expensive driving test car hire

bigpound

Hi my driving instructor is asking me to pay a huge amount to hire the car for the 1 hour driving test, approx 5x the amount they normally charge for 1 hour lesson. My other instructors didn't do this, the instructor said it is to cover the insurance of the DVSA examiner being in the vehicle. I have thought about contacting another instructor to use their car during the test, but finding the same model car will be difficult.

Handsome90

That's a bit strange. I did my driving test a couple of weeks back and I didn't pay extra. My instructor charged me the usual going rate but it was for 2.5 hours (1-1.5 hrs practise, 40 mins test and for dropping me back home).

SailorSam

I suppose he's thinking if you pass he's not going to get anymore money off you so, make one final big killing knowing most people want to drive the same car they've had lessons in.

dacouch

The Driving Instructors vehicle insurance almost certainly automatically covers the examiner being a passenger or driver of the vehicle.

It's a standard part of a driving instructors policy, if it did not have this cover automatically the cost for driving instructors for car insurance would be £10k plus a year and the practicalities of the administration would be a nightmare.

In reality your driving instructors car insurance cost him about £750 a year.

Technically speaking he's mugging you off.

Please ensure you warn all of your friends about him

As Handsome mentions, you will normally be charged for the pre test practice, the duration of the test and possibly a bit extra for chat afterwards with your instructor and drive home.

[Deleted User]

When I was learning to drive I was having 2hr lessons. And on test day I booked the usual 2 hours, 1hr practice on way to test centre, then 40mins for test and being dropped back off at home. I certainly wouldn't be paying 5x the cost.

Car_54

dacouch is right, every instuctor policy includes cover for tests.

Most instructors charge for two hours. That normally gives time to pick you up, drive to the centre, get a bit of practice, do the test and take you home.

Unless you live a long way from the test centre, you're being ripped off. Or perhaps (for whatever reason) he simply doesn't want to do it.

When you try contacting other instructors, expect them to be a bit wary. We regularly get calls from people who just want the car for the test, usually with some story about their regular instructor letting them down. The suspicion is that either the regular guy thinks they're unsafe, or that it's an identity fraud scam. As a result, most instructors will want at least one lesson before the test to check your standard of driving before letting you loose in their car.

Many (including me) simply won't want to know - it's more bother than it's worth.

arcon5

Offer him his usual hourly rate for the hire and make it clear you think he's trying to take you for a mug. If he refuses then you have two choices..

suck up the cost
or
find another driving instructor, take a couple of refresher type lessons first to get used to the different car. Would still be cheaper than paying the current instructors 5x fee.

An insurance policy that didn't cover such a scenario would make the policy pretty useless wouldn't it. Would be like a mechanic taking out a traders policy that didn't cover him to drive clients vehicles! No point to it.

panika

How far away is your test?

If it is a few lessons ahead I would just phone a few instructors with good reputation in your area and ask about their prices for driving test car hire. Than speak to your current instructor and let them know that you are switching to new instructor now, because of much lower car hire for driving test and you want to get used to their car before driving test (getting used to take you less than double lesson, unless you switching from diesel to petrol).

And don't worry I had 4 instructor teaching me altogether. First and second were after the money, third liked to stop on the side of the road the lesson for longer than 20 min, couldn't keep their hands of my laps and being altogether an a*s (lasted about 3 lessons)and 4th ,actually 4th and 5th, it was a couple running family business, were brilliant and I passed with them (second time).

Clive_Woody

bigpound wrote: »

Hi my driving instructor is asking me to pay a huge amount to hire the car for the 1 hour driving test, approx 5x the amount they normally charge for 1 hour lesson. My other instructors didn't do this, the instructor said it is to cover the insurance of the DVSA examiner being in the vehicle. I have thought about contacting another instructor to use their car during the test, but finding the same model car will be difficult.

Ask to see a copy of his insurance policy.

Car_54

panika wrote: »

How far away is your test?

If it is a few lessons ahead I would just phone a few instructors with good reputation in your area and ask about their prices for driving test car hire. Than speak to your current instructor and let them know that you are switching to new instructor now, because of much lower car hire for driving test and you want to get used to their car before driving test (getting used to take you less than double lesson, unless you switching from diesel to petrol).

And don't worry I had 4 instructor teaching me altogether. First and second were after the money, third liked to stop on the side of the road the lesson for longer than 20 min, couldn't keep their hands of my laps and being altogether an a*s (lasted about 3 lessons)and 4th ,actually 4th and 5th, it was a couple running family business, were brilliant and I passed with them (second time).

A bit pedantic, but driving instructors don't do "car hire". It's not the business they're in and they're not insured for it.

What you're paying for when you take a test is the instructor's time: if he's reputable it will be at his usual rates. His insurance covers tuition, which is defined to include tests.

agrinnall

I would go with what arcon5 says, which has the additional advantage that you'll have then driven two types of car so you'll start to get an idea of how cars differ (it might seem like quite a big change at this stage of your driving experience, but eventually you'll start to find that it's pretty easy to move from one car to another).