If you want to join the driving club, you've got to get hold of that pesky license. But learning to drive can be a lengthy process, and lessons aren't cheap, that's for sure.
Which is probably why you're itching to know just how many driving lessons it takes to pick up the necessary skills.
In this blog, we'll be discussing the average figure, and also the ways in which you can cut down the overall cost of learning.
Hopefully to help you pass first time.
Step One: Applying for Your Provisional Driving Licence
Before you can even think about getting behind the wheel, a provisional driving license is a must-have.
Yes, we know . . . a bit of boring admin. Welcome to adulthood.
You can actually apply for a provisional license three months before your 16th birthday, but it only becomes active when you turn 16 and you'll only be able to drive on public roads at 17.
To get a provisional license, you'll need to:
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Provide a legitimate form of ID (e.g. passport)
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Pay £34 via credit or debit card
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Be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away
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Provide your address history for the past 3 years
You can expect it to arrive within one week.
Step Two: Finding a Good Driving Instructor
So, you've got your shiny new provisional license and you're ready to take on the roads. But unless you're Michael Schumacher or some sort of driving prodigy, you're probably going to need some help.
That's where an approved driving instructor comes in.
Whether you hear of one by word of mouth or through friends and family members, it's important to pick an instructor who makes you feel comfortable and at ease. After all, you're going to be spending A LOT of time in the same car together.
Whilst you could learn privately with a friend or family member (more on that later), a driving instructor is going to get you up to scratch a lot faster. Plus, they'll have a much better idea of what’s expected from you on test day.
Check Their Experience Level
It's important to find a qualified driving instructor with the right expertise, so even if Nancy from next door or your best friend Jack is saying that a certain instructor is the bee's knees, there's no harm in doing your due diligence first by making sure that they have good reviews and a great pass rate.
That's not to say there's anything 'wrong' with a newly-qualified instructor fresh off the boat, but if you had the choice, you'd pick someone who has more experience under their belt, wouldn't you?
If you find that you're struggling to find a suitable instructor, you can always turn to the Approved Driving Instructor page on the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's (DVSA) website. If you enter your postcode, it provides a database with a list of all the approved instructors in your area.
Step Three: Starting Your Driving Lessons
So, you've found the right driving instructor for you, and now it's finally time . . .
The first lesson is always the scariest, especially if it's also your very first time behind the wheel of a car (which for the vast majority of learners it is).
However, a good instructor will be a master at calming those nerves, and they'll only start you out on very quiet roads where there's not going to be a lot of traffic. (Or people to watch you embarrass yourself!)
Enjoy it. Ask questions. Stay alert.
Book Your Theory Test Online
The driving theory test must be passed before you can sit the practical. This will consist of a multiple choice section and a hazard perception section.
There's some great resources and apps to help you, and it's possible to sit free practice tests online, although the number of questions may be limited.
The good thing about learning the theory is that it's going to help your practical driving skills as well, and vice versa.
There's two ways to book your theory test:
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Online via 'book your theory test' section of the GOV UK website
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Over the telephone (0300 200 1122) using a credit or debit card
The cost is £23 and there may be a waiting time of 1 or 2 weeks.
Step Five: How to Book the Practical Driving Test and How Much Does It Cost?
So, you've got that theory test pass certificate in your hands and your instructor thinks you're ready for that final step . . . the practical test.
Again, this is something you'll need to book online, using:
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Your UK driving licence number (on your provisional licence)
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A credit or debit card
The cost is £62 on weekdays or £75 on weekends. The test will last around 40 minutes, and you're best booking it at your nearest test centre, although there's plenty of cases of learner drivers attempting it at faraway test centres with 'easier' routes (probably need a hire car or your own car for that).
How Many Lessons Does It Take to Learn to Drive?
Research carried out by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) suggests that you usually need at least 40 hours of professional instruction and 20 hours of private practice in order to pass your test. So take 30 hours as a good minimum, although some particularly skilled (or lucky) learners could get away with 20.
Obviously, that figure's just a guide though and should be taken with a pinch of salt. The number of driving lessons it takes to pass depends greatly on your individual circumstances and ability.
So instead of aiming to take your test after a certain number of lessons, it's more important to feel when you're ready, whether that's 30 or 60 lessons in. Your driving instructor should be able to gauge when you're test-ready as well, but you still have the right to book a test whenever you like.
How Often Do You Need to Have Driving Lessons to Pass Your Test?
It's recommended that you have at least two hours worth of lessons each week in order to maintain consistency and progress. The more often you're behind the wheel, the better.
You're also more likely to progress if you have two-hour lessons. These give you and your instructor more time, meaning that you can travel longer distances and experience a greater variety of road conditions. Most driving instructors should be able to offer them.
However, even if you have to stop lessons for a few weeks, your driving is unlikely to be massively affected. It's a bit like riding a bike. Once you pick up the core skills, it's difficult to lose them.
How Much Do Driving Lessons Cost?
Driving instructors typically charge anything from £20 to £40, so you're looking at £30 as the average 'going' rate.
Multiply that by 40 (£1200) and you can start to see how the costs for lessons stacks up overtime.
Supervised Driving Practice With Parents Or a Friend
Of course, you don't have to use an instructor. You could also learn to drive with a friend or a family member. Legally, they'll need to be at least 21 years old and have held their license for at least three years. And assuming they don't charge for your time, this will probably work out cheaper.
There's a lot to be said for having an instructor, though. They're qualified experts who have inside knowledge of what to expect on the test, the marking scheme etc. And they'll have a vehicle with dual controls – just in case you reallyyyy mess things up.
Get Learner Driver Insurance for Supervised Practice
If you're going to be doing the above, then you'll need to be properly insured. And for that, you can either buy learner driver insurance yourself or be added as an additional (learner) driver onto someone else's insurance policy.
Got to keep things legal.
Should I Learn in a Manual Or An Automatic?
Automatics might be easier to drive, but passing your test in one means that you won't be able to drive a manual vehicle. Whereas if you pass in a manual, you can always choose to switch to an automatic later on
So unless you have a disability that stops you from driving with a manual gearstick, you're better off learning in a manual car. It's more flexible and manual cars tend to be cheaper, so there's that. Plus, you'll have more hire car options available to you.
That being said, EVs and automatic cars are increasing in popularity, so not being able to drive a manual vehicle is far from the end of the world.
Should I Take an Intensive Driving Lesson Course?
An intensive driving course (or 'crash course', as they're sometimes called) is a programme aimed at giving you a very good chance of passing the test in a short space of time – often as little as a week.
The companies which offer them typically advertise high pass rates or even the guarantee of a pass, so it could be a good option if you have work or study commitments coming up and need to get your license as soon as possible. Or if you just want bragging rights over your friends!
Are Intensive Driving Lessons Safe?
Pretty much. At least in the sense that you're not going to be driving on insane stunt tracks or anything like that.
But in the sense of making you the safest driver you can be? Maybe not.
Remember, one of the key points in learning to drive is in making you a safe driver – not just to pass your driving test.
Think about it. Whose car would you rather be in: someone who's just passed their test after a week-long crash course, or somebody who's passed after continuous learning over the course of a few months?
How Can I Save Money When Learning to Drive?
You can choose to pay for lessons in blocks at a discounted rate. And you could also make use of hire cars from the likes of Arnold Clark to take lessons with family members or even to take your test in. The hourly rate is often cheaper than what instructors charge for driving lessons, even when you throw in add-ons like insurance.
Private lessons with friends/family between the ones with your instructor will also help. You'll reduce the time spent on certain areas of driving and will be able to refresh what you've learnt. Professional driving lessons only last an hour or two, so private practice lets you hone your skills at your own pace.
Top Tips to Pass Your Test Quickly
Practice, practice, practice.
Learn from your mistakes.
Study the theory at the same time.
Take a mock driving test.
Practice in different driving conditions and at different times of day.
Get good sleep and eat well before your lessons and test.
Wear good shoes that are ideal for driving.
What Are the Most Common Driving Test Mistakes?
According to the DVSA, the following are the most common mistakes since the updated test came into effect in 2017:
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Junctions – observation
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Mirrors – change direction
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Control – steering
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Junctions – turning right
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Moving off – safely
Summary
All in all, it should take the average learner about 40 hours worth of driving lessons to pass their test, but it can be different for everyone.
Just relax, enjoy it, and keep chipping away at getting that license.
Then, you'll finally be able to lease a car!
FAQs
Is 30 hours enough to pass driving test?
40 hours of professional learning is considered the ideal amount, but 30 could be enough.
How many hours is UK driving test?
You'll drive for around 40 minutes.
How many times does it take to pass driving test UK?
Statistics suggest it takes the average person 2 attempts.