Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

Driving test instant fail - dent in car

128 replies

Drivingt3ster · 06/11/2021 13:14

God I feel awful.
Ds18 driving test yesterday, a few months ago I dented his car just above the wheel and can't afford to fix it atm (obvs we have insurance but I can't afford the excess). Instructor agreed that it should be fine for him to do the test in it as only cosmetic, wheel not damaged an doesn't affect the working of the vehicle.

Went to driving test and the examiner said he couldn't take him out. Initially said it would be mot fail, but went on to agree it was cosmetic damage but still withheld that he 'wouldn't drive his own car around like that' as 'wheel was exposed' and wouldn't do the test. (I'm not the most technical about cars, but aren't all wheels exposed? )

I feel so upset for ds, 3rd test and he finally felt confident about it. Now looking at having to wait until April.

Ds inconsolable still, not sure what to do to help him, ideas please :(
Also, just out of interest do you think the examiner was right?

OP posts:

Eltonsglasses · 06/11/2021 15:19

It's not ridiculous. If the instructor wasn't qualified to make the call they should have said that.

Of course it's ridiculous, do you take your car to a driving instructor when it needs checking over

Eltonsglasses · 06/11/2021 15:20

@rachb2019

I would suggest separating the issues.

From what I have read he has failed the test twice already. Focus on getting him in with a competent driving instructor for a small number of lessons who will then also let him use the car for the test and hope you can then get a cancellation so the test can take place asap.

Once he has his driving license you can then focus on getting his car roadworthy.

The critical thing is getting his license before he forgets everything he has been taught - not the temporary problem with the car.

Not sure if this helps - but that is my opinion on this. Hope you are okay.

This is really good advice.

girlmom21 · 06/11/2021 15:21

@Eltonsglasses the car is still drivable. That's not in doubt. The OP asked the instructor if it was ok for the test - it's the instructors job to know whether a car can be used for a test.

KissedintheDark · 06/11/2021 15:23

@BabyLove22

You dint his car and can't even be arsed to find the money to repair it? And are now looking for ways to blame the examiner. It is all your fault, awful parent you are.. your poor DS deserves better.

Get a grip ffs. What is wrong with you.

Op, It doesn't look to bad a dent. I'd would try to knock it out a bit myself
until I got it fixed professionaly .

Eltonsglasses · 06/11/2021 15:23

[quote girlmom21]@Eltonsglasses the car is still drivable. That's not in doubt. The OP asked the instructor if it was ok for the test - it's the instructors job to know whether a car can be used for a test. [/quote]
Drivable does not mean safe or roadworthy. It's not the instructors job at all, the instructor is responsible for his own car, nobody else's.

Eltonsglasses · 06/11/2021 15:25

Op, It doesn't look to bad a dent.

OP hasn't shown the dent

KissedintheDark · 06/11/2021 15:27

@Eltonsglasses

Op, It doesn't look to bad a dent.

OP hasn't shown the dent

Aware of that but op had shown pics of similar dents and explained what the dent is like in comparison.

Original poster

Drivingt3ster · 06/11/2021 15:30

@KissedintheDark
You should've seen me yanking and pulling at it while ds was inconsolable and the examiner was just stood there going 'you won't be able to fix it'
I don't blame the instructor at all, and I understand why the examiner may have done what he did (i just think it's a bit harsh to deny a clearly petrified 18 year old to take a test, especially given the current conditions, but of course, if he thought it was unsafe he had to do that!)
For everyone coming at me about not fixing it straight away... heinsight is a wonderful thing, and I hope you never have any similar issues with your wonderful bottomless pits of cash.

Thank you @rachb2019 that's pretty much what me and dh have been talking through this afternoon, i don't think we'll have him take any more lessons as he gets quite a lot of private practice with us, but we'll have to see I guess!

OP posts:

Original poster

Drivingt3ster · 06/11/2021 15:33

@Eltonsglasses
Not sure what you're trying to achieve beside show off your wonderful never does anything wrong complex? But you haven't added anything useful, quite the opposite actually.
I'm sure you've never made a mistake in your life...

And yes, I'm aware I've posted on a public forum and anyone can say what they like blah blah, and I'm fine with people saying I'm wrong, but that doesn't mean I need your patronising, and frankly unhelpful comments.

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 06/11/2021 15:37

@Eltonsglasses you're wrong but you won't accept that so have a nice day.

spiderlight · 06/11/2021 15:38

I had a dent similar to the one in the before-and-after pic and I pulled it out myself with a toilet plunger. It wasn't perfectly smooth afterwards but the actual indentation was completely gone.

Eltonsglasses · 06/11/2021 15:38

Not sure what you're trying to achieve beside show off your wonderful never does anything wrong complex?

I literally haven't said a single thing about me?

But you haven't added anything useful, quite the opposite actually

Telling you that the instructor and examiner are not qualified to assess your car and is not responsible is actually useful. You need to know this because your whole posts throws the blame at them.
.
I'm sure you've never made a mistake in your life...

I have made many. Huge ones at that sometimes. Im not sure what the point of that comment is tbh.

You only consider it patronising and unhelpful because you don't want to admit this is your own doing.

Eltonsglasses · 06/11/2021 15:41

[quote girlmom21]@Eltonsglasses you're wrong but you won't accept that so have a nice day. [/quote]

You are correct. I am never going to accept that a driving instructor is responsible for assessing damage to someone else's car.

iklboogiemaninthecloset · 06/11/2021 15:42

that's pretty much what me and dh have been talking through this afternoon, i don't think we'll have him take any more lessons as he gets quite a lot of private practice with us, but we'll have to see I guess!

Not being snotty, I promise, but are you teaching him how to pass the test, rather than just drive? A lot has changed since you & your DH probably passed. They do some different things and have stopped others altogether. DH - driving instructor - can always tell when pupils have been to Mum & Dad Driving School.

Eltonsglasses · 06/11/2021 15:42

@Drivingt3ster

Just wanted to say I didn't see your posts before the one I quoted where you say you dont blame the examiner/instructor so ignore my comments re that

Cyw2018 · 06/11/2021 15:42

Could you get your local MOT testing center to confirm if it would be an MOT failure or not and if it wouldn't (which I strongly believe it wouldn't, considering some of the bangers I've kept on the road over the years) get it in writing, then complain to the test centre management and DVLA.

The driving examiner sounds like he's either stuck up or fancied a long tea break or both.

diddl · 06/11/2021 15:48

@Cyw2018

The driving examiner sounds like he's either stuck up or fancied a long tea break or both.

Wouldn't that have been the thing to do beforehand though?

Or to have had more lessons in the instructor's car to get used to it & take the test in the instructor's car to be on the safe side?

EarringsandLipstick · 06/11/2021 15:49

i just think it's a bit harsh to deny a clearly petrified 18 year old to take a test,

I think you sound completely overwrought about your son & his test. He didn't fall it, he wasn't allowed take it!

I think if the dent is anything like the photo you showed, that's quite significant damage & the examiner was entitled to make that decision. It's a bit more than a 'dent' IMO.

I'm sure you're feeling bad that you put DS in this position. Nothing you can do now, try for a cancellation as PPs have said & in the meantime, get it fixed.

GreyhoundG1rl · 06/11/2021 16:00

[quote Drivingt3ster]@BruceAndNosh
It's actually further away from the tyre now as it's kind of upwards (maybe safer now then )[/quote]
Why in the name of God are you posting a picture of something that "looks like" the damage and then claiming it's not actually like that at all when people tell you it's quite bad?
Complete with winky face...
Couldn't possibly take you seriously.

Essexmum321 · 06/11/2021 16:08

If he failed last time and there has been a gap of a few weeks then more lessons needed otherwise you could be well setting him up to fail again, how many actual hours of lessons did he have under his belt before he sat the test?

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 06/11/2021 16:09

@Eltonsglasses

I'd expect the instructor to cover the cost of the test if you can't get your money back as they should know whether the test would have been cancelled based on the damage and assured you it would be fine.

Haha don't be ridiculous. The instructor is just that, an instructor. Not a mechanic or otherwise qualified to assess damage to vehicles. He is not responsible for any costs here.

Seriously?! My driving instructor DH had an examiner refuse to go out for a test in a muddy car. DH had warned the pupil that it could happen, the pupil thought he knew better. The examiner will also refuse to get in a car with a dirty interior. Not in the slightest bit surprised this happened OP.

JustPause · 06/11/2021 16:10

We had a similar thing when I took DS for his test in his car. It was a secondhand vehicle which had, in the past, had a recall and we couldn't prove that the recall work had been done. The test was cancelled.

icedcoffees · 06/11/2021 16:12

From your title, I thought you meant your DS had dented the car on the test and that's why he'd failed, lol.

Anyway, I think YABU. Cars have to be roadworthy to be used to take a driving test, and if your DS's car really does look like the link you posted, I'm not surprised they refused to let him use it.

You need to take it to a garage to be assessed - a big dent like that on the wheel arch could be really dangerous.

BertramLacey · 06/11/2021 16:15

He didn't use the instructors car just because he hasn't had many lessons since his first fail (beginning of September, fail put down to nerves) and has been using his car in the last couple lessons he did have, so isn't really used to it, but he'll have to next time!

So if I understand this rightly, he failed for the first time two months ago. He failed for the third time yesterday. Three fails in two months with a nervous driver. Elsewhere you state he was 'petrified' at taking his test. Honestly, I don't think an inexperienced and nervous 18 year-old is what you want driving unsupervised over the winter. It took me three goes to pass and a lot of that was nerves, so I have some sympathy.

The way I would look at this is that he now has a good few months to become much more confident and competent. He can drive with you and his dad over the winter and go into the test knowing he's well above standard. If you can, get him more assured in other vehicles. Once he's passed he could, in theory, go to a car hire place, hire a totally unfamiliar car and go round the M25 on a bank holiday. Heck, when my car was in for repair the garage leant me a car and it was like the loaner from the film The Mask. If he's going to be licensed, he needs to be more confident.

This, for the avoidance of doubt although my garage is nothing like that one, their loaner car is.

I also agree with PP that whilst driving with you can be good practise, lessons with instructors are important. I appreciate that this is difficult but again, maybe the extra time can be seen as a bit of a godsend. More time, more practise, hopefully get some money together for a few lessons.

Roselilly36 · 06/11/2021 16:18

Examiners can be fussy, particularly it seems if the learner is using their own car, I think I read once one MN that a learner did not get to take their test as the examiner deemed the dashboard too dusty! I suppose the idea is, that the car isn’t well maintained. Your poor DS must be so disappointed, I hope he gets a cancellation soon.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread