I’m a driving expert – here’s five instructor ‘red flags’ to look out for to avoid overspending on your lessons

• A driving expert has shared the five main things to look out for when picking a driving instructor, to avoid overspending on lessons 
• The average Brit spends over £1,500 on learning to drive – but this cost rises significantly for those who have to switch instructors
• The top complaints around the nation’s driving instructors include overpriced lessons, impatient teachers, and skipping important facts

A driving expert has revealed the five things that are most important to consider when picking a driving instructor, to avoid overspending on your lessons. 

The average Brit spends at least £1,500 on learning to drive, with lessons rising from just £23 in 2019 to a whopping £34 now – representing a 47% increase. 

Those who fail their driving test will need to pay for extra lessons and another practical test, which can result in a further £575 spend – or more if all the lessons need repeating. 

Having to swap instructors mid-way through learning due to incompatibilities or problems will also bump the cost up, as every one follows different teaching methods. 

The experts at A-Plan Insurance analysed hundreds of thousands of reviews left for the nation’s driving instructors and schools, to reveal the areas which the majority underperform in – and that will definitely end up costing you extra if ignored. 

Patience when teaching slow learners

The complaint that was mentioned most across the reviews was a lack of instructor patience, meaning learners were frequently snapped at or told off during lessons. 

This can cause learner drivers to avoid attending their lessons or finishing learning to drive altogether, as they are scared off interacting with another frustrated tutor. 

If you notice that your instructor is prone to anger, frustration or belittlement during the first couple of lessons, it’s time to switch – and the earlier you do it, the more money you’ll save. 

Overpriced lessons that are too short

Learner drivers also complained that they paid a huge sum of money upfront on their lessons, which were then much shorter than promised. 

This is a tactic that many instructors utilise to make more money. As the practical test approaches, they’ll insist that more lessons are needed, resulting in higher earnings. 

Make sure to compare how much your friends are spending on their lessons and look at multiple instructors’ rates before booking – and don’t settle for lessons being cut short. 

Lessons cancelled or rearranged last minute 

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. 

Many complained of instructors cancelling lessons with little notice or insisting nothing was in the calendar, whilst others ended up completely ignored after handing over cash. 

Check the reviews of instructors before making an inquiry, and pay attention to how they manage their diary – if they use an app or digital calendar, they’re probably more reliable. 

Skipping important facts when teaching 

Unless your instructor is following a particular lesson plan or curriculum for all of their students, they’re probably winging when they tell you specific information. 

However, that approach is 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. 

Leaving learners unsure of their skills 

Another common complaint was that learners felt woefully underprepared to take on driving on their own once their lessons had concluded – even after passing their practical test. 

Instructors should make sure that you’re confident enough to continue navigating roads on your own once lessons wrap-up, and many offer additional motorway lessons to boost this. 

Look at instructor reviews to see how many customers praise their tutor for helping them feel assured after their lessons finished, and don’t feel ashamed to ask for extra support. 

Speaking on the findings, 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.”

Credit to aplan.co.uk who supplied the above post.