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.

This all sounds about right, OP. You can't even countenance the test if you aren't able to tackle roundabouts without panicking, or brake!
Do you have another thread about this instructor, currently? About him blaming you for a braking issue? Writing style and use of 'breaks' is the same.
I think you should find another instructor; you've got to feel comfortable and calm and this guy clearly isn't working for you.

Can I ask why you are learning in an automatic transmission car ? Do you know that if you sit your test for an automatic car only you won’t be able to drive a car with a manual gearbox ?

Change instructor

You will learn a lot faster practising. Can anyone else take you out in their car?

I don’t understand all these posts saying learning to drive isn’t difficult and that it only takes xxxx amount of lessons. Everyone learns to drive at a different pace, some find it easier than others! It might take some people 20-30 hours of lessons and others a lot more (it took me 60 hours and an intensive course- I was very nervous! And I had to take my test 4 times. I have been driving ten years now and never - touch wood- had any accidents etc, it just took me a long time to feel confident and get it!)

Op if you feel you’re ready to take your test and your driving instructor is holding you back how about booking a lesson or two with someone else and let them give you their opinion?

If you dont feel comfatable with your instructor look for a new one. Even more so if you think he is wasting your money. I had three instructors the second time round I decided to learn (first time being when I was 17). First one was someone I knew though a friend they were OK told me I needed to do my theory test so I could book my actual test quite early on I was surprised by this but thinking back I was probably ready. Unfortunately they had to take time off work due to illness so I found myself a new instructor - they were terrible I had I think three two hour lessons and I was still doing corners - previously I had been doing roundabouts, driving on dual carriageways, test routes etc, a few things they did made me think they were time wasting/trying to make money from me, so i looked for a new one. Third instructor I had was brilliant - on my first lesson at the end asked me to pull over - said I should book my test! I was surprised so I waited a few weeks and they said to book again - long wait times. We either had hour or hour and a half lessons, and then the times I didn't pass my tests (all down to my own nerves, not because I wasn't 'ready') my instructor would only book me in for an hour - said I didn't need any longer lessons just time in the car to build confidence.

My younger brother has recently started with the same instructor and he started off with hour lessons until he was able to actually drive the car a reasonable distance. I know all are different but definitely change if you don't feel comfatable.

have you been practising outside of lessons, thats a must

of course you have to pay if you want to use his car in the test

your lessons are a hell of a lot cheaper mine were a few years ago (lessons where I lived were on average 280 for 10 hours, they are now 310 for 10 hours)

not learning to emergancy break till a few lessons is is normal (they have dual control so until you can do the emergancy breaking till you can)

the roundabout thing I would have expected you to know considering you have already done and passed your theory

but you cant get on with everyone. if you are just uncompatible then find another instructor.

sorry that's meant to read they can do the emergancy breaking until you can

I can't remember how many lessons I had but everyone is different. But as well as the lessons you really need to be practising as much as you can if at all possible - if you can't, then you will probably need more lessons.

Using the car for the test should cost the same as the equivalent lessons would. When I learned to drive I had hour long lessons (the norm back then) and for my test I had a lesson first followed by the test - so paid for 2 lessons. In fact I was so nervous during the final lesson that the instructor cut it short and we just sat in the car at the test centre to calm down. I passed, so it obviously worked!!

I actually don’t think it matters. You obviously suspect he is fleecing you and feel unhappy with him so take your business elsewhere. Explain when booking that you would like a plan of what you will learn and after a few lessons an idea of how far away from test ready you are.

Everyone is different. I'm probably in the 80 hours camp. I just didn't click with it. I passed my test 5th time. Nerves got me and I finally passed with the help of beta blockers. I've been driving for 18 years now problem free. It took me a long time but it clicked eventually.
My 80 hours were stop/start with a big gap. No way was I ready after 10.

I don't think it helps when people come on and say they passed after five lessons or whatever.

Not everyone learns to drive that quickly and not everyone is a natural driver. Personally I think it's ridiculous (and not especially safe) that you can go from never having driven a car to passing your test and driving completely on your own in five days!

It took me several years and three instructors (and many thousands) to pass my test. But I passed first time. I didn't get along with my first instructor, although he taught me the basics. My second was lovely and got me to test standard, but then I moved and had to stop lessons.

My third instructor was lovely and I passed first time after about six months of weekly lessons, plus private practise outside of that. I didn't find learning to drive very easy and I got quite anxious in my lessons.

I've been driving a year now and I love it. I can go to strange places, and I'm perfectly happy being on my own in control of a car. It just takes some people longer for it to "click". Passing first time doesn't make you a better driver than someone who took four or five attempts.

My instructor wouldn't take me on until I'd booked my test. He said I'm here to get you to pass your test, how can I do that if you haven't booked it. Took me about 2 months start to finish, in manual

I should say that was last year with a new baby so I was very motivated

Once you have bad thoughts about getting into a car with someone your paying to teach you to drive it has so many knock on effects.
I taught a friend after the male teacher told her she would never pass, her husband took over her booked lessons took him a year to pass, I made her put in for her test as she was a natural driver, lived being behind a wheel.
She passed a month later, tester thanked her for a great drive...
Find someone you like, maybe a woman would suit you more.

Do an intensive course. I did less than 10 hours of lessons (in a manual) then passed first time. My instructor had me driving on a dual carriageway in rush hour for my first lesson.

Accept that you may not crack driving as quickly or easily as you thought - that's ok, and you will get there! How you described the braking thing, not having that come naturally through feeling the effects of your foot pressure on the brake, suggests that there may be quite a bit you have to learn deliberately rather than have come to you instinctively. This is totally normal, but probably implies you simply won't be one of the lucky minority that passes their test after the minimum number of lessons

Get a new teacher. Don't waste time worrying about him, it's totally fine that his approach is not right for you, just move on. It has not been a waste of time an money by any stretch of the imagination - you've gained some skill and experience that you will take forward with you.

Practice as much as you can outside lessons. This is pretty critical.

The people saying it took them 10 lessons probably did their test back at least 30 years ago when it was easier. It's only changed in recent years and been made harder to pass.

That being said, 40 hours is a long time for learning to drive an automatic. You don't go gear changes obviously, and that's the worst bit about learning to drive usually. Even with all of the manoeuvres and using sat nav now, it shouldnt take that long to figure out. I did my test 11 years ago, didn't have sat nav but that was about the only exception and passed after 30 lessons I think. That was with a manual car too and I did struggle to get the hang of the biting point. I lack coordination.

Its a bit worrying too that you've passed your theory but don't know how roundabouts work and had to be told that pressing more on the brake slows you down. Instructor should have explained the braking thing day one, but it should have been obvious too since you press further down on the accelerator to go faster. Same concept for brake?

It depends on whether you have access to a car outside of lessons - if the only driving you are doing is once a week for 2 hours then 30 hours minimum is the guide these days, the test is a lot harder than even 10 years ago. If you have a car to practice in then get as many hours in you can, but don't let your volunteer supervisor teach you bad habits!

If you’re not happy then change your instructor. I had about 5/6 instructors and when mine retired I had to find a new one. My previous one was always telling me I wasn’t ready etc etc and as soon as I started with the new one he told me to book my test straight away and I passed.

Don't forget not only are you learning to drive but you are learning to pass your test. In the real world it doesn't matter if you clip the kerb, and you will, but on a test it definitely does.

I think you are trying to run before you can walk tbh. It took DD EE tests, near,y two years and about 75 hours of lessons to pass. It then took her about two years of driving to be confident.

She's about right now 😀

3 not EE!

If your instructor had done his job he would already have taught you how to do roundabout... It is written on the road as you approach the things.
If your partner or dad can drive, get a set of cheap cars from poundland put a bowl on the floor and all play cars...
Honest it helps a lot... We did this when learning to drive... The more you do things like this the faster you will learn, and when your a passager watch the roads at roundabouts and see which lanes the driver uses, ask if need be why they did something...

My instructor was almost the opposite @namechange1984

He said his job was to make sure I passed my test - so there was no point booking a test for the sake of it if I wouldn't pass it.

Most people know the harder you press a break the quicker it stops. Same a bike. So he probably doesn't have to tell most people.

I had to pay for a lesson before my test and a lesson during my test for use of the car. It really is difficult to put a time on it so early as everyone is different.

If you aren't getting on move instructor after this block but I had 3 and none would give me am estimate on time until I was nearly ready. The one that worked with me seemed to be able to verbalise how to do the manoeuvres better than the others which is what I was missing. The others were fine but didn't get on as well.