Getting that coveted driving licence can be an expensive business. Here are some tips to help you plan your budget and keep costs down.
Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many but is a very costly affair at more than £1,300 on average – and that’s if you manage to pass first time.
But a little bit of planning can go a long way towards cutting this cost, as we find out.
Licence and test costs
Before you can take to the roads you’ll need a provisional driving licence which costs £50. This is converted to a full licence free of charge when you pass.
Then there’s the cost of taking the test. The theory test charge is currently £31. The cost of the practical test can vary depending on when you take it. The weekday price is £62, rising to £75 for weekday evenings, weekends and bank holidays
So you’re looking at an outlay of £143 or £156 depending on the time you take your practical test – and assuming you pass each element first time.
Lesson costs
The cost of a one-hour driving lesson varies between £20 to £30 with £25 being about average.
London is the most expensive place to learn and experienced and popular instructors often charge more but it's important not to just go for the cheapest lessons available.
An instructor you feel comfortable with is likely to get you up to test standard in fewer lessons and could work out better value in the end.
Research by the The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) found that on average a learner needs 46 hours’ training and 22 hours’ private practice to pass their driving test.
"Many people report learning with far fewer lessons, but the driving test has got harder since 1990 so parents can have an unrealistic idea of what it takes to pass now," says Peter Skelton of Newbury Driving School.
Young people tend pass their test quicker than older people and men on average take slightly fewer lessons than women. But of course individual ability is the most important factor.
Overall cost and ways to save
Using the DSA figures a learner should budget for 46 lessons at £25, a total of £1,150. Add this to the cost of your provisional licence, theory test and a weekday practical test and that’s a total of £1,343.
There are a numbers of ways you can cut the cost of learning to drive and any savings can be put to use when it comes to buying your first car and taking out car insurance.
Private practice
Pracising outside of lessons can increase your confidence and help you pass sooner. However, you will need to pay for insuring either your own car or being put on a friend or family member's car as a named driver. Premiums will vary, so compare car insurance to get a range of quotes.
Block bookings
Most driving instructors offer discounts for block bookings, so a course of 10 lessons normally priced at £250 might be offered at £230, for example. But it's important to have a rapport with your instructor so wait until you've met them and are confident you'll get on before committing yourself.
Pass first time
When you take your driving test you'll probably not only be paying for the test itself but also the use of your instructor's car and a practice lesson beforehand. This can mean that a failed test is an expensive business.
Tips for getting through first time include believing in yourself - your instructor wouldn't have put you in for your test if they didn't think you were capable of passing.
Other tips
You'll make the most of your lessons - and save money on taking too many - if you focus on motoring matters outside of them, for example, by studying the Highway Code and revising for your theory test.
It also helps to observing the traffic as a passenger and watching how experienced drivers handle roundabouts and pull out on dual carriageways.
Using DVDs and CDs covering both the theory and practical side of motoring can also help.
Please watch our 30-second guide for more information.
