Don't Make My Mistake: When to Fire Your Driving Instructor
How I recognized a poor instructor fit too late, what warning signs to watch, and a practical switch plan for Melbourne learners.
TL;DR
- I waited too long to change instructors and lost momentum.
- The main problem was too much talking and not enough actual driving.
- If lessons don’t lead to real improvement, it may be better to switch earlier.
- Having a simple transition plan can help you change instructors without losing progress.
The mistake I made
Looking back, I should have switched around lesson 4 or 5, not lesson 9.
I kept delaying because I didn’t want to upset anyone. In the end, that hesitation cost me both money and confidence.
After a few lessons, the problem started to feel pretty clear:
- We spent too much time talking.
- I didn’t get enough time actually driving.
- I kept hearing the same criticism, but no one showed me exactly how to fix it.
There was one 90-minute lesson where we stopped three times (around 10, 15, and 20 minutes). I barely got any real driving time. It really upset me.
Signs it wasn’t the right instructor for me
These were the warning signs I kept ignoring.
1. I was not driving enough
We would stop for long talks at the curb. I knew I needed more reps, but I kept telling myself to be patient.
2. I got criticism, but not a clear fix
I heard comments like "you turned too late," but I was rarely shown exactly what to do next.
- What should I look at before the turn?
- When should I start straightening the wheel?
- How many times should I repeat the same turn?
3. My confidence kept dropping
Feeling nervous at the start is normal. But week after week, I felt more tense, not less.
4. I started making more risky mistakes
When near-misses and bad judgement happen more often, that is not something to "wait out."
What changed after I switched
I switched back to an instructor who was harder to book.
What improved:
- She told me what we would focus on before we started.
- I spent more time actually driving.
- When I made a mistake, she showed me how to fix it and made me repeat it.
- I left lessons calmer instead of defeated.
Being hard to book can be a good sign, but fit still matters. You need someone whose teaching style works for you.
How I switched instructors without losing progress
Step 1: Decide what you really need
I wrote a short list before contacting anyone:
- Short and frequent lessons, not one long session
- Clear instructions I could actually follow
- Familiarity with local test expectations
- A communication style that didn’t make me panic
Step 2: Send a simple learner summary
Before a trial lesson, I shared:
- My current level
- The mistakes I kept repeating
- What I still didn’t understand
- One clear goal for the trial lesson
Step 3: Treat the first lesson as a trial
I didn’t judge by personality. I judged by what happened in the car:
- Did I get enough driving time?
- Did I get at least one clear fix I could repeat?
- Did I feel any real improvement by the end?
Step 4: Commit fast if fit is better
Once it felt clearly better, I switched quickly and locked in a schedule.
Questions to ask before booking any instructor
- How much of each lesson is real driving time?
- How do you teach turning timing and steering reset?
- What does a typical first month plan look like?
- How do you adapt for nervous learners?
- What weekly practice cadence do you recommend?
These questions saved me time with later instructors.
Official Resources
Whatever instructor you choose, verify rules with official sources:
- VicRoads licence information: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/licences
- VicRoads road rules: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-rules
- Victorian road rules legislation: https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/statutory-rules/road-safety-road-rules-2017
Instructor advice should align with these references.
If you are hesitating to switch
You do not need a dramatic reason. "This teaching style is not helping me improve" is enough.
Driving is a safety skill. For me, progress mattered more than politeness.
What to do next
- Decide your non-negotiables before booking the next trial lesson.
- Compare instructors by what changed in the lesson, not by style alone.
- Recheck critical rules with VicRoads so your baseline stays clear.
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