To think Driving Instructor is being a CF?

[EdinaMonsoon]

DS currently having driving lessons. He took his test a couple of weeks ago and on his way back to test centre was asked to pull over. As he did so he hit the kerb (poor DS - was gutted as was doing really well up until that point but this is a major so instant fail ). Instructor is now asking DS to pay towards damage of wheel. He given a figure of "approx £400". He told DS that it has happened before with another pupil and he was very annoyed that she didn't offer to pay and would therefore like DS to pay this time. My reasons for saying he is a CF are:

1. Surely that's covered by his insurance? My opinion is that when you undertake to teach people to drive you accept the risks of damage to the car and that your insurance is in place to take care of any such damage.

1. He seems to be taking out his annoyance with former pupil on DS. It isn't DS's fault that this has happened before and as it is an expensive repair then driving instructor should think again before having swanky wheels put on a learner car. (Disclaimer: not sure if £400 is expensive for this repair but seems excessive to me).

1. DS has autism and instructor is aware of this. I feel that the instructor should have addressed us in this matter rather than pressuring a vulnerable young adult. DS is still at school and clearly is not going to have a spare £400 laying around so obviously the payment will come from us - and I think instructor would know this.

What say the MN Jury? I'm at work at the moment so apologies if I don't respond immediately to any questions you may have .

I did a similar thing in a driving lesson once, instructor was a little annoyed, mainly I think because I wasn't a total beginner and and could/should have avoided it, but at no point was I expected to pay. Nor should you/your son. Seems particularly odd that the instructor suggested he should pay because the previous person hadn't offered to. Could it have been a (bad) joke?

I was a driving instructor for 20 years, and this is why insurance is compulsory. In fairness, I would be pretty cross if the client hit the kerb on their test hard enough to damage it to need replacement. If it were during a lesson the instructor could probably have prevented this happening, but obviously it isn't possible during a test.

The other point is your son is an adult and it would be inappropriate for the instructor to divulge personal information to you without his express permission.

Nevertheless the instructor needs to pay for the damage or claim on his insurance unless there is an express condition in the terms and conditions to cover this situation. I'll bet there isn't so . . ..

Sod that for a laugh. Refuse and change instructor's. Complain about him if he works for a company too.