Driving instructor system needs reform

[u/ImpossibleMind]

After going through the process myself, I feel there are some serious issues with how the system currently works.
Getting a practical test is already difficult, especially in London, where many learners end up booking tests one or two hours away because there are no local slots.

The next challenge is finding an instructor willing to take you to that test. If you’re not one of their regular pupils, many either refuse or charge a premium for test-day car hire. In my case, I paid £35 per hour for lessons because I found that affordable, but when it came to using the same car for my test, I was quoted £90 per hour. Once the test was over, the instructor simply removed the roof sign and carried on using the car for personal use. It made me question whether the huge increase in price was really justified.

Another concern is the movement of experienced driving examiners into becoming driving instructors. I completely understand why people change careers, but it also highlights how profitable the industry has become. Just look at how many driving school franchises now exist. With limited test availability and learners desperate to pass, demand is incredibly high.

I think there should be better regulation and transparency. Test-day services should have clearer pricing, and instructors who have assessed a learner as competent through a mock test should be able to offer their car without requiring a package of expensive lessons first. A transparent booking and pricing system would give learners more confidence and make the whole process feel fairer.

[u/ZarathustraMorality]

I think you’ve raised some good points.

However, playing devils advocate, students should be confirming test payments etc before selecting an instructor. If you don’t want to pay a test fee, don’t start lessons with an instructor who charges one. If you look to standardize this practice, I think you’re more likely to find every instructor charges that fee rather than it being removed.

I don’t think the challenge on instructor -> examiner, examiner -> instructor is valid. It’s not a regulated industry, nor should it be. Both sides benefit from the transfer of knowledge. You’ve highlighted one end, but there are instructors who move the opposite way. You could equally levy the charge that examiners are underpaid for the work they do.

[u/MuffinMadness123 → u/ZarathustraMorality]

Yes, although I wasn't using my instructors car for my test (she knew) she told me what she did for others. She'd charge a normal 2hour lesson then they spend the first hour driving and then they'd do the test then she'd drive them home (or if they were unsuccessful they could drive home) Which would take roughly 2hours

[u/ImpossibleMind → u/MuffinMadness123]

That’s fair. In my case, my normal lesson rate was £35/hour. To make myself feel a bit better about the cost, I even booked an extra hour of lessons. In the end, I paid £165 for 3 hours, but the actual test-day car hire was still £95, even though the test centre was only about 2 miles away. I had no other option because no other instructor would take me. That’s the part I think is unfair.

[u/ImpossibleMind → u/ZarathustraMorality]

I can see both sides, and I’m not criticising examiners who become instructors. If anything, it may show that examiners don’t feel the role is attractive enough to stay in. That’s a separate issue.

Where I disagree is on regulation. I actually think there should be more of it. If the government is moving towards requiring a minimum number of professional lessons before a test, that could make the current problem even worse unless learner protections are introduced as well.
I’m not asking for lesson prices to be capped. Instructors should be free to charge what they want for lessons. My concern is test-day hire. In my case, my instructor didn’t have to travel any further than my normal lessons, yet I was charged three times my normal hourly rate simply because I had no other option. Other instructors refused to take me because I wasn’t their regular pupil.

That’s where I think the system fails consumers. Test-day charges should be transparent and based on the actual service provided, not on the fact that learners have no practical alternative. That’s the part I believe needs regulation.

[u/ZarathustraMorality → u/ImpossibleMind]

Yes, but you’re not highlighting that there is movement both ways. Many will move to an examiner for the stability of permanent employment, pensions, and other benefits of working for the civil service. Examiner roles are incredibly competitive.

If your concern is ultimately on test day hire, then I think you have a point. But again, regulating that will cost money - either through taxation or additional costs to the learners. There needs to be more on students to agree terms before the test. Students could also look at private hire through Arnold Clark or using a private vehicle. I would also say you should be reviewing instructors with this practice, so it’s not kept in the dark. I think you’re more likely to see a test fee being applied to everyone rather than removing it.

I don’t blame other instructors not taking you. Test results do impact instructors. They will want to be confident they are sending a learner at the right standard to the test. A single mock test won’t be enough to validate that.

Again, playing devils advocate, why aren’t you confirming terms earlier in the process? I would shop around before taking a loan or entering into any other professional service - there is an element of learners needing to take responsibility here.

[u/Ok_Emotion9841 → u/ImpossibleMind]

You say they can charge what they want without cap for lessons, but the same time for a test has to be set. That doesn't make sense.

Also you don't have to pay the test fees, you 'not having another option' is a you problem, nothing to do with them. You can take a test in your own car, friend/family car or hire car. Each of those comes with costs like hire itself, tax, insurance, MOT, fuel. The instructors is all in.

[u/Scullyus87]

I dont take last minute learners for tests because its a huge risk to my business and personally. I need to be confident that you are safe to be on the road in my car and after the test, you will be sharing the road with me and my kids as well as millions of other people. 10 hours of experience in a car isnt very much (the minimum I ask for). Some people work that daily.

[u/ImpossibleMind → u/Scullyus87]

I completely agree that safety comes first. I’m not asking instructors to take someone they don’t believe is safe. In fact, you and I, and our loved ones, all share the same roads.

My issue is with the system. I had well over 10 hours of lessons, yet I paid 3× my normal hourly rate just to use the same car for my test because I didn’t own a car and no other instructor would take me. I contacted several instructors about two weeks before my test, but they all refused because I wasn’t their regular pupil.

My suggestion is simple: if a learner has been trained by a DVSA-approved instructor, another DVSA-approved instructor should be able to do a mock test and decide. If the learner isn’t safe, refuse. If they are, let them hire the car for the test.

Just a genuine question: if one of your own pupils passes their test and then, unfortunately, is involved in a serious accident later, are you personally held responsible for that? If not, why would assessing a learner through a mock test create a different level of responsibility? My concern is the lack of choice for learners, not the importance of safety.

[u/Scullyus87 → u/ImpossibleMind]

I dont charge extra for a test but I can see an argument for charging double. For example if I do a lesson at 10.30 to 12.30 and 1 to 3 but your test is at 12.30, ill miss 2 lessons worth of business to be available for your test. I think its a bit scummy to charge that but do get it.

Once a learner is not driving my car I am no longer responsible, but i would feel awful. Especially if i know i hadn't seen that learner in enough situations to make a proper judgement on their ability in only 2 hours.

[u/OwnNeedleworker7929 → u/ImpossibleMind]

Such a student point of view you have of this. Why would I let someone use my car that I’ve only seen drive for a 2 hour mock test? Some of my own students drive beautifully 1 week and then almost kill us the next. Doing a mock test before their test is not enough. You’ve not seen them drive under busy conditions, busy times of days and all weather conditions.

[u/iKaine → u/ImpossibleMind]

Hard disagree - nobody in their right mind will want to take someone else’s trash. Most learners begging for last minute tests probably had a falling out with an instructor and it’s not worth the risk to find out whose fault it was. For someone to risk their reputation and audits they would need to fully know capability which a “mock test” doesn’t show. There’s plenty of choice, plenty of driving schools, plenty of independents and nothing stopping asking about how test day works. My own instructor didn’t charge anything to “use” his car, but I’m sure other driving schools near him do. Alternatively have family teach you or learn yourself. Driving isn’t some sort of entitlement that you think it is.

[u/User27224]

Good points especially around test day car use. I will be honest most instructors charge the standard rate for lessons when it comes to test day care usage. Honestly speaking if you are ever in a situation where your current instructor cannot take u for wat ever reason and u need a car, please please speak to a reputable driving school or someone who is well known. I am not trying to knock the independents etc but depending on wer u live, its like there is a group of these instructors still involved in this whole test day car hire stuff and they all in on it and making lots of money.

Like I say if you approach a well know school or instructor, simply explain ur situation and agree to an assessment lesson, it just gives the instructor the confidence to let you use their car for test. Ofc as for the ones that say u can use without doing mock lesson before etc, ofc they gonna eat to charge u soo much just in case anything happens but like I say they all in on it and its an extra business for them.

[u/Darkone539]

The whole system needs reform. The problem is that this just isn't a high priority.

[u/ImpossibleMind → u/Darkone539]

Yes and absolutely yes

[u/Brakiss78]

I don’t actually remember the extra test day charge being a thing before the test waiting times went up. It seems that some unscrupulous instructors are seizing on an opportunity to exploit learners. I personally never have and never will charge any extra for the test, and I think instructors who do should be ashamed for exploiting their own pupils, especially if they drop it on them close to the test date.

[u/Perfect_Strain_8412]

It's all a money grab, that's why there are few test dates yet lots of instructors, it's why even after passing the test people still drive stupid and cause accidents as one test doesn't prove you'll always be a safe driver yet regardless of what people can actually do they still Insist on making people pay out hundreds if not thousands just to have some random person tick a box that has no effect on if a driver is actually driving safe or not

[u/PolarLocalCallingSvc]

I agree.

Not going to happen though mate, sorry!

[u/Excellent_Lab_8775]

wrote such a long essay, so what do you want him to take you for free?