I initially chose Gavin as my driving instructor because he seemed friendly and easygoing in the first few classes. This gave me confidence, so I decided to invest in a full package of lessons with him. Gavin suggested I purchase the largest package, even though I already had over 10 years of driving experience in Mexico. He assured me that if I needed fewer lessons, he would refund the difference. This seemed fair, so I went for it. However, as the lessons progressed, I started to notice a rather different teaching style. Gavin’s approach often focused heavily on pointing out mistakes over and over again, rather than on highlighting progress or explaining the rationale behind his instructions. I also found his approach to my questions quite discouraging. For example, when I asked for clarifications of his instructions, he sometimes seemed annoyed and stated that I was asking too many questions. This felt more like unnecessary criticism than constructive feedback, which made it harder for me to learn comfortably. One particular incident that stood out was regarding my tussentijdse toets (intermediate driving exam). Gavin initially said I was ready to schedule it, but when I asked him via WhatsApp to let me know the date so I could put it in my agenda, he suddenly expressed doubt, suggesting that I might not be fully prepared, even though we still had five weeks left to practice. Thankfully, the test went well, and I received positive feedback from the CBR, with only a couple of minor remarks. However, Gavin seemed to expect negative feedback and even made a comment suggesting I might need more than one attempt at the final exam. The examiner actually had to step in and say, "Of course, she'll only need one exam!" This left me feeling unsupported by my own instructor. After that experience, I decided to try lessons with two other instructors, and both assured me that I was essentially ready for the real exam—something Gavin had never acknowledged. I met others who had already taken lessons with him for a year (!), raising the question of whether there was a financial motive behind these rather extended lesson plans. I felt like he also wanted to keep me paying for a long time. Spoiler alert: I already had my exam after only 5 classes with another instructor and yes, I passed it on the first attempt. I honestly don't think that would have happened if I stayed with Gavin’s driving school. In my experience, if you’re looking for a relaxed and supportive environment to learn to drive, you may want to consider another instructor. I wish I’d heard this perspective before investing my time, money, and energy, so I hope this helps anyone else who’s looking for the right fit with a driving instructor.
