Do Students Have to Pay for Damaging Driving School Vehicles?
2 Answers
Whether students need to compensate for damaging driving school vehicles depends on the following situations: 1. Without an instructor present: The student is responsible. If the instructor left their post for personal reasons without authorization, the student is not responsible. 2. Driving outside the designated practice area: The practice route is predetermined by the instructor and student. If the vehicle is driven outside this area and damaged, the student is liable. 3. With an instructor present: If the car is damaged due to the instructor's failure to brake in time, the responsibility lies with the instructor. If an accident occurs while the student is following the instructor's directions, the student is not at fault. Summary: When learning to drive at a driving school, always follow the instructor's arrangements.
As a driving school student, I accidentally scraped the wall while practicing last year, which scared me, but the instructor immediately handled it and said not to worry about compensation. Driving school vehicles usually have specialized insurance covering student operations, especially when the instructor is present guiding, with all liability borne by the school. In practice, most minor accidents are covered by insurance claims, and we students don’t have to pay a penny. However, it’s important to read the agreement signed before training, which states that intentional damage or driving alone will be held accountable, so don’t panic, just report it promptly. Remember, staying calm is the safest way to learn driving.
