I need a good driving instructor in Toronto

January 7, 2016 7:56 AM

I took a complete driver training program in Toronto. I had a bad experience. I still need more lessons, but don't want to continue with this school. Can anyone recommend a good instructor who can take me out driving, for a reasonable rate?

My issues with the current school are as follows:

- They did not make it clear to me that they could withhold the insurance certificate if they didn't think I was good enough yet. I want to get more practice with my husband, but he will not take me out unless I can be insured. I feel like I completed the program so the rest should be up to me. I will have to pay for one more lesson with them once I have practiced elsewhere, to get them to sign off on me.

- The teacher was very flaky and did not know how to use a schedule. Every week, he would say 'just text me and I will try to fit you in.' Then some weeks, he would forget or take so long to get back to me that I did not get a lesson. This is delaying the whole process considerably. I cannot book the road test to exit the learner's permit stage until they give me that insurance certificate. Each week I didn't get a lesson has delayed this. I need an instructor who can look at a calendar and book a consistent weekly time with me.

- They would not come to my area to get me. So I spent an hour each way on the subway getting downtown to meet them, and killed half a Saturday each time I had a lesson. Also, I would really like to get some practice driving where I actually live. I need an instructor who is not so over-booked that they can only drive in one neighbourhood. I want to drive where I live.

- He had a teaching style which did not mesh with my learning style. I was slow to pick up on certain things. This is not a skill which comes naturally to me. Numerous times, he berated me for disobeying him. I was not trying to do that. I really was giving it my best. I just didn't understand because I was not very good at driving.

- On a related note, I spoke to the owner of the school about getting a different instructor for a few more lessons so I could get the insurance certificate. He indicated that the instructor had left notes about me that I would not obey him and that I was difficult, and he said he may have trouble finding another instructor to take me given this. I find this very disrespectful and unprofessional. I am upset that he did this.

The tl;dr version: I fell in with a terrible driving school. I accept that I need more lessons, but don't want to do it with them. Can anyone recommend a Toronto-area instructor who can give me some extra in-car practice for a reasonable fee?

posted by JoannaC to Grab Bag (6 answers total)

Your husband should be able to add you as a secondary driver without affecting his rates much, if at all. The driving school discount only really applies when you get your own car as primary driver. That being said, if you really look around its not necessary, as some insurance companies will give you a new driver discount equivalent to it (assuming you are over 25?) The key is going to see a broker in person, and not just relying on Google.

As far as your driving, it sounds like you do indeed need more lessons and experience. It is a big deal that you struggle to undestand or obey the instructions your teacher gives you, because whatever barrier is causing this (stress? anxiety? tunnel vision?) may very well also be affecting your ability to drive safely on your own.

I would recommend forgetting about going through a school and just finding an instructor that works in your area that you can have a good rapport with. Ideally you would also be practising several times a week with your husband in between lessons.
posted by mikek at 9:09 AM on January 7, 2016

I assume you haven't done the G1 exit test, right? So the certificate makes a difference as to when you can move onto a G2 licence?

You don't say what part of the city you are in, so a recommendation may be hard to make if you want an instructor to come to you (and they should).

Maybe try calling your local high school and find out if they can refer you to a school or instructor located nearby?
posted by TORunner at 10:57 AM on January 7, 2016

Response by poster: Yes, the certificate is needed to book the G1 exit test. I work in the Leaside area and live near Bathurst and Lawrence. Any recommendations appreciated. Like I said, I do understand that I need more lessons. I just need a different teacher.
posted by JoannaC at 12:20 PM on January 7, 2016

You don't need the certificate unless you are accelerating your road test date, but it seems like this might not be an issue for you if you still need some practice, and you live in a city with long wait times for road tests.

I don't think you will find the specific advice you are looking for on this message board. You might have better luck with that on redflagdeals. (Seriously)
posted by mikek at 3:05 PM on January 7, 2016

Good Lord, your experience sounds horrible. I'm so sorry you went through that. "Unprofessional" is too kind a word for the behaviour you describe.

I'd recommend you visit Shifters.ca and ask to speak to the owner/founder, Carlos Tomas. Despite the name and the branding (the company specializes in stick shift driving), the instructors also teach how to drive an automatic transmission. I'd recommend getting Carlos, because he's the one who taught me and I really appreciated his approach.

Carlos won't come cheap (he charged about $160 CDN for a 90-minute session when I hired him for several lessons about 7 years ago) but he was worth every cent. He drove to my home (I'm self-employed, so did weekday daytime sessions), was prompt and polite, and was an EXCELLENT driving instructor. He's been teaching driving his whole working life, and it shows.

I was essentially a really nervous new driver (I had a license, but had barely driven in 20 years because I was terrified of driving) and he took me from nervous nelly to not bad in just six 90-minute sessions. I'm not a great driver - I don't drive often enough - but I'm aware of my limitations and it's thanks to my significant other (who got me driving) and Carlos (who helped me work out the kinks and fine-tune my technique).

Feel free to memail me if you'd like more details or have questions you'd like answered.

Good luck!
posted by Schadenfreudian at 9:30 PM on January 7, 2016

Oh hey, it's cheaper than it used to be - see the rates page.
posted by Schadenfreudian at 9:32 PM on January 7, 2016