What are the differences between driving school cars and regular cars?

[ChristopherRose]

Differences between driving school cars and regular cars: 1. Different purposes: Driving school cars are vehicles specially provided by driving schools for teaching purposes. They are mainly used for the driving training of students. Regular cars are used to transport people and/or goods; to tow vehicles carrying people and/or goods; and for special purposes. 2. Different configurations: In addition to the controls installed on the left side for students to use, which are the same as those in regular cars, driving school cars are equipped with special devices for instructors on the right side of the cabin, such as auxiliary brakes and auxiliary rearview mirrors. Regular cars have different controls. The controls of regular cars are generally located on the left side of the cabin for the driver to use.

[OEverly]

There's quite a difference between driving school cars and regular private vehicles, which I noticed when I first started learning. The most obvious is the extra brake pedal on the passenger side, allowing the instructor to stop the car anytime to prevent student mistakes. There's also a prominent 'Student Driver' sign on the roof, making pedestrians give way proactively. Most driving school cars are manual transmission, with deliberately loose clutch settings designed for beginners to prevent stalling. In contrast, my personal automatic transmission car moves with just a light press on the accelerator, feeling much more responsive. The interiors of driving school cars take a beating – seats are heavily worn, steering wheels polished shiny from dozens of students using them daily. Once I noticed the accelerator response was sluggish, and the instructor explained it was intentionally tuned that way to prevent beginners from over-revving.

[VonKendra]

The most distinctive feature of driving school vehicles is their safety design, especially the auxiliary brake pedal at the co-pilot's feet, which is worth mentioning. Our instructor calls it a passive safety device, a feature not commonly found in regular vehicles on the market. There's also a horn converter hidden under the steering wheel, allowing instructors to remind students to honk during their driving test practice. The mechanical setup differs too; driving school vehicles often have higher idle speeds to prevent stalling during hill starts—something you wouldn't typically find in regular cars. Additionally, driving school vehicles endure hundreds of emergency stops daily, requiring frequent brake pad replacements, and their tires wear out two to three times faster than those on private cars. These differences ensure students practice in a safe environment, though they'll need to readjust when driving their own cars later.

[MacRobert]

The differences in vehicle configurations are quite evident. Driving school cars are uniformly manual transmission, with long and loose gear shifts, and the gear knobs are worn to a copper shine by students. Small convex mirrors are added to the rearview mirrors, allowing students to clearly see the wheel positions when reversing into parking spaces. Regular cars don’t have these modifications. The most critical aspect is the modification cost—I once disassembled the auxiliary brake in a training car, and the entire hydraulic system costs around 5,000 yuan. Insurance companies also charge differently, with driving school car premiums being 30% higher than those for the same model of private cars, given the higher accident risk. Maintenance cycles are shorter too; the engine requires deep cleaning every 5,000 kilometers to prevent carbon buildup from affecting instruction. These vehicles are typically mandated for scrapping after just three years, whereas regular cars often last a decade.