Driving lessons

THE_DUDE

I started driving lessons 2 months ago but out of 8 lessons I've missed 6.

I have to pay £70 for a two hour lesson (automatic) two days before. And I keep missing the lessons due to depression.

It's non refundable. So annoying. I'm out so much money and will continue to be out money. Anyone with any advice?

66Mustang

£70 for 2 hours is a lot. Where in the country are you, roughly? An automatic isn't a niche these days and that alone doesn't justify a significantly higher price…do they have any adaptations which are the reason for this price?

I used to pay £200 for 10 hours (in a manual car) and I could use these hours when I wanted and even cancel at the last minute. This was about 7 years ago so I appreciate prices have risen since then and the situation is different with demand and stuff but I still think £35 an hour is a lot

If you only requirement is an automatic gearbox and you don't have specialist needs then unless things have really changed a lot it shouldn't be too hard to find another instructor who might be more accommodating

One thing I would warn you about is I think in the current situation with things, you have to book the test months in advance and if you can't make it you have to wait again for another one, but you should still have plenty of time to work on how your depression affects you and stuff in the meantime

THE_DUDE

Inner London. Ya I thought the price was high too but I called a few places and it was the same price.

No specialist needs. Just automatic.

I keep missing lessons so at the moment I haven't booked any test. I was hoping after 5 or 6 lessons I'd book the test then continue with the lessons up until that time.

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

poppy123456

£35 per hour is about right. I don't live anywhere near London and just googled the prices in my area and an automatic or manual is about £80 for 2 hours. Some driving schools will charge a couple of pounds more per hour for automatics but not all of them do.

A lot has changed in 7 years and the costs have gone through the roof. You are losing a lot of money by cancelling the lessons at short notice. Maybe you should think about putting the lessons on hold until you feel a little better.

OverlyAnxious

From a purely practical point of view, I think the only two options are to either force yourself out despite the depression or postpone lessons altogether for now. I know it's not that simple with MH conditions though.

Personally, I hated the first few lessons. Anxiety through the roof, major IBS issues, and for the very first one I had a massive nosebleed as well.

Relatives telling me it was 'meant to be fun' was not as helpful as they presumably thought. 😐️

I never missed a lesson though, and ultimately ended up passing the test first time.

THE_DUDE

I've had to freeze my gym membership too ( went once in 3 months). I'm hoping I can push through with the lessons as I've put it off for so long.

I'll see how it goes for another month and if no change I'll cancel the lessons. Thanks

66Mustang

That's interesting Poppy

In fairness I did think £20 an hour was cheap, even in 2016, but they were all the same, I guess at the time there was too much supply (of driving instructors) and not much demand, things are the other way round now

Even in 2016 though, I wondered how they could justify doing it for £20 an hour??? Even if they paid themselves minimum wage off that £20 that's leaving them like £9 to pay for petrol, insurance (which I assume is massive for a driving instructor) and all the other costs … being a driving school car I imagine it's not treated with a lot of mechanical sympathy … my instructor said he got through 3 clutches in a year once

poppy123456

I don't know what the costs were back in 2016 mustang, my elder daughter was learning in 2017 and can't remember what she paid. When I learned to drive it was £7.50 an hour 😂 traffic was also less back then and 2 hours for a lesson wasn't needed at least not where I lived at the time. I'll be honest and say I don't know how people can afford to pay those prices, it's ridiculous.

Sandy_123

that's about the right the price for lessons these days.

it's a shame it's non refundable it's a lot of money to loose. Is there anything in their clause or would they be able to carry the lessons over to when you are feeling better to do them. It might be worth asking

THE_DUDE

When I started he said I have to pay two days before and it's non refundable if I miss the lesson.

I should probably look around for someone who can help me with my situation. Thanks

Sandy_123

yeah it doesn't sound right to me maybe something in the trading standards Laws, have you got something in writing with terms of the lessons

66Mustang

I'd just try to find a more laid back instructor

Lots of driving instructors get really nervous and uptight which is actually a bad attitude to have when driving, especially when teaching someone else how to drive

My instructor was really laid back (he once actually told me to stop overconcentrating on my driving) and this showed in his attitude to lessons as well, unless he was literally driving to my house I could cancel a lesson without losing my hours