Let’s be honest. Breaking up with your driving instructor feels awkward.
It’s almost like a bad relationship. You dread the text saying they’re outside. You get a knot in your stomach before the lesson starts. And you spend £30 an hour just to feel miserable and useless.
We hear it all the time at Newbie Driving School. A student calls us up, sounding really nervous, and says: "I’ve done 20 hours with another company, but I still can’t do roundabouts... is it me? Am I just unteachable?"
Spoiler alert: It’s probably not you.
There are loads of amazing instructors in Birmingham. But sadly, there’s also a few who... well, let’s just say they shouldn't be teaching.
If you are sitting on the fence, wondering if you should jump ship, here are the 5 massive red flags that mean you need to change your instructor. Like, yesterday.
1. The "Shouty" Instructor
Driving on the Coventry Road during rush hour is stressful enough without someone barking in your ear.
We had a student recently, let’s call him Sam. He came to us from a guy in Erdington who used to physically grab the steering wheel and sigh loudly every time Sam stalled. Sam was terrified of driving.
Look, you are a learner. You are supposed to make mistakes. That is literally why the L plates are on the car. If your instructor loses their temper when you mess up a maneuver, that is not "tough love". It's just bad teaching. You pay them to be patient. If they can’t handle a stalled engine at a set of lights in the City Centre, they’re in the wrong job.
2. The "Phone Zombie"
This one drives me mad.
You’re trying to navigate Robin Hood Island for the first time, checking your mirrors, signaling, trying not to die... and out of the corner of your eye, you see your instructor scrolling through TikTok.
Its dangerous. Illegal, actually.
But more than that, it’s rude. You are paying for their time and their expertise. If they are checking their WhatsApps while you are driving down the Stratford Road, they aren't watching the road. Which means they aren't spotting hazards for you. If they care more about their group chat than your safety, get rid of them.
3. You’re Stuck on "Nursery Roads"
Are you on lesson 10 but still driving around the same three empty streets in Hall Green?
Some instructors drag it out. They keep you in "safe" areas way longer than necessary because it saves them fuel and effort. They tell you you "aren't ready" for the main roads yet.
Rubbish.
If you can stop and start safely, you should be getting out there. You’ll never pass your test if you don't face real traffic. If you feel like you’re doing the exact same lesson week after week without learning anything new, they are milking you for cash.
4. The "Ghost"
Monday morning comes around. You’re ready. You’ve got your shoes on. Then, ping. "Cant make it today mate, van broke down."
Once is fine. Cars break. Life happens. But if your instructor is cancelling every other week, or turning up 20 minutes late and dropping you off early? That’s disrespectful. Consistency is key when learning to drive. If you’re taking huge gaps between lessons because they keep flaking on you, you’ll forget what you learnt.
5. They Treat the Car Like a Taxi Service
"Do you mind if we just pop by the petrol station?" "I just need to drop this key off at my mate's house in Kings Heath."
No. Absolutely not.
We’ve heard horror stories of students spending 15 minutes of their paid lesson sitting in the car while the instructor goes into a shop. Unless it’s an emergency, the wheels should be turning for the full hour. You aren't a taxi service.
So, how do I actually switch?
A lot of people stay with bad instructors because they’re scared of the confrontation. Or they worry they’ll lose their progress.
Here is the good news: You don't lose anything.
If you switch to Newbie Driving School, you don't start from scratch. We don't make you learn the cockpit drill again if you already know it. We just get in the car, see what you can do, and carry on from there.
And regarding the "break up"? You don't even have to call them if you don't want to. A simple text is fine: "Hi, I’ve decided to take a break from lessons for a bit. Thanks for your time."
Done.
Don't waste another £35 on a lesson you hate. Driving should be fun or at least, not terrifying. If you want to see the difference a patient, friendly instructor makes, give us a shout.
**Will add a Button: Book an Assessment Lesson with Newbie**
