New research has unearthed a series of ‘red flags’ that make students worry if they might have picked the wrong instructor for their lessons.
After analysing 125,000 reviews of driving instructors from across Google, researchers at A-Plan Insurance pulled together the five key issues that stress out learners when being taught to drive:
Feeling like your instructor has no patience
Learners complain that instructors aren’t patient enough with them, accusing them of snapping at them or telling them off for making a mistake.
This can lead to some students being put off learning to drive altogether because they worry that all instructors are like this (just for the record – they are not!).
We recommend if you believe your instructor is not the right fit for you, then you should look elsewhere rather than walking away from driving entirely. Best to check in with your friends to see who they are using and if they may be a better fit for you.
Also consider having a couple of lessons with any potential instructor before signing up so you get a real idea of their patience levels – and whether you both ‘click’.
Thinking lessons are too expensive or too short
Right or wrong, learners believe that some instructors are charging too much for their lessons (we’ve already looked into this issue and our research reveals a different, more nuanced picture).
To find out if you’re getting good value, talk to your friends about how much they are paying and check prices with a few local instructors to get a clear idea of general costs in your area.
How much you pay is not the only issue. Some learners also complain they pay a stack of cash upfront to secure a discount on lessons – but the lessons themselves are much shorter than agreed.
We recommend if your instructor is constantly cutting lesson times, you – or a parent/guardian – should either call them out on it, or you should change your tutor.
Feeling like you’re not getting all the info
Learners complain they can feel like they’re being swamped with info or are not getting the info they need. To combat this, talk with your instructor about how you are going to be taught before you sign up.
Is there a defined curriculum in place? Do they have lesson plans? Or does your instructor ‘play it by ear’?
Again, a couple of sample lessons can help decide if your instructor’s approach is the right fit for you and your learning before signing on the dotted line.
Being let down at the last minute
Learners complain that they receive last moment notifications from instructors that a pre-planned lesson has been cancelled or moved to another date.
It’s understandable that issues can come up and a lesson needs to be rearranged – just as an instructor will understand if a learner has to make a last minute change too (so long as it doesn’t keep happening…).
However, if the instructor is regularly cancelling or changing lesson times then perhaps it’s time to source another tutor. Again, we recommend that you check online reviews to check if your potential instructor has a strong track record for reliability.
Going solo for the first time
Learners say that despite passing their test, they are still left doubting their own skills behind the wheel. This is a tricky one as it is natural to feel some trepidation when you finally head out on to the road by yourself after getting a pass.
If you are feeling nervous, talk to your instructor about having more lessons to really get your confidence bedded in as well as get guided experience of, say, night or motorway driving.
Also, ask your parents or guardian to accompany you on your first few journeys after you’ve got your licence to help take the edge off any lingering nerves or doubts.
“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.”
• A-Plan Insurance
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