! Honestly -keeping looking. He is completely unprofessional. Driving lessons are expensive and he should be doing his utmost to keep your business!

Glad you've decided to change. I regret not doing with my second instructor. He kept changing lesson times, cancelling and turning up late. Thought I would stick with him a few weeks longer just to take my test but my lessons ended up being so infrequent I had to cancel the test I had booked with him as I wasn't ready. Ended up dragging on another 6 months before I changed. Third instructor was lovely and I passed quicker than I expected to.

Is he part of a driving school? If so I'd ring them up and HEAVILY complain. Then change to a new instructor.
When i was 16 i had a woman who would call people on her hands free (back in the day when it was long headsets and no cameras on phones). After 15 lessons i hadnt learnt a single maneover.
Second person I had was when I was 20 and he was shite. Gave up for a couple years.
Then at 25 I used company called Bill Plant. My instructor was absolutely brilliant and taught me all the hard stuff from 3rd lesson onwards as he genuinely wanted me to pass my test, and had to undo some awful stuff my last 2 taught. He would leave a 20 min gap between lesson bookings so he could get from one candidate to another in ample time and fill up car or pick up coffee and not let shit like that happen during my test time. and now has his own private driving school. If you get bill plant in your area have a look.
Driving schools usually have better instructors as they want a quick pass plus they usually guarantee free second test or a few free lessons etc as offers.

I went through five instructors. The last one was xenophobic, but I was so near my test and I was running out of local options!

Mercifully I passed, but you don't have to employ anyone you aren't comfortable with.

@BunsOfAmarchy nope he's not part of a wider company or driving school, otherwise I'd be asking to switch instructors in the company or something. So no one to complain to unfortunately...thank you for the recommendation, I will give them a google!