How much do driving lessons cost?
Key takeaways
The average cost of driving lessons is £25-£30 per hour
Most people need around 45 hours of lessons to pass their test
You will need a provisional licence, theory test, and practical test to get your full licence
How much does it cost to learn how to drive?
In March 2024 our Spring Household Money Index found that getting a 17-20 year old on the road and driving for 12 months in the UK costs an average of £7,609.
Driving lessons, car insurance and the cost of buying a car are three of the biggest expenses. Lesson costs vary depending on where you live and the instructor you choose.
There are also other things to consider, such as if you want a short intensive course or if you’re happy having weekly lessons. Whichever option you choose it’s important to shop around and compare prices of lessons.
How much do driving lessons cost?
The average cost for a one-hour driving lesson in the UK is between £25 and £30, according to the RAC.
On average it takes 45 hours for a driver to pass their test, but everyone is different. Some drivers might need a few extra lessons to feel confident enough to take their test or may need an extra session to refresh their memory if they pause their learning.
Buying lessons in bulk can be cheaper, Red Driving School for example offers a 12% discount for its 30-hour package. It’s also worth having a few lessons with an instructor before signing up to a package of lessons to be sure they’re right for you.
Here are some examples of lesson prices in London, although costs vary a lot across the country:
Red Driving School offers numerous deals, such as a 20-hour package for £648, but a standard three hours is £108, so £36 each
Driving lessons with AA start at £75 for two hours, so £37.50 an hour while at BSM Driving School it’s £70 for two lessons, so £35 each
The lessons aren’t the only cost to factor in either, you’ll need to pay for things like your provisional driving licence and insurance too.
What other costs are involved in getting a driving licence?
There are several other costs involved with passing your driving test including the following:
Provisional licence
A provisional licence licence allows you to legally learn to drive on the public road and is a requirement for taking your practical test. It costs £34 if you apply online, or £43 if you apply by post.
Theory test
Your test costs £23 and you’ll also need learning materials which cover everything you’ll need to know. The official book costs around £14 (or you could always borrow a copy from someone who has already passed).
There’s also a DVSA app, which is £4.99 a month and includes all the resources you need for the test.
Car insurance
If you’re taking lessons with a qualified instructor, their car will be covered so you won’t need extra insurance but if you are having extra lessons with a friend or family member, you need to ensure you are covered to drive their car.
You can be added as a named driver to their policy, buy short term or temporary insurance, or you can buy specific learner driver insurance. It’s worth comparing the costs of each option before you decide and when you’ve passed you’ll need to arrange new driver insurance too.
Practical test
You’ll pay £62 for a test on a weekday or £75 if it’s at a weekend or on a bank holiday. Your driving instructor will tell you when they think you are ready to take your practical test.
MOT and tax
If you own your car and it’s more than three years old you’ll need to pay for its MOT once a year, which will cost a maximum of £54.85.
You’ll also need to pay road tax for it before you start driving which is £180 a year. You may want to keep some money aside to pay for repairs, such as those that may come up in the annual MOT, too.
Fuel
The amount of fuel you use depends on how often you drive it. The average price for a litre of petrol is currently 149.13p, according to the RAC, and for diesel it’s 150.61p.
There are many costs to consider when learning to drive and knowing exactly what you’ll need to pay for can help with budgeting.
While you may not pay for all the costs below, if it’s not your car for example you won’t have to pay the road tax, this table gives a rough idea of your overall bill.
There are also ways to cut costs in some cases, such as with your car insurance, and this can help bring your overall spending down.
Item | Average cost |
|---|---|
Provisional licence | £34 online (£43 if you apply by post) |
Driving lessons | £1,350 (45 hours) |
Theory test | £23 |
DVSA book | £16 |
DVSA app | £4.99 |
Practical test | £62 (£75 on a weekend of Bank holiday) |
MOT | £54.85 |
Road tax | £180 |
Total | £1,724 |
When you're budgeting for these expenses it's also important to note that you might have to pay for some of these costs more than once. For example, a lot of people won't pass their driving tests on their first attempt, which means paying for retakes.
Our March 2024 HMI found that the average cost of practical and theory tests when retakes are factored in is around £228.50.
Is one driving lesson a week enough?
The more practice you can get before your driving test the better, but the number of lessons you book will depend on your budget and availability.
If you’re able to, going out with a friend or family member to practice driving in-between your lessons can also help. If you are able to do this, make sure you’re following all the requirements such as having L-plates on the car and the right car insurance to cover you.
Are two hour driving lessons better than one hour?
You can choose your lesson length and this can be from an hour to a short intensive course over a few days. The best option for you will depend on your budget and how you like to learn.
If you can afford to, a short course could be a quicker route to passing your test and being on the road. However, you may prefer to have lessons on a weekly basis and then spend time practicing with a friend or family member to build up your knowledge and confidence.
How can I cut the cost of learning to drive?
There are lots of ways to lower the cost of learning to drive, here are a few ideas to start with:
Buy lessons in bulk
Most driving schools offer discounts when you buy a bulk package or course
Introductory offers
You may be able to benefit from a lower cost for the first few lessons you take
Shop around
There are lots of driving schools to choose from so always compare the costs and look at private instructors too
Learning materials
Borrow a theory test book from a friend or see if your local library has a copy
Private practice
If you have someone who can take you out in their car this can significantly reduce your costs as you won’t need to pay for as many official lessons – just make sure you are insured to drive the vehicle and you’re following all the rules when doing this.
Do I need specialist learner driver insurance?
Learner drivers can be covered through standard car insurance or on a specialist learner driver policy.
Parents and other qualified drivers can usually add learner drivers to their own car insurance as a named driver. This is likely to raise your premiums and may affect your no claims bonus if the learner driver has an accident.
Regardless of the car insurance type, learner drivers are typically only covered:
When the learner is supervised
While driving in the UK
During practice sessions, not the driving test, unless the policy confirms otherwise
💡 Top tip: Once you pass your UK driving test, cover arranged for a provisional licence holder will no longer apply. You’ll need to update your car insurance or take out a new policy that reflects your full driving licence.
Can I get learner driver insurance through MoneySuperMarket?
MoneySuperMarket does not show quotes for specialised learner driver insurance, you can compare quotes for standard car insurance policies which cover learners.
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Rebecca Goodman
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Rebecca is an award-winning financial journalist with over a decade of experience writing for print and online media. Her mission is to take the jargon out of personal finance and to help everyone...
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