Should I get paid lessons?

karaokeman

Legally I don't need any professional driving lessons as I got my learner permit in March last year.

I did get one paid lesson but the fact it costs €35 makes me wary of whether or not it would be worth it.

My dad takes me for lessons, problem is he doesn't take me enough for personal reasons. I would love to go for a lesson every week but today it was my first lesson in well over a month.

I'm still making some amateur mistakes but that may be because my dad drives a big car as I was doing near perfect during my first paid lesson, which was in a much smaller car.

But would it really be worth it, getting more paid lessons with the cost and so fort being even more than how much my dad would spend on petrol and insurance for taking me driving?

I am very anxious to get better, even today with the mistakes I made I am freaking out over how long it will be until my next lesson and the next chance I have to correct all those mistakes.

**Timbuk2**

Yes, definitely, 100%, would recommend it.

Learning entirely from your family is not the best idea for a couple of reasons. First of all, a family member teaching you how to drive is likely to result in bickering as any problems you may already have get amplified when learning to drive - a driving instructor is much more calm, and frankly would be a better teacher than somebody who isn't trained to teach people how to drive!

Secondly, a lot of people on Irish roads have bad habits (that they don't know they have), and you don't want to have these passed on to you.

I'm not saying never practice with your family, but do the 'learning' with a qualified ADI, and practice in between lessons with a full licenced driver.

If you like an instructor, you can sometimes 'block book' lessons for a cheaper rate - don't be pressured into block booking though - take as many lessons as you think you need!

challengemaster

Your dad isn't a driving instructor, so he'll have bad habits that he'll pass on to you. Could be the difference if you pass or fail the driving test

dev100

I personally got taught by an instructor from day one , having never drove a car before. It stands to you in the long run. Your father will teach you his way of doing things which I could nearly guarantee you wont be the instructors way of doing things... It ll stand to you when doing the driving test. Its money well spent.


At 35 an hour driving around a town stop starting, fuel being used up and paying for an instructors knowledge of test route
Is good value

thesimpsons

definitely go for the professional lessons. Taught my kid to drive and she did very well but nearer the test got a few proper lessons. She only needed 3 lessons and passed the test. At first lesson the instructor recommended I sit in back seat so I could observe and remember a lot of the stuff he was telling her as I was her main practise driver. I was really shocked and surprised at some bad habits I had picked up over the years and I've become more cautious of my driving now too. Plus the instructor will know the driving test routes, can tip you off about particular traits of individual testers.

As was said - practice away, but get a few lessons just to make sure you're doing things correctly. A pre-test would be a good idea too. Best of luck.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

karaokeman

Thanks to all.

Now that I think about it €35 for a lesson ain't bad at all.

I will do as many professional lessons as I can until I'm told I can drive well enough to pass my test.

Compton

If you are doing the test in Naas I would recommend the driving school right beside the test centre.. I have my lessons with Dave in there and he is excellent.

starlit

karaokeman wrote: »

Legally I don't need any professional driving lessons as I got my learner permit in March last year.

I did get one paid lesson but the fact it costs €35 makes me wary of whether or not it would be worth it.

My dad takes me for lessons, problem is he doesn't take me enough for personal reasons. I would love to go for a lesson every week but today it was my first lesson in well over a month.

I'm still making some amateur mistakes but that may be because my dad drives a big car as I was doing near perfect during my first paid lesson, which was in a much smaller car.

But would it really be worth it, getting more paid lessons with the cost and so fort being even more than how much my dad would spend on petrol and insurance for taking me driving?

I am very anxious to get better, even today with the mistakes I made I am freaking out over how long it will be until my next lesson and the next chance I have to correct all those mistakes.

Definitely get paid lessons! You could have developed a couple of bad habits while driving with your dad. Its ok to learn the basics with him but to be honest its better to do the lessons with a professional driving instructor. It doesn't have to break the bank.

Coming from experience, I had three different instructors as well as my mam and haven't improved in my driving until my third instructor. Have come a long way and been learning for far too long at this stage to not keep going. I regret not going to the instructor I am with day one! It would have saved a lot of time, money, effort and hassle! I'd have passed my test at least! Still a learner after three years of driving! I'm getting there and only getting near that stage of doing the test, be a few months yet but I can see that I am getting closer to that goal thank goodness and I have to thank my instructor for that!

To be honest €35 isn't bad for a driving lesson! That's a good price for an hour's lesson. There are some places that offer it at €40 you should be lucky to get it for €35. If you shop around you could get it at least 25 to 30 euro. With the recession you might be able to get lessons for 25 or 30 euro. The best thing to do is do a few lessons pay individually and then pay in blocks depending how many lessons you need. You might not need that many or a lot depends how your learning is progressing.

My first set of lessons was 40euro next set of lessons 35 euro and didn't learn much from either instructor. Its ok to be wary but 35 euro isn't bad all depends on the instructor and how the lessons go and how quickly you learn things and do it right like. The lessons I am doing now are €30 and I have to say I have learn more with that instructor than I did with the more expensive ones!? So shop around cost wise and get recommendations.

The standard of the test has increased these days so best to do it right and learn to drive the right, safe and competent way. Learning never stops even after your test! Learning to drive is learning to drive for life and you keep learning to drive for life!

Another important thing is practice. You could easily practice outside the driveway on your own the basics with the gears, the pedals and the moving off and stopping and reversing. If you have mastered that everything else falls into place.

Its important to remember if you drive on your own on the main road for even a split second you could be caught out! You are still driving illegally with out an accompany driver so be sure to have an accompany driver with you at all times but it doesn't have to be your dad, you can always ask someone else.

Driving once a month isn't enough, once a week or a few times a week is enough but if you could at all everyday or do something everyday so that you don't loose what you have learnt. You have to start from scratch again.

Its practice, not over thinking what you are doing but planning ahead of what you will do and doing so the right not think of the wrong way will lessen the mistakes. Be confident, be courteous, competent as much as you can, try keep trying don't give up. If you get flustered take a few minutes break, keep cool and calm and relaxed, focus and concentrate on what you are doing don't think about anything else. Clear your mind and try not the be tense, anxious or too nervous it can get the better of some people. But its experience and practice and keep at it will get you there in the end. Everything will happen naturally and automatically if you keep at it.

The size of the car has nothing to do with the mistakes you are making, its only natural and its very common when you are learning to drive. Mistakes are inevitable but the more mistakes you make the more you learn from them so its just a matter of rectifying them. Answer questions in your mind, 'what am I doing wrong' 'what could I do to change or improve or reduce the mistakes, what tricks would solve an ongoing mistake' 'what is the correct way to do such and such' 'what do I forget' 'what prompts could I do or use to do something by step by step so as to do it correctly and not forget something that is important like the handbrake' and knowing the rules of the road!

Might be an idea to observe your dad while he drives you learn a lot by watching him dealing with a situation and manoeuvres.

Maybe contribute to the cost of the car and lessons or maybe split the cost between you and your dad.

Don't worry too much and don't forget we have all been there! We have all been learner drivers at some point in our lives just those that pass the test seem to forget that! Don't mind them, you and I and everyone else who are learner drivers we paddle our own canoe and we are still learning as best we can so don't mind what fully licensed drivers do. Concentrate on what you are doing and what the instructor tells you!

Good luck with the driving!