I’m a driving expert – here’s five instructor red flags to avoid being ripped off

Passing your driving test is always a nervous and costly experience, but a top driving expert has claimed it doesn’t have to be if prospective motorists take heed of five tips when selecting their instructors. 

Research has revealed that on average most people will spend around £1,500 on driving lessons, with sessions rising from just £23 in 2019 to a whopping £34 now – representing a 47 per cent increase.

And should learners fail their test and have to book another, they will invariably need more which can result in a further £575 spend – or more if all the lessons need repeating.

However, experts at A-Plan Insurance claim they have analysed hundreds of thousands of reviews left for the nation’s driving instructors. 

They then compiled a five point list of things to consider when choosing the most effective teacher for you. 

There are many pitfalls learner drivers can fall into while picking an instructor 

A helpful and effective driving instructor can save you a lot of money on the way to passing

Overpriced lessons that are too short 

A common complaint many learner drivers noted in their reviews was that they paid huge sums of money upfront for lessons, which were then much shorter than promised.

Sadly, the research showed this is a tactic that many instructors utilise to make more money and as the practical test approaches, some may try to insist that more lessons are needed, resulting in higher earnings.

To save money, make sure to compare how much your friends are spending on their lessons and look at multiple instructors’ rates before booking. 

And if a lesson is going to be cut short, don’t stand for it.  

Patience when teaching slow learners 

Another common issue some learner drivers had was the idea that their instructors had a lack of patience and understanding for their fledging abilities – resulting in some terse exchanges in the car.

A knock on effect of this can be that some drivers  avoid attending their lessons or finishing learning to drive altogether, as they are scared off interacting with another frustrated tutor.

If you don’t gel with your instructor during the first couple of lessons, it’s time to switch – and the earlier you do it, the more money you’ll save.

On average, learners spend £1,500 trying to pass their driving test

Lessons cancelled or rearranged last minute

 An unreliable instructor is like a bad hangover, it ruins your day. 

There’s nothing more frustrating than plans falling through after you’ve prepared for them all day – but unfortunately, this is something a lot of learner drivers have experienced.

It’s important to check the reviews of instructors before making an inquiry, and pay attention to how they manage their diary. 

Leaving learners unsure of their skills

Some learners have reported they felt woefully underprepared to take on driving on their own once their lessons had concluded and they passed their test. 

Most instructors look to make sure that you’re confident enough to continue navigating roads on your own once lessons wrap-up. 

Some even offer additional motorway lessons to boost this confidence.

Make sure you check reviews to see that past customers feel confident with how their instructor left them at the culmination of their learning journey.  

Skipping important facts when teaching 

Some instructor teach by following a particular lesson plan or curriculum for all of their students but others can wing it when they tell you specific information.

This maverick approach can be a bit too disorganised for a lot of learners, as many complained that they were never taught key information needed in order to pass their test after their lessons.

Driving schools tend to have more structure in place than individual instructors as they’re held more accountable, but pay attention to when your instructor tells you things – and how.

Commenting on the research, an A-Plan Insurance spokesperson said: ‘Learning to drive is a hugely subjective experience, as how well it goes depends on a variety of different factors – including where you live, how old you are, and which instructor you go for.

‘Too many instructors aren’t held accountable for how they act during lessons, how they manage their schedule and how their pricing structure works, which can leave many learners reluctant to continue their lessons or take up another instructor.

‘And more importantly, learners shouldn’t feel bad if they end up having to switch instructors or schools mid-way through lessons – it just means they’re putting themselves first.’