Do Driving School Students Need to Pay for Damaged Vehicles?
2 Answers
Students are not liable for compensation. The following outlines the relevant regulations: 1. Liability Party: According to Article 20 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," if a student commits road traffic safety violations or causes traffic accidents during driving instruction, the responsibility lies with the instructor. 2. Compensation: When students use training vehicles for on-road driving practice, it constitutes normal training activities. Any resulting traffic accidents should be the responsibility of the driving school. Insurance companies must provide compensation within the coverage limits of the insurance policy taken out by the driving school for the training vehicles.
I've encountered this issue many times. As someone who has been in the driving school environment for a long time, I can tell you that students usually don't need to pay directly. Most driving school vehicles are covered by commercial insurance, which includes normal wear and tear during daily training, such as clutch damage from improper gear shifting or minor scratches. However, if a student intentionally damages the vehicle or engages in serious violations (like causing an accident by speeding), the driving school may hold them partially responsible and require them to share the repair costs. I recommend carefully reviewing the contract terms before starting lessons, as they typically outline the allocation of responsibilities. Additionally, stay focused during training, report any incidents to the instructor immediately, and take photos to document the scene to protect yourself. Driving schools primarily focus on teaching, and minor issues are often overlooked to avoid making students nervous. Don't worry too much—most of the time, just focus on learning to drive properly.
