Driving instructor Is he trying to get as much as he can from me?

[Lushybunny]

Okay I passed my theory test already earlier this month. I started my driving lessons the first week of this month it was a 2hr lesson he made me pay the £240 for 10hours of automatic driving lessons and ever since everyweek I’ve done 2hour lessons so next week I’m coming up for my first 10hours of driving lessons next week and Im going to have to pay him another £240.I am expecting my third baby in April and would love to be driving before the baby arrives.

So last lesson I asked him ‘ when do you think I’ll be able to attempt and go for a test’ he just said ‘you’ll know when your ready’ fair enough. Then I said ‘I’m hoping to be driving by January’ he then ignored me. By January’s February times that will be over 40hours of driving which is what the driving testing centres in uk advise.
I then said to him ‘I am due on April so I really need to be driving by then’ he then turned around and said ‘oh great I’ve got until April to teach you how to drive properly’

... from 1st October till April 2hour lessons every week of an automatic that I’ve never heard before. He then said ‘you will take my car I will charge you £70 something for you to do your test in so it’s a car your familiar with’ so not only am I paying him £240 for 10hours for sometime I have to pay £62 for the rest alone THEN I have to pay for the car over £70 to use it ! And he is seeming like he wants me to do my lessons longer that is probably needed!

Please get back to me on this one guys cause this is boggling my brain.

The manovers I can’t really expect myself to really remember them as I’ve only done them not even 5times practice like over and over

I looked at the checklist in the comments above and I have never seen any of that before and would Like to work at one thing at a time till I’ve mastered it instead of moving on so quickly

I was on a big roundabout and whilst I was on it he THEN told me that I need to keep to the left because other people will use the other side to go round the next one which freaked me out so much where he grabbed the wheel and moved me so out

I just feel maybe he should have told me before I went on I should stay on the left of the round about or the outer side

It sounds fine, also you need to practise at home even if you haven't got a car by role playing, visualising or watch YouTube videos that talk you through each manoeuvre.

2 hours really isn't a lot, you probably spend 30 mins recapping the previous lesson and getting readjusted to the car then some direct tuition then practise doing it slightly more independently.

I found 2 hrs too long as my concentration went, 1 hour too short and 1.5 hours just right, it was even better when I could fit in more than one a week as I didn't forget inbetween.

I'm surprised you passed your theory test if you didn't know how to use a roundabout or how to brake properly. He probably assumed you knew those basics as you had had lessons previously. Driving takes time, it is a lifelong skill.

No I’ve never had no experience before him these are my first driving lessons guys I’m a total beginner

And it was my first round about

And I passed theory first time and only got 1wrong ... earlier this month

OP it sounds to me like you are not a natural driver, some people just aren't. If that's the case then it may well take you longer than you expect to pass your test but I haven't heard anything wrong or unusual in what you say he's doing. However if you don't feel comfortable with him then it would make sense to find another instructor with whom you do click.

I had this feeling about my instructor. We went into it him knowing I was going to be doing a lot of driving outside of lessons in my own car so probably had 8 lessons with him I made him put me in for my test on my first lesson (at risk of loosing my money!) And he got really quite nasty with me on my second to last saying i should just put my test back nearly did until my now dh told me to just do the rest and he would give me the money for my next one if i failed on the day of my test he got me all stressed and said well it's too late now!

I passed first time!!

On way back to my house (he had to drive!) He said only trouble is when one student passes your down on hours until your allocated your next (AA driving school) and tried to sell me the benefits of pass plus.

So in short I wouldn't be suprised if he was!

It took me YEARS to pass! Four different instructors in the end until I found one that worked for me. Everybody’s different.

Sounds completely normal. He is doing his job and no instructor can rush it. You are scared at roundabouts and have only had 10 lessons. I personally preferred more lessons of 1.5 hours.
Good luck OP!
It costs a lot of money but I passed when pregnant and that is money well inversted!

I think once you start to feel uncomfortable with an instructor I would look for a new one. There's nothing worse than having anxiety before and during a lesson. You don't concentrate on learning and always feel worse when you mess something up.

It took me YEARS to pass! Four different instructors in the end until I found one that worked for me. Everybody’s different.

Me too. The point is we passed. I don’t think we are worse drivers than someone who passed in a week.

Took me 40 lessons but passed 1st time. Started with a well known company - clashed with instructor so swapped for a local one who was very upfront how long it could take but I would pass first time...which I did (he had a vgd 1st time pass rate).

Surely if you passed your theory test, you should know the theory - ie the rules of a roundabout?

This all sounds normal. Instructors talk to you about other things as a tactic to make you less nervous. I was a nervous driver, stopped and restarted learning three times, passed at 25 with the one that talked to me about aquariums, definitely not the one that just went over and over manoeuvre diagrams. Worked for me, he's figuring out what works for you. 10 lessons is not a lot, especially if your aren't applying the theory learning to practical (depressing the brake- how did you think an emergency stop worked? how to use a roundabout). He will be teaching you to be comfortable driving before detailed manoeuvres which you have to be ready for, sounds like you have a way to go. If your mum.wants to be helpful she should take you out in her car so you're doing the confidence building part with her not while you're paying and then he will be able to move on to teaching you manoeuvres.

It's clear that you don't think he's doing a good job. After your tenth lesson that you have paid for just say you don't want him to be your instructor any more. And find another instructor.

Passing your theory test with only one wrong has nothing to do with how you will actually drive. They are different skills. Especially if you aren't applying the theory knowledge to the practical driving along with what the instructor is saying.

It all sounds normal to me.

Some people get driving really quickly. Others in the middle. Some people aren't natural at all, find it a struggle but manage fine in the end and are great drivers. Others struggle to learn to drive, scrape through their test and then end up being eternally overcautious on the roads.

There's no point him moving you on if you're still nervous and getting other things wrong (like lanes at a roundabout which would be in your driving theory).

Find another instructor.

Your being conned.
He has a dual control I expect, and he should be wanting you too pass ASAP.
Change instructors.
1st two hour they teach you to use gears and brake...
How too steer and use indicators...
Somewhere quiet, so you can just go round and round a quiet road.
Emergency stop should have been covered in this lesson, as how the heck can you drive on a main road, if you can't brake how can you stop in a que.
Repeat first lesson in 2nd lesson if needed, then out onto main road in 3rd hour of lessons.
You should then be doing stop starts in traffic with his help and gears... Mirror signal ect.
By 5th hour you should be happy to drive, your in an automatic, then it's 3 point turns, and reverse, lots of practice... After ten hours you should be braking fine and thinking of your test...
Even if your a slow learn and do 20 hours if you Like... Your instructor you should be good to go...

Wow, so many people who have their test after ten hours. I'm on 44 hours for an automatic and my test is next week. I know enough people who did 50-60 hours and one who did 80 hours. The instructor sounds normal to me, I had three instructors and they all watched to see what I did naturally instead of going over all the specifics of a roundabout (or whatever). It saves time to concentrate in what you can't do. Taking over the steering is also normal.

I'm really concerned that you actually are thinking about your test while you can't brake properly and don't know how to use a roubdabout. They are teaching you to drive, not to just pass a test. You should feel that you can drive everywhere safely before you take your test. You don't want to be driving dangerously with your baby in the back.

If you feel that you don't trust that you are learning with this instructor then by all means change. I have to say that according to your OP they are quite normal.

I can’t see the problem...
You’ve only had ten lessons. That’s not much. He’s charged you an appropriate amount. He’s charging you for the next ten. Again, normal. Especially depending on how good you are.
Instructors ALWAYS charge you for use of the car for the test, and they pick you up before/drop you off after and sometimes you have a lesson before.
He is teaching you as needed.

Also, no way in ten hours driving should you know all basics, be a confident driver, and thinking about your test. Utter rubbish. ,