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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this normal for driving lessons??

44 replies

Aygooo · 19/03/2023 10:06

I pay for a double lesson as the instructor says they don’t do singles. Fair enough.

They pick me up from my house, drive about 15 minutes to a quiet place, let’s me drive maybe 45 minutes, and then drives me back for 15 minutes.

I start at say 12pm, and I’m back by 130pm, even though I’m paying for a two hour lesson.

This has happened 6 times now, and my partner has basically said you’ve only have 6 hours, rather than the 12 hours I’ve paid for.

Is this normal when you’re starting lessons? Or should I say something?

OP posts:
AtrociousCircumstance · 19/03/2023 10:07

Not normal. Ordinarily you drive the whole time.

IsItMeOrEveryoneElse · 19/03/2023 10:08

Usually you drive from the house, otherwise your lesson isnt starting from the beginind so ur losing half an hour

Flowerblooms · 19/03/2023 10:10

Definitely not normal! Find another instructor they are taking the piss.

Ofcourseshecan · 19/03/2023 10:10

You’re being ripped off. I had two-hour lessons, and I was at the wheel for two hours. I hope youfind a more honest instructor.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 19/03/2023 10:11

No.

I always drove for the entire two hours, unless it was too dangerous in which case the instructor would drive to eg. an industrial estate and then let me take over.

PuttingDownRoots · 19/03/2023 10:14

I lived in quite a remote area... so the first few times the instructor drove to and from town. But he was talking about the road, or quizzing me on various things. I had previous experience, so it was only the first couple of times he did the initial drive. Otherwise he would have met me in town apparently. For context, this was NSL roads, not suitable for absolute beginners.

Arrange to meet in town if you local roads aren't safe.

KikkisCat · 19/03/2023 10:15

No, not normal. The only time my son's driving instructor drove to a quiet place was on his first lesson as we live on a very busy road.

XelaM · 19/03/2023 10:17

No. 2 hours should mean 2 hours and it should be you driving for 2 hours.

thaisweetchill · 19/03/2023 10:17

Not normal, my lessons were the full two hours. I'd bring this up or find another instructor.

I do think double lessons are much better as by the time you get in to the swing of things in a single lesson you're back home again.

Appleblum · 19/03/2023 10:17

No not normal at all. You start your lesson driving from your house and it ends when you drive back 2 hours later.

Mammma91 · 19/03/2023 10:18

I used to have a one hour lesson, my instructor would pick me up, I would drive start to finish. Often my lesson was around 1 hour 15 mins as he didn’t count the 5-7 mins it took to get to where he needed my lesson to be. Speak up op and get your moneys worth!!

WaltzingWaters · 19/03/2023 10:20

My lessons were 15 years ago but no, I started driving from the moment I was picked up til the moment I was dropped off. You’re being ripped off. Complain. And find someone else.

Floralnomad · 19/03/2023 10:23

Not normal . Find an instructor that does just an hour if that’s what you want . My daughter is taking lessons at the moment , she has CFS and can only do an hour so we found an instructor who was ok with that . She only got driven away from our house for the first 2 lessons as by lesson 3 she was capable of driving from the start . Do you live in a particularly hazardous area ?

LeavingOnALeaf · 19/03/2023 10:29

Ds definitely drove for the whole 2 hours. Picked up 2 minutes early so he could adjust the seat and mirrors, drove for 2 hours, then sat in the car for a debrief for a few mins. You are paying for 2 hours so you should be getting 2 hours, you are paying for a service which you are not getting. Sack them off and get someone else.

HouseofHolbein · 19/03/2023 10:35

Son started with 2 hour lessons solid driving then he and the instructor agreed that it was a bit too intense for him so he dropped to 90 minute lessons. Obviously he paid for 90 minutes rather than 2 hours.

Flatandhappy · 19/03/2023 10:36

They are totally taking the piss. Other than maybe the first lesson, say if you lived on a busy road, where it might be sensible to drive somewhere else to start you should have 120 minutes behind the wheel. Find another instructor .

Lucy304 · 19/03/2023 10:40

Unfortunately I had the same experience with a big national driving school. Had to book two hour slots, definitely wasn't driving the whole time. Once he took me to the HQ and sat me in front of a computer doing theory test practice! Other times we'd spend forever parked up messing with the mirrors, seat etc. He also kept delaying me booking my test, to keep me shelling out for lessons. I was only 17 at the time and didn't say anything, but looking back now I realise how ripped off I was! Friends who went with local, independent instructors seemed to get a better deal. Time to try a different one?

WeWereInParis · 19/03/2023 10:42

Not normal. They only time I didn't drive from the start was in my first one lesson as the instructor drove me to a better area for learning the absolute basics. But that was a 5 min drive max and as I say, was literally only when I had never sat in a driving seat before.

honeylulu · 19/03/2023 10:46

I think when you have the first few lessons it's usual to be taken somewhere quiet to practice especially if your home is in a built up area. So that bit wouldn't bother me (after the first few lessons I'd expect to also drive that part though). The real issue is that you're paying for 2 hours of the tutor's time and only getting 1.5 hours. In other words he's not delivering 25% of what you've paid for!

fairywhale · 19/03/2023 11:08

Not normal, you are being ripped off.

fairywhale · 19/03/2023 11:10

Is it Red Driving School? I had the worst instructor through them. There was barely any driving.

TheTeenageYears · 19/03/2023 11:16

2 hour lesson should be full 2 hours door to door. On the first lesson I can understand the instructor driving to somewhere suitable to show you the ropes but you should be able to drive home that day or at the very worst case driving from home at the start of the next lesson. Is the instructor an independent or part of a company/booked via a company?

Oblomov23 · 19/03/2023 11:16

No. I'd complain. Why is he driving back, for starters?

Blanketpolicy · 19/03/2023 11:17

I remember driving home from my first lesson, more recently ds was the same. He drove for full lesson.

You need to be able to trust and feel comfortable with the instructor who is teaching you, not feel they are taking the piss.

If you have paid up front tell them what you expect for the remaining lessons then find a new instructor.

ThinWomansBrain · 19/03/2023 11:18

Unless you live somewhere crazily busy, surely once you've driven the car, you can then drive from your home by the second lesson?
find a better driving school - and before you book, ask what you'll get for a two hour lesson
if the current one is a school rather than solo driving instructor, complain