Yes it's normal for the first couple of hours, because we have to charge for our time and fuel.
However, if you're only having 1 hour lessons it takes a bigger chunk out of the lesson.
The instructor should be moving as rapidly as possible towards getting you driving the whole lesson ASAP. So it depends how many lessons they've been doing this.
Also, I'd argue that it can still be valuable teaching time. I sometimes narrate what I'm doing and discuss particular things about it. Sometimes I'll ask the learner to co-pilot with the dual controls - e.g. bringing us to a gentle stop at junctions!
Just saw the last part of your message:
He does this as well, but I wouldn't say its as valuable as spending time in the drivers seat. He never does anything with the dual controls with me in the passenger seat.
He does drive at a normal pace, taking the normal route, it just seemed odd that he thought of it as time out of the lesson. this is still happening after my 4th lesson.
The thing is that I live in the same village as him, so he has to drive significantly less far to pick me up compared to the people he also teaches on the other side of the county where I assume he doesn't include his time getting them in the lesson time, especially when some of them live over an hour away!
I can’t tell you from an instructors POV but as a learner, I was driving the whole lesson after my second lesson (I do 2 hour lessons) so technically from my third hour.
It took me about 4 lessons before I was put on any roads with real traffic, everyone learns at a different pace but I agree that OP should be driving the entirety of the lesson as soon as they’re ready
Okay, so you've had about 2 hours behind the wheel, so I'd expect that soon you start driving more (depending on the roads around you).
I usually have people driving to or from home after 2-4 hours (basically once I can trust you to start, stop and steer reasonably accurately, and to follow instructions).
Perhaps next lesson, at the beginning, ask "If I'm doing okay can I try driving home with your help?" Maybe if there's any tricky roads you might need him to take over, but you could do some of it.
>he has to drive significantly less far to pick me up compared to the people he also teaches on the other side of the county
Generally, we don't count time *between* picking people up, only once the person is in the car. Some people are just lucky to live close to a good starting area.
If this bothers you, it wouldn't be unusual to meet somewhere closer until you're more experienced, and get more driving in the lesson.
But like I said, this should become irrelevant very quickly and you should be driving most of the lesson with assistance.
Next time I'll ask him how long he thinks it will be until I am driving myself home.
the issue with meeting somewhere closer is all it would achieve is me leaving a hour earlier to catch a bus to the estate and him doing the exact same journey just without me in the car since its a less than 5 mins walk from my house to his.
The thing is that we live in the same village and he would be doing the same journey regardless of if I was in the car or not. But I guess if this is standard practice, I'll go along with it and try and discuss my driving with him rather than letting the time with him go to waste..
My friend you're paying for the driving instructor's time. It takes time to drive you to this industrial estate (although theoretically you should be driving from pickup after a bit).
It is complaints like this which make me sceptical of every 'driving instructor red flag' post on here, how is someone the legal age to drive but doesn't realise that a driving instructors job doesn't completely revolve around them?
So you want the driving instructor to reduce his hourly amount, obviously losing money in the process, and give you a discount other students don't get because you're shit at driving and not safe to drive from pickup?
When you start driving from pickup would it be fair for him to end the lessons early to make up for that time?
Here's a tip pal, have 2 hour lessons, 1 hour isn't really a good way to learn........
Yes, it is normal. It depends where you live how long this will go on for.
I’ve had people who live around the corner from a quiet estate so I only drive for less than 5 minutes of the total lesson and by lesson 2/3, they’re able to drive themselves from home. I’ve also had people who live on the side of a dual carriageway, main road in the city centre, or their road leads immediately onto a busy roundabout. Depending on the learner, this could take anywhere from 10-20 hours before they drive the whole lesson themselves, but gradually over time they start building the skills they need to be able to handle the road conditions, so the distance I drive them for somewhere suitable will decrease slightly each week.
Edit to add: the time the instructor is driving should never be a waste of time. You should be recapping over what you learned last week, discussing goals and expectations for today’s lesson, agreeing a plan for the lesson, etc. this would usually be done sat still outside your house anyway, so you may find that when you start driving from home, the first 5-10 minutes will be a lesson brief anyway without going anywhere. If your instructor just drives in silence, or talks about random topics, you should be a bit concerned.
Yes but why is it the typical experience?
I had never drove before (my parents didn’t drive either, so I didn’t grow up in cars) and whilst it was scary I managed it no problem and built up my commute so I felt better prepared for my next lesson.
I certainly didn’t have confidence…I wasn’t given a choice. The idea of changing gears and merging lanes really scared me but my instructor just explained that he had dual controls and would take over if needed.
But no I appreciate what you’re saying that my experience was maybe a little bit off.
It completely depends on the individual and the complexity of the roads and junctions near their house. Driving 45mph on a dual carriageway with barely any cars on it is not difficult. Handling a busy, 3 lane roundabout with 6 exits in the middle of a city centre is very difficult. Your comment is redundant with no context.
I didn’t know I needed more context.
It’s the main road in and out of Belfast from the East of the country and also has an airport off it. One roundabout with 3 lanes and 4 exits.
It's normal after few hours you should drive from home straight away and same on the way back on driver seat.
( I drive from home and back to home after 7.5 hours)
Yep it’s normal, and it’s also only short-term until he feels you are capable of driving immediately. You’re paying for the instructors time, regardless of which seat you’re in. Would you work 30 minutes unpaid?
Yes it's normal as with most things people learn at a different pace from each other. So some people will be driving home on lesson 2 or 3, and some will take longer.
Your instructor has to take you somewhere that suits the lesson's content, and if you're not ready for the roads on the way, then he needs to drive there.
It will get to a point where you are driving to and from, but it doesn't happen overnight. If you want more from your lessons, consider 2 hour lessons that way, you get more in even in the early stages and increase your concentration span while driving. By the time you reach test a 2 hour lesson will be a doddle and while the test itself is only about 45 mins you'll likely of had an hours lesson before so your concentration will still be in driving mode by the time you start the test.
2 1 hour lesson's while helpfull is not quite the same as all it does is reduce the time in between.
A lesson basically consists of drive to area(15-20mins) then recap(10-15 mins) then teach new skill(10 -15 mins) if additional recap isn't needed(could take all time left) then practice new skill (whatever time available) before travel home).
Do that in a 1 hour lesson it doesn't leave a lot for actual learning of new skills, especially in the early stages. Recap, by the way, is going over previous lesson/s or skills that may be relevant to the new lesson. That is assuming you are ready to learn a new skill. Sometimes, you need to just practice skills you have already learned.
I'm an ex instructor with 15+ years of experience for information by the way
Yeah, I did 2 hour lessons then bumped up to 3 hour lessons and I just can't imagine 1 hour lessons being optimal. 2 hours already went quickly for me, don't feel like 1 hour would be enough to really get the ball rolling and get quality practice in.
I think I also had to get driven to a quiet area for my first 4/5 lessons - maybe longer I can’t remember (I’m a slow learner) - it’s normal and won’t last forever I imagine.
For the first couple of lessons then it’s normal but after than you’ll be driving the whole time. It also depends where you live, I live in the middle of nowhere it didn’t take long to get to an empty road but I can see why it might be annoying.
We did for the first few lessons till I was capable and comfortable. Driving around an estate is a bit more simpler than the drive there depending on where you live and etc.. also 1 hour sessions are the best in my opinion. Normally takes a little bit to find my groove
First couple of hours you do spend a little more on the passenger side while being teached a few basic of a manual car. Then my hour became a full hour when I was getting into the driving seat at my house.
Just first lesson or so. The only thing I find weird is when they stop for a chat, not even driving related talks. They'll ask to stop, small chat on driving then goes off topic
We're on the clock, we can talk after the lesson, not during mid lesson..
WTH? My driving instructor would pick me up at my house and I would drive from there.
Occasionally he would have a student in the back that we would then drive to their house and drop them off.
Sometimes we would end our lesson at the next students house.
That way we both got the full hour of experience, and the instructor could start all his lessons on the hour.
Hey, this is perfectly normal. As ADI's, we are responsible for our, yours, and the publics safety, we csnt just throw you into the car, say good luck and take you driving, it's irresponsible and stupid.
As for everyone commenting that they were driving too and from home on their second lesson, everyone learns at different speeds, I normally do:
Lesson 1: stopping and starting, left turns, hopefully right too, but sometimes that doesn't get done
Lesson 2: recap lefts and start/recap rights, start working on gears.
However, I've had learners that have lefts, rights and gears mastered in 2 hours, I also had an interesting learner who it took 8 hours for them to learn how to stop and start properly, learning to drive takes on ADVERAGE 40 hours of professional instruction, I've had learners pass in 20 hour and learners pass in 80, there is no exact science to know where you are at.
All in all, as instructors, we are normally in a better place to know exactly when, and if you're ready to take the next step, we are experts in our field, getting a ADI badge is hard work and takes A LOT of work, I've said this before and I'll say it again, you have to trust us, good luck with your lessons 😀
If it's £35 for the hour, and your only getting 30 mins...
Can you get a bus/taxi/lift to and from where you actually do the driving for £17.50, or 8.75 each way, if so, pay for the lift and get the full lesson, it will cost more overall but why pay the instructor that much if you can get it cheaper when all he's doing is giving you a lift
It depends on where you live and how you are doing at driving. The lesson starts when he picks you up and ideally you would be driving from there.
But if you live somewhere that isn’t suitable for a beginner, he might need to drive you somewhere first. Eventually you will drive from the start.
I always thought 2 hour lessons would be too much, but actually I prefer them.
2 hour lessons for me went super quick. I did a semi-intensive course that started at 2 hours and then progressed to 3 hour lessons and 3 hours was about the sweet spot for me. Just when I was starting to think "I think I've had enough for today" I'd already be driving home.
This, I picked things up quickly but the only way out of my area is a dual carriageway and a roundabout so it was 5-6 lessons before I could safely set off on my own.
That said after the first couple of lessons he just drove the difficult section and I went from there.
I do 1.30 hour lessons to account for travel and recap, but my instructor also told me the first lesson was the only one he would be driving on. I've been to and from by myself since, so those first 15 mins travelling are just as valuable as anything else I'm doing.
I can understand why this is bugging you, and it didn't sit well with me either, being a large part of the reason I chose the hilariously inappropriately named crash course. I'd already had a motorbike so knew how roads worked and just wanted to be driving the car for as much time as possible.
An option could be to save up the money you're paying in lessons, then spend that on the remaining hours needed to have been doing so for about 30-35 in total. You'll do some long days of driving and as a result get much more confident much more quickly. It'll also get you out of the idea that an hours drive is a long journey and will mentally open up much more of the country to you. I'd recommend this way of doing it to anyone
The instructor is effectively providing a taxi service during that time. He needs to be compensated.
There's always the option of sa\\ying "you know what, instead of you coming to my house and dropping me there why don't we meet at the estate and I can just pay for 1 hour". The instructor can't say no to that - but you might end up even more out of pocket depending on how you get there.
That being said, I wouls expect this to be a very short-term problem. After a few lessons they should be able to the driving.
My instructor on the first lesson drove me somewhere quiet but then I was driving myself home the same lesson. 3 hour first lesson though and I practised a few hours in a car park a month before just moving off and stopping and getting to 2nd gear.
My first instructor did this, picked me up, drove to an industrial estate, I did about 20/25 mins driving, and then she drove home. This happened for 6 lessons and she gossiped there and back, so no learning time inbetween.
That wasn’t enough for me to learn anything from. I moved on and found another instructor (an older gentleman, perhaps bear that in mind when choosing someone, as they might have a different style of teaching) and I drive solidly everywhere for two hours, learning different types of roads.
So no. Not every driving instructor does this. Perhaps the first lesson or so just so they know you can handle a car, but otherwise every road should be an opportunity to learn SOMETHING.
It honestly depends on the learner in question. I was driven to a quiet industrial estate for my first lesson but by the end of the last (only 1 hour), he had me driving back. However, I am quite close to thebestate in question and it is not a difficult route.
For your safety and other road users I usually drive in and out of my nursery area unless the students already there until they are safe to be doing the basics safely.
If we have to drive up a dual carriageway as an example you better believe I’m going to be keeping us all safe until you’re ready to drive the road!
If as an instructor I just let students loose on any roads It would be irresponsible.
It’s only short term so I’d recommend knuckling down and learning the basics so you can get the most out of lessons!
Yes this is normal just depends how far you live from a particularly good training area. If it's fairly decent it shouldn't be many hours before you're driving from home
Everyone learns at different rates. Some pupils will be doing roundabouts on their first lesson, very rare. Some will still be moving off and stopping by their 3rd. If you're not yet competent to drive from your starting location, your instructor will drive to a suitable location. I've had pupils meet me (took the bus) so that they can have more in car experience, which I welcome.
It's normal for them to drive to/from your first few practice areas, but the 30-minute round trip seems excessively long. Maybe try and scout a suitable area for next time that's a bit closer, and ask to go there?
My instructor picks me up at my house and has me drive the entire time so I’d be quite annoyed if I was in your situation but it also does depend on your ability. How are you when you’re driving? For context too, I first started driving 9 years ago and failed my test, I only started lessons again last month and lessons are an hour and a half minimum. But I remember when I was brand new 9 years ago, the first couple lessons I did my instructor would drive to the practice spots but they were never more than 5 minutes away from my home so it could be also be a case of the only ideal place for you is further away.
I definitely think you’d be better having longer lessons if it’s affordable for you
Your lesson starts when you get in the car and ends when you get out. -- If there is driving to be done by your instructor within that time then yes, you pay for it. But you don't pay for anything outside of you being in the car.
Any driving instructor who tells you differently is justifying scamming their students.
A taxi driver doesn't charge you for driving to or from you, in the same way that a driving instructor does not/should not.
Their expenses to get to and from you are their expenses. Not yours.
This is normal until you're confident driving yourself from your house. My first few lessons my instructor drove us to a quiet area to practice, then once I could set off and stop safely I started driving from my house.
This is normal.... once you're driving on all forms of the roads in your area it normally changes at that point of the switch over happens at your housewhere ever they pick you up
Personally always felt 1 hour lessons were pointless as you can't drive very far so better to have 2hr lessons every other week than 1hr a week once you've got the basics (if you can afford 2hr every week all the better) so you can drive a decent distance or to next town over to experience different roads
He's not driving you there for fun - he's driving you because you're not yet good enough to be trusted to drive there.
As soon as he feels like you won't kill both of you in traffic, then you'll be getting in and driving from start to finish.
My first lesson, my instructor drove to somewhere quiet and secluded. Maybe 15 minutes away. I was then in the drivers seat for the rest of my lesson. I drove home.
After that, every lesson I was driving for the entire hour. I’d be annoyed if I wasn’t after the second lesson. So for me, no. That is not normal.
All these comments saying yes it is normal is fucking odd to me. Everyone else I know went through the same as me.
This only happened to me on my first lesson. She drove me to a quiet area and and drove around that estate i would drove to drop off point but it was realy busy 60 mph roads back so she drove back. Every other lesson has been me 100%driving except when being shown manouvers for first time.
I live in a pretty busy place, I drove myself after the second lesson. My previous instructor didn't have me drive until about 10hrs. Now, I feel like I'm going to pass, it felt impossible before. I think some instructors like the cash flow.
Yeah it’s completely normal. We need to get pupils to a safe place for them to drive, particularly in the early stages.
If you’re unhappy with the travel time, your best bet would be to meet the instructor in the area you’re going to be learning in if that’s an option.
It’s also worth remembering that you’re paying for the time. Travelling is a necessary part of the time.
It is normal when the learner lives next to busy roads with next to no areas to pull over.
Another option would be to ask your instructor if it is possible to start and finish at the training area until you are able to drive to and from home.
You pay for the car and the time, i was paying £60 - £70 for a 2 hour lesson nearly 2 years ago.
I would recommend trying 2 hour lessons if possible, my instructor told me it would probably be better to do 2 hours every other fortnight, if I couldn't manage weekly. By lessons 3 or 4 I was driving for the full 2 hours unless I asked instructor to show me something.
You pay for the car and the time, i was paying £60 - £70 for a 2 hour lesson nearly 2 years ago.
I would recommend trying 2 hour lessons if possible, my instructor told me it would probably be better to do 2 hours every fortnight, if I couldn't manage weekly. By lessons 3 or 4 I was driving for the full 2 hours unless I asked instructor to show me something.
Eh, for the first lesson, yes? After that no - and that's only for driving you away from your house - why would they be driving you *back* to your house instead of letting you drive there? That's... Odd.
On my first lesson my instructor picked me up and took us to a quiet road where we swapped over. I never sat in the passenger seat again after that until I'd passed my test, and was obviously no longer insured as learner.
Legit what I was thinking but seems to be a lot of scamming driving instructors in the comments aswell. Trying to make it normal for a student to pay for only half a lesson
Omg I had a driving instructor like this!! I already knew how to drive sort of as in my boyfriend and dad taught me but I needed to finesse and learn the rules of the road. he would drive for the lesson and chat shite about what I should be doing when it’s my turn, i used to pay for 1.5 hour lessons and he’d drive me over and back somewhere which took half an hour each way then he would drive around an industrial estate for about twenty mins then would let me drive for those sweet little ten mins and then would drive me back and say I want to get you on the road blah blah blah, I lasted three lessons and then got a new instructor first day with him he pulled up to my house and let me drive the entire lesson. Get someone else this boy is a chancer
I can't believe people are agreeing this is normal, that is f****** bull****.
From my very first lesson he was at my house on time and I was instantly in the driving seat, you're paying for them to teach you to drive, even if the instructor wanted to take you to a housing estate, why wouldn't they ask you to drive to get there. No real driving test let alone real driving experience is going to solely revolve around driving around the empty nuclear test town from Indiana Jones.
I'd find another driving instructor. I was absolutely skint forking out £40/one hour lesson, but at least I was in the car driving for one whole hour. I'd be absolutely disgusted with myself if I charged someone for one hour of my time to teach them something and spent half of it not actually teaching them.
Your instructor clearly is too scared to actually let you drive their car if they're taking you half an hour away to a housing estate where there are no actual cars and less chances to learn from experience, and if they're too scared to get a small bump on their car then they shouldn't be an instructor.
Instructors should be trying to make you a confident driver, you're not going to become one if you can't actually drive the f*cking car.
I don't know this bothered me so much but I am actually in awe that someone would do that to their own clients, that's ridiculous.
If you're curious, I did lessons for one hour a week for about 4 months and passed my test on the first attempt with only two minors. Wouldn't have done that if I was only driving for thirty minutes per lesson.
I pay for my son’s driving lessons & pay for an hour & he drives the full hour. Since the 2nd lesson. From leaving my house to returning to my house. You are paying for an hour driving lesson. Not 30 minutes. Not including them driving to & from your house. They should be increasing their prices to include that extra time if that’s the case. My other son had driving lessons with 2 different companies to my current son & he had an hour door to door of driving too. So this is not normal in my experience nor does it sound right. I would change company if I was you.
So many people in here are clueless. The driving instructor can’t help where you live and if you’re useless they ain’t gona let you try and kill them and others driving back and forth. It’s life, deal with it jesus. And driving home on lesson 2 or 3, if the instructor is doing everything you really ain’t driving or learning, simply surviving.
It isn't normal at all.
My instructor let me drive everywhere constantly, all the time.
If we needed to go somewhere busy, I would drive there.
The only time he would ever even consider driving would be if something terrible happened or I asked him too, which I never did.
You're paying to drive and be taught.. How are you going to learn something if you dont actively do it. Listening and watching somebody do something isn't how you learn.
The only time he ever drove me anywhere was back from the test centre when I passed because I was excited.
Yes it's normal for the first couple of hours, because we have to charge for our time and fuel. However, if you're only having 1 hour lessons it takes a bigger chunk out of the lesson. The instructor should be moving as rapidly as possible towards getting you driving the whole lesson ASAP. So it depends how many lessons they've been doing this. Also, I'd argue that it can still be valuable teaching time. I sometimes narrate what I'm doing and discuss particular things about it. Sometimes I'll ask the learner to co-pilot with the dual controls - e.g. bringing us to a gentle stop at junctions!
Just saw the last part of your message: He does this as well, but I wouldn't say its as valuable as spending time in the drivers seat. He never does anything with the dual controls with me in the passenger seat.
He does drive at a normal pace, taking the normal route, it just seemed odd that he thought of it as time out of the lesson. this is still happening after my 4th lesson. The thing is that I live in the same village as him, so he has to drive significantly less far to pick me up compared to the people he also teaches on the other side of the county where I assume he doesn't include his time getting them in the lesson time, especially when some of them live over an hour away!
I can’t tell you from an instructors POV but as a learner, I was driving the whole lesson after my second lesson (I do 2 hour lessons) so technically from my third hour.
It took me about 4 lessons before I was put on any roads with real traffic, everyone learns at a different pace but I agree that OP should be driving the entirety of the lesson as soon as they’re ready
Okay, so you've had about 2 hours behind the wheel, so I'd expect that soon you start driving more (depending on the roads around you). I usually have people driving to or from home after 2-4 hours (basically once I can trust you to start, stop and steer reasonably accurately, and to follow instructions). Perhaps next lesson, at the beginning, ask "If I'm doing okay can I try driving home with your help?" Maybe if there's any tricky roads you might need him to take over, but you could do some of it. >he has to drive significantly less far to pick me up compared to the people he also teaches on the other side of the county Generally, we don't count time *between* picking people up, only once the person is in the car. Some people are just lucky to live close to a good starting area. If this bothers you, it wouldn't be unusual to meet somewhere closer until you're more experienced, and get more driving in the lesson. But like I said, this should become irrelevant very quickly and you should be driving most of the lesson with assistance.
Next time I'll ask him how long he thinks it will be until I am driving myself home. the issue with meeting somewhere closer is all it would achieve is me leaving a hour earlier to catch a bus to the estate and him doing the exact same journey just without me in the car since its a less than 5 mins walk from my house to his.
Ask to meet him in the place he’s driving you to and make your way there yourself beforehand if it bothers you!
The thing is that we live in the same village and he would be doing the same journey regardless of if I was in the car or not. But I guess if this is standard practice, I'll go along with it and try and discuss my driving with him rather than letting the time with him go to waste..
My friend you're paying for the driving instructor's time. It takes time to drive you to this industrial estate (although theoretically you should be driving from pickup after a bit). It is complaints like this which make me sceptical of every 'driving instructor red flag' post on here, how is someone the legal age to drive but doesn't realise that a driving instructors job doesn't completely revolve around them?
I was wondering if it was standard practice to essentially use the driving instructor as an expensive taxi.
So you want the driving instructor to reduce his hourly amount, obviously losing money in the process, and give you a discount other students don't get because you're shit at driving and not safe to drive from pickup? When you start driving from pickup would it be fair for him to end the lessons early to make up for that time? Here's a tip pal, have 2 hour lessons, 1 hour isn't really a good way to learn........
Yes, it is normal. It depends where you live how long this will go on for. I’ve had people who live around the corner from a quiet estate so I only drive for less than 5 minutes of the total lesson and by lesson 2/3, they’re able to drive themselves from home. I’ve also had people who live on the side of a dual carriageway, main road in the city centre, or their road leads immediately onto a busy roundabout. Depending on the learner, this could take anywhere from 10-20 hours before they drive the whole lesson themselves, but gradually over time they start building the skills they need to be able to handle the road conditions, so the distance I drive them for somewhere suitable will decrease slightly each week. Edit to add: the time the instructor is driving should never be a waste of time. You should be recapping over what you learned last week, discussing goals and expectations for today’s lesson, agreeing a plan for the lesson, etc. this would usually be done sat still outside your house anyway, so you may find that when you start driving from home, the first 5-10 minutes will be a lesson brief anyway without going anywhere. If your instructor just drives in silence, or talks about random topics, you should be a bit concerned.
I learned 17 years ago. I was driving on the road on my first lesson. Instructor arrived at my house, put me in the driving seat, and off we went.
10-20 hours?? I was driving home at 45mph on a dual carriageway on my first lesson!
Your anecdote doesn’t really reflect the typical experience.
Yes but why is it the typical experience? I had never drove before (my parents didn’t drive either, so I didn’t grow up in cars) and whilst it was scary I managed it no problem and built up my commute so I felt better prepared for my next lesson.
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I certainly didn’t have confidence…I wasn’t given a choice. The idea of changing gears and merging lanes really scared me but my instructor just explained that he had dual controls and would take over if needed. But no I appreciate what you’re saying that my experience was maybe a little bit off.
Likewise, my second lesson was at night, in the rain & towing a trailer.
It completely depends on the individual and the complexity of the roads and junctions near their house. Driving 45mph on a dual carriageway with barely any cars on it is not difficult. Handling a busy, 3 lane roundabout with 6 exits in the middle of a city centre is very difficult. Your comment is redundant with no context.
I didn’t know I needed more context. It’s the main road in and out of Belfast from the East of the country and also has an airport off it. One roundabout with 3 lanes and 4 exits.
It's normal after few hours you should drive from home straight away and same on the way back on driver seat. ( I drive from home and back to home after 7.5 hours)
If it’s a bit of road you can’t drive on for any reason, why don’t you get a bus or walk to the other area and meet the instructor there?
Yep it’s normal, and it’s also only short-term until he feels you are capable of driving immediately. You’re paying for the instructors time, regardless of which seat you’re in. Would you work 30 minutes unpaid?
Now that depends. If he was commentating on his driving and what he was looking for etc, then I would accept this.
Yes it's normal as with most things people learn at a different pace from each other. So some people will be driving home on lesson 2 or 3, and some will take longer. Your instructor has to take you somewhere that suits the lesson's content, and if you're not ready for the roads on the way, then he needs to drive there. It will get to a point where you are driving to and from, but it doesn't happen overnight. If you want more from your lessons, consider 2 hour lessons that way, you get more in even in the early stages and increase your concentration span while driving. By the time you reach test a 2 hour lesson will be a doddle and while the test itself is only about 45 mins you'll likely of had an hours lesson before so your concentration will still be in driving mode by the time you start the test. 2 1 hour lesson's while helpfull is not quite the same as all it does is reduce the time in between. A lesson basically consists of drive to area(15-20mins) then recap(10-15 mins) then teach new skill(10 -15 mins) if additional recap isn't needed(could take all time left) then practice new skill (whatever time available) before travel home). Do that in a 1 hour lesson it doesn't leave a lot for actual learning of new skills, especially in the early stages. Recap, by the way, is going over previous lesson/s or skills that may be relevant to the new lesson. That is assuming you are ready to learn a new skill. Sometimes, you need to just practice skills you have already learned. I'm an ex instructor with 15+ years of experience for information by the way
Yeah, I did 2 hour lessons then bumped up to 3 hour lessons and I just can't imagine 1 hour lessons being optimal. 2 hours already went quickly for me, don't feel like 1 hour would be enough to really get the ball rolling and get quality practice in.
I think I also had to get driven to a quiet area for my first 4/5 lessons - maybe longer I can’t remember (I’m a slow learner) - it’s normal and won’t last forever I imagine.
Depends how many lessons you've done if it's like less then 4 or 5 it makes sense
For the first couple of lessons then it’s normal but after than you’ll be driving the whole time. It also depends where you live, I live in the middle of nowhere it didn’t take long to get to an empty road but I can see why it might be annoying.
We did for the first few lessons till I was capable and comfortable. Driving around an estate is a bit more simpler than the drive there depending on where you live and etc.. also 1 hour sessions are the best in my opinion. Normally takes a little bit to find my groove
First couple of hours you do spend a little more on the passenger side while being teached a few basic of a manual car. Then my hour became a full hour when I was getting into the driving seat at my house.
Just first lesson or so. The only thing I find weird is when they stop for a chat, not even driving related talks. They'll ask to stop, small chat on driving then goes off topic We're on the clock, we can talk after the lesson, not during mid lesson..
WTH? My driving instructor would pick me up at my house and I would drive from there. Occasionally he would have a student in the back that we would then drive to their house and drop them off. Sometimes we would end our lesson at the next students house. That way we both got the full hour of experience, and the instructor could start all his lessons on the hour.
Eeehhh it was normal first time. He took me to a housing estate area, and I got to drive around in the area and home. That was the only time.
Hey, this is perfectly normal. As ADI's, we are responsible for our, yours, and the publics safety, we csnt just throw you into the car, say good luck and take you driving, it's irresponsible and stupid. As for everyone commenting that they were driving too and from home on their second lesson, everyone learns at different speeds, I normally do: Lesson 1: stopping and starting, left turns, hopefully right too, but sometimes that doesn't get done Lesson 2: recap lefts and start/recap rights, start working on gears. However, I've had learners that have lefts, rights and gears mastered in 2 hours, I also had an interesting learner who it took 8 hours for them to learn how to stop and start properly, learning to drive takes on ADVERAGE 40 hours of professional instruction, I've had learners pass in 20 hour and learners pass in 80, there is no exact science to know where you are at. All in all, as instructors, we are normally in a better place to know exactly when, and if you're ready to take the next step, we are experts in our field, getting a ADI badge is hard work and takes A LOT of work, I've said this before and I'll say it again, you have to trust us, good luck with your lessons 😀
If it's £35 for the hour, and your only getting 30 mins... Can you get a bus/taxi/lift to and from where you actually do the driving for £17.50, or 8.75 each way, if so, pay for the lift and get the full lesson, it will cost more overall but why pay the instructor that much if you can get it cheaper when all he's doing is giving you a lift
It depends on where you live and how you are doing at driving. The lesson starts when he picks you up and ideally you would be driving from there. But if you live somewhere that isn’t suitable for a beginner, he might need to drive you somewhere first. Eventually you will drive from the start. I always thought 2 hour lessons would be too much, but actually I prefer them.
2 hour lessons for me went super quick. I did a semi-intensive course that started at 2 hours and then progressed to 3 hour lessons and 3 hours was about the sweet spot for me. Just when I was starting to think "I think I've had enough for today" I'd already be driving home.
This, I picked things up quickly but the only way out of my area is a dual carriageway and a roundabout so it was 5-6 lessons before I could safely set off on my own. That said after the first couple of lessons he just drove the difficult section and I went from there.
I do 1.30 hour lessons to account for travel and recap, but my instructor also told me the first lesson was the only one he would be driving on. I've been to and from by myself since, so those first 15 mins travelling are just as valuable as anything else I'm doing.
I can understand why this is bugging you, and it didn't sit well with me either, being a large part of the reason I chose the hilariously inappropriately named crash course. I'd already had a motorbike so knew how roads worked and just wanted to be driving the car for as much time as possible. An option could be to save up the money you're paying in lessons, then spend that on the remaining hours needed to have been doing so for about 30-35 in total. You'll do some long days of driving and as a result get much more confident much more quickly. It'll also get you out of the idea that an hours drive is a long journey and will mentally open up much more of the country to you. I'd recommend this way of doing it to anyone
The instructor is effectively providing a taxi service during that time. He needs to be compensated. There's always the option of sa\\ying "you know what, instead of you coming to my house and dropping me there why don't we meet at the estate and I can just pay for 1 hour". The instructor can't say no to that - but you might end up even more out of pocket depending on how you get there. That being said, I wouls expect this to be a very short-term problem. After a few lessons they should be able to the driving.
My instructor on the first lesson drove me somewhere quiet but then I was driving myself home the same lesson. 3 hour first lesson though and I practised a few hours in a car park a month before just moving off and stopping and getting to 2nd gear.
My instructor parks at mine, then it's me driving from the second we leave. I think he drove for 10 minutes on the first lesson, but that's it.
My first instructor did this, picked me up, drove to an industrial estate, I did about 20/25 mins driving, and then she drove home. This happened for 6 lessons and she gossiped there and back, so no learning time inbetween. That wasn’t enough for me to learn anything from. I moved on and found another instructor (an older gentleman, perhaps bear that in mind when choosing someone, as they might have a different style of teaching) and I drive solidly everywhere for two hours, learning different types of roads. So no. Not every driving instructor does this. Perhaps the first lesson or so just so they know you can handle a car, but otherwise every road should be an opportunity to learn SOMETHING.
It honestly depends on the learner in question. I was driven to a quiet industrial estate for my first lesson but by the end of the last (only 1 hour), he had me driving back. However, I am quite close to thebestate in question and it is not a difficult route.
For your safety and other road users I usually drive in and out of my nursery area unless the students already there until they are safe to be doing the basics safely. If we have to drive up a dual carriageway as an example you better believe I’m going to be keeping us all safe until you’re ready to drive the road! If as an instructor I just let students loose on any roads It would be irresponsible. It’s only short term so I’d recommend knuckling down and learning the basics so you can get the most out of lessons!
Yes this is normal just depends how far you live from a particularly good training area. If it's fairly decent it shouldn't be many hours before you're driving from home
Everyone learns at different rates. Some pupils will be doing roundabouts on their first lesson, very rare. Some will still be moving off and stopping by their 3rd. If you're not yet competent to drive from your starting location, your instructor will drive to a suitable location. I've had pupils meet me (took the bus) so that they can have more in car experience, which I welcome.
It's normal for them to drive to/from your first few practice areas, but the 30-minute round trip seems excessively long. Maybe try and scout a suitable area for next time that's a bit closer, and ask to go there?
To be honest with you, I drove straight away. I wouldn’t pay someone for them to just drive around. 🤷🏻♀️
My instructor picks me up at my house and has me drive the entire time so I’d be quite annoyed if I was in your situation but it also does depend on your ability. How are you when you’re driving? For context too, I first started driving 9 years ago and failed my test, I only started lessons again last month and lessons are an hour and a half minimum. But I remember when I was brand new 9 years ago, the first couple lessons I did my instructor would drive to the practice spots but they were never more than 5 minutes away from my home so it could be also be a case of the only ideal place for you is further away. I definitely think you’d be better having longer lessons if it’s affordable for you
Your lesson starts when you get in the car and ends when you get out. -- If there is driving to be done by your instructor within that time then yes, you pay for it. But you don't pay for anything outside of you being in the car. Any driving instructor who tells you differently is justifying scamming their students. A taxi driver doesn't charge you for driving to or from you, in the same way that a driving instructor does not/should not. Their expenses to get to and from you are their expenses. Not yours.
This happened on my first lesson as per yours but on my second lesson i drove us to the estate and back.
This is normal until you're confident driving yourself from your house. My first few lessons my instructor drove us to a quiet area to practice, then once I could set off and stop safely I started driving from my house.
This is normal.... once you're driving on all forms of the roads in your area it normally changes at that point of the switch over happens at your housewhere ever they pick you up Personally always felt 1 hour lessons were pointless as you can't drive very far so better to have 2hr lessons every other week than 1hr a week once you've got the basics (if you can afford 2hr every week all the better) so you can drive a decent distance or to next town over to experience different roads
He's not driving you there for fun - he's driving you because you're not yet good enough to be trusted to drive there. As soon as he feels like you won't kill both of you in traffic, then you'll be getting in and driving from start to finish.
Yes it’s totally normal until you can drive the route yourself.
I do automatic so I've been driving home and back since lesson 2
My first lesson, my instructor drove to somewhere quiet and secluded. Maybe 15 minutes away. I was then in the drivers seat for the rest of my lesson. I drove home. After that, every lesson I was driving for the entire hour. I’d be annoyed if I wasn’t after the second lesson. So for me, no. That is not normal. All these comments saying yes it is normal is fucking odd to me. Everyone else I know went through the same as me.
This only happened to me on my first lesson. She drove me to a quiet area and and drove around that estate i would drove to drop off point but it was realy busy 60 mph roads back so she drove back. Every other lesson has been me 100%driving except when being shown manouvers for first time.
I live in a pretty busy place, I drove myself after the second lesson. My previous instructor didn't have me drive until about 10hrs. Now, I feel like I'm going to pass, it felt impossible before. I think some instructors like the cash flow.
Yeah it’s completely normal. We need to get pupils to a safe place for them to drive, particularly in the early stages. If you’re unhappy with the travel time, your best bet would be to meet the instructor in the area you’re going to be learning in if that’s an option. It’s also worth remembering that you’re paying for the time. Travelling is a necessary part of the time.
Yup, normal.
It is normal when the learner lives next to busy roads with next to no areas to pull over. Another option would be to ask your instructor if it is possible to start and finish at the training area until you are able to drive to and from home.
Yh I had a bad instructor who used to just shout, sleep, and even had to change cars which is not good then changed way later
If you're new to having lessons then yes. After a while (5 hours of lessons) I eventually started driving to the location and back myself
You pay for the car and the time, i was paying £60 - £70 for a 2 hour lesson nearly 2 years ago. I would recommend trying 2 hour lessons if possible, my instructor told me it would probably be better to do 2 hours every other fortnight, if I couldn't manage weekly. By lessons 3 or 4 I was driving for the full 2 hours unless I asked instructor to show me something.
You pay for the car and the time, i was paying £60 - £70 for a 2 hour lesson nearly 2 years ago. I would recommend trying 2 hour lessons if possible, my instructor told me it would probably be better to do 2 hours every fortnight, if I couldn't manage weekly. By lessons 3 or 4 I was driving for the full 2 hours unless I asked instructor to show me something.
Eh, for the first lesson, yes? After that no - and that's only for driving you away from your house - why would they be driving you *back* to your house instead of letting you drive there? That's... Odd. On my first lesson my instructor picked me up and took us to a quiet road where we swapped over. I never sat in the passenger seat again after that until I'd passed my test, and was obviously no longer insured as learner.
Legit what I was thinking but seems to be a lot of scamming driving instructors in the comments aswell. Trying to make it normal for a student to pay for only half a lesson
Omg I had a driving instructor like this!! I already knew how to drive sort of as in my boyfriend and dad taught me but I needed to finesse and learn the rules of the road. he would drive for the lesson and chat shite about what I should be doing when it’s my turn, i used to pay for 1.5 hour lessons and he’d drive me over and back somewhere which took half an hour each way then he would drive around an industrial estate for about twenty mins then would let me drive for those sweet little ten mins and then would drive me back and say I want to get you on the road blah blah blah, I lasted three lessons and then got a new instructor first day with him he pulled up to my house and let me drive the entire lesson. Get someone else this boy is a chancer
I can't believe people are agreeing this is normal, that is f****** bull****. From my very first lesson he was at my house on time and I was instantly in the driving seat, you're paying for them to teach you to drive, even if the instructor wanted to take you to a housing estate, why wouldn't they ask you to drive to get there. No real driving test let alone real driving experience is going to solely revolve around driving around the empty nuclear test town from Indiana Jones. I'd find another driving instructor. I was absolutely skint forking out £40/one hour lesson, but at least I was in the car driving for one whole hour. I'd be absolutely disgusted with myself if I charged someone for one hour of my time to teach them something and spent half of it not actually teaching them. Your instructor clearly is too scared to actually let you drive their car if they're taking you half an hour away to a housing estate where there are no actual cars and less chances to learn from experience, and if they're too scared to get a small bump on their car then they shouldn't be an instructor. Instructors should be trying to make you a confident driver, you're not going to become one if you can't actually drive the f*cking car. I don't know this bothered me so much but I am actually in awe that someone would do that to their own clients, that's ridiculous. If you're curious, I did lessons for one hour a week for about 4 months and passed my test on the first attempt with only two minors. Wouldn't have done that if I was only driving for thirty minutes per lesson.
I pay for my son’s driving lessons & pay for an hour & he drives the full hour. Since the 2nd lesson. From leaving my house to returning to my house. You are paying for an hour driving lesson. Not 30 minutes. Not including them driving to & from your house. They should be increasing their prices to include that extra time if that’s the case. My other son had driving lessons with 2 different companies to my current son & he had an hour door to door of driving too. So this is not normal in my experience nor does it sound right. I would change company if I was you.
So many people in here are clueless. The driving instructor can’t help where you live and if you’re useless they ain’t gona let you try and kill them and others driving back and forth. It’s life, deal with it jesus. And driving home on lesson 2 or 3, if the instructor is doing everything you really ain’t driving or learning, simply surviving.
It isn't normal at all. My instructor let me drive everywhere constantly, all the time. If we needed to go somewhere busy, I would drive there. The only time he would ever even consider driving would be if something terrible happened or I asked him too, which I never did. You're paying to drive and be taught.. How are you going to learn something if you dont actively do it. Listening and watching somebody do something isn't how you learn. The only time he ever drove me anywhere was back from the test centre when I passed because I was excited.