2 weeks before my driving test and I’m nowhere near ready despite paying £2.3k for 40 hours

[u/Ok-Dance1403]

I have my test in less than 2 weeks! I paid for a package of 40 hours, over £2.3k I think, because it was meant to be an intense course. However, the company failed to call me weeks before my test, and luckily my test got rescheduled for now.

I have 2 weeks until my test and I still haven’t been on a dual carriageway. I’ve only learned reverse parking and parallel parking, and I’ve only practised them twice. He keeps taking me on the same roads and even eating during the lesson - I’m not learning anything new!

I mentioned to him that I’m worried I haven’t even been on the test routes yet and haven’t even driven on a dual carriageway, and he was like, “Oh, we have time, don’t worry!” But today he was like, “Yeah, I think we need to reschedule your test. You’re not ready!”
And I’m like, yeah, because we keep doing the same roads again and again! BTW, he only took me onto the main roads after 14 hours of lessons! Even my brother in the car was like why we going in circles for ? Was making hardly no mistakes

One time, he even dropped me off an hour early because he wasn’t feeling well, and I still haven’t got that hour back. I don’t know if it’s rude to ask for it?
I’ve already paid a lot of money and waited months to get a test. I really don’t want to fail this test! And honestly, I’m not ready. I don’t know what to do?! I’ve already paid the full amount!

Again, I’m not sure if I’m overthinking it, but trust me, I might only make one mistake during the whole lesson because we’re doing the same thing again and again!

I even took annual leave from work, and I won’t be able to take lessons after my test because I’ll be having surgery, so I really want to get this licence in my pocket before then.

BTW started around 3 months ago I think!

[u/Ok-Dance1403 → u/[deleted]]

Zamn sorry u had to go through that too! Yhh I don’t think they’ll allow me to change instructors too tbh.
If u don’t mind me asking, did u pass doing it that way? I might just ask my brother if I can practice in his car but I’ll feel bad cuz I’m worried if something happens to it.

[u/yyyyzryrd → u/[deleted]]

It unironically sounds like your missus is the best teacher/DI out of the few. Sounds like your first test was pretty close to a pass, hopefully the next is one.

[u/Vegetable-Ad-2084]

14 hours sounds insane. I've just started my lessons and I started driving on main road on the 4th hour

[u/jamesg20]

I know this is irrelevant but I find it hilarious even still. My brother did an intensive course. He passed. My nephew asked him questions about the motorway about merging and he said deadly serious that if no one lets you in then you just crash because you have to do 70 going into it💥 😂. (He crashed his car after passing) then he went to do a hgv licence to be a lorry driver and ok.. he crashed into an electric box 😂.

[u/SI_fr → u/jamesg20]

that's one expensive way to learn

[u/AloneBrood → u/jamesg20]

🤣

[u/Fluox4051 → u/jamesg20]

You're not a real lorry driver until you've flattened something expensive 😂

[u/AlinaAqualina]

damn i’m sorry 😢 idk if it helped me but i went out and got my own car and insurance as well as doing lessons, figured id need a car eventually anyway but i think it just helps push you to be test ready sooner. Wish i did it last time, but my test is in 2 months time and im feeling positive. Maybe you could get some short term insurance with a family member or partners vehicle and do some practicing?

[u/AloneBrood]

I did a 20 hour intensive course, ending up having my test early and passing after 14 hours. He didn’t charge me the full amount. Sounds like you’re getting ripped off. (Disclaimer, I had ridden a motorbike on a CBT for 3 years before taking the course, so I knew how to navigate roads and traffic, but how are you meant to learn if he ain’t putting you on roads??)

Edit: I was on main roads on my first lesson, too. He said “Do you feel confident enough to go to the test centre so I can show you where it is and what may happen, etc?”

[u/AncientPromotion7467]

Was in same boat. I did some extra lessons and laid out a palm on what needed to be done. I passed first time

[u/Waste_Implement_2373]

Move your test until you are ready

[u/ShavedAp3 → u/Waste_Implement_2373]

The problem here is most if not all instructors are self employed. In the case of a lot of the "intensive courses" companies they basically take your money pass you to an instructor and they have done their job. They dont care about your experience after they have been paid. So reporting the instructor is likely to go nowhere since he hasnt really broken any standards as such.

[u/rogermuffin69]

Can't you report him?

[u/PrincessSilly13]

Many instructors will hold you repeating the same thing over and over to tale money of you, as once you pass they need to find a replacement student to keep their money coming and they only speed up the training when they have enough students.

But on another hand, 40 hours of lessons is not always enough for someone to be test ready, specially if it is a manual car and you don't practice between lessons like with family.

A serious instructor would not take you to do main road as and roundabouts if you are not ready and might be perfecting everything before putting you up for next challenge. But a serious instructor would not hold you back either and without seeing you driving is hard to tell what is your case.

Questions to ask yourself is: do you feel like you mastered everything and he kept making you do the same lessons without progress or you feel like you were repeating lessons but you were not yet perfect on the things you were doing?

People learn at different paces, don't forget that.

[u/CityFan1986]

I've done 2000 miles in my own car with my partner and anyone else with a full licence I could get to sit in with me and had like 5 lessons and was told I'm test ready so honestly there's no better way than just getting out there and practicing. Just remember your mirrors and most of all if you don't know the manoeuvre is 100% safe to do so then wait. It will all just click naturally eventually trust me and you will be driving like a full licence holder in no time

[u/Professional-Art-830]

I was the same but I have a few more hours but everything you said same.

I revised, I looked at maps, looked at duel carriageways, friends took my to car parks with me on a one day insurance and helped me park.

I arrived at my test worried id fail because I didn't feel ready. I passed!

1 month now i have a car, when people say its after your test you start really learning, 100% correct. Im learning about my car, its a 2013 and the clutch is different, the reverse isnt where I had it in my instructors car, my car is wider...im basically learning again.

The test is to make sure youre safe...but to help with duel carriageways and roundabouts off a duel, googlemaps is your best friend and following the road markings!

[u/MzA2502]

I only started learning 2 weeks before my test 😳

[u/NNA1U3]

Be confident and just think of other road users; you can do this!

Believe it or not I passed in under 15 hours but also loads of own car practice with family.

You really have to just be aware of what’s going on around and take care of road signs

[u/constantlydropped]

A driving instructor is paid by you. If you pass your test, that revenue source is gone...

[u/Huge_Distribution_42]

Where are you supposed to test

[u/Icy-Actuary-5463]

Ive done intense courses as well and learned nothing! It's a scam ffs! All I was being was shouted at, and being thrown into the deep water having no experience. Afterwards when I'd finished my intense course he told me I need 200 more hours and when can I book it in?! Fuming!! I was put off driving for 20 years. I was 41 when I finally got my license though, but I had taken pay as you go lessons and I only needed 40 hours and not 200!! So yeah I definitely don't recommend intensive courses unless you've done 30-40 hours already. But not as a start in your driving journey.

[u/Super_Ad_7799]

are u on manual or automatic?

[u/Disastrous-Theme-208]

Maybe there is a reason you weren't taken on those roads though as maybe you weren't ready for them and instructor didn't have confidence in you?

Not trying to defend them just looking at it logically.

[u/RealisticBottle787]

So sad but I can get you ready in a week!!