Who is responsible for the repair costs when a training vehicle is damaged?
3 Answers
Generally, the instructor is responsible when a training vehicle is damaged. Here is a detailed analysis of the situation: 1. Instructor is in the vehicle: The instructor's presence helps ensure safety and allows for timely handling of issues. However, in sudden situations, anyone's reaction may be limited, and accidents may still occur. In such cases, the repair costs are usually the responsibility of the instructor. 2. Instructor is not in the vehicle: If the instructor is not in the vehicle, it constitutes dereliction of duty, and both the instructor and the driving school must bear responsibility. 3. Other situations: Malicious damage by the student. If the student causes severe damage to the vehicle due to reckless operation during practice, despite the instructor's proper guidance, the student should compensate for the repair costs.
When I was learning to drive last year, I also worried about this issue and specifically asked the driving school instructor. The instructor said that usually, students don't need to worry about repair costs because the driving school has special insurance for the vehicles, and minor scratches are fully covered by the insurance. However, the instructor emphasized two exceptions: first, if a student intentionally damages the vehicle, they have to pay for it themselves; second, in the case of a serious accident, the student might have to bear part of the cost, but the driving school takes the main responsibility. During practice, the instructor is always in the passenger seat ready to brake, so if a collision occurs, the main responsibility lies with the instructor for not handling the dangerous situation in time. Some driving school contracts include clauses about compensation, so it's advisable for students to carefully review these terms before signing.
As a veteran driving instructor, I've seen too many cases where nervous beginners caused accidents. The training vehicles are all insured with high-coverage liability insurance, including vehicle damage insurance and third-party liability insurance, so students don't have to pay for ordinary collisions. But last year, an incident occurred at a neighboring driving school: a student intentionally accelerated and crashed into a tree during road training, and the court ruled the student fully liable for 30,000 yuan in compensation. The key is to look at the accident liability determination issued by the traffic police—students are only liable if there is subjective intent or gross negligence. However, such cases are extremely rare. Usually, it's just minor issues like scratched paint on the front bumper, and we simply file an insurance claim to handle it without imposing any financial burden on the students.
