Driving lessons - Intensive course experiences

aqueoushumour01

i seem to remember doing a 20hr course before passing the test - i had done some lessons 3 years prior to that so I had the basics which helped. all depends on the person. Some people learn quickly, others don't and need more time.

devildog

It does seem to be common place now to have more lessons. When DD learnt to drive I asked her instructor about an intense course but he didn't think it was the way to go and she had approx 45 lessons(and less than 3 hours driving with me, lol, I didn't like being the passenger driver)
I don't think you have missed anything. I do remember being a bit scared those first few times on my own though!

rev_henry

Robtyketto wrote: »

I've noticed most websites recommend around 45 lessons and 20 hrs of driving with friend/family for the average person to pass a driving test.

Those who replied to this thread who took an intensive course have passed with far fewer lessons it seems, or have I missed something?

Thanks

I remember reading some official DSA stats on this. Basically the older you are the longer it'll take to pass; there was a table showing it. I had 2/3 lessons a week for the first few weeks after turning 17, then less (about 1 every 10 days or so maybe, can't really remember) once my instructor thought I was ready to go out with my parents, which I then did a couple of times a week at least. I passed second time, 14 weeks after my 17th. I'd recommend having more intensive lessons to start with as I did, but then I was desperate to pass, being a total petrolhead.

devildog

rev_henry now you come to mention that I do recall dd's instructor reading the same sort of thing to me when I asked about an intensive course for her.
The only thing is she started learning at 17 and I was 21!!

Tygermoth

Hi there,

Did an intensive course of 7 days 4/5 hrs per day @ less than £600 - passed first time.

However i should mention i did already know how to drive, as such, as i had done lessons when i was 21 years old - up to test standard, then we moved.....so didnt finish as we ran out of money...did lessons again when I was 24 up to test and then we moved..... then 26, 28......

This time i thought sod it and finaly got there at 36 yrs old lol

bezzza

A friend of mine had terrible experiences with intensive driving courses - the first one was a for a week with 2 other learners - she didn't like only having a third of the time driving plus the extra pressure of having other people in the car was just too much for her so she failed horrendously. She then booked another one-to-one intensive course but just didn't like the instructor and his teaching skills so failed again. So after spending almost £1500 she was getting nowhere and now 10 years on she still can't drive as she has lost all confidence.

After seeing this I decided 9 years ago (on my 30th birthday) to take lessons (3 a week) with a budget of £500 in total for lessons and test(s). I failed my first test after 19 lessons as I had been let down my usual driving instructor but I did pass 16 days later with flying colours (after 22 lessons).

I suppose it all depends what you time and money you can afford, your confidence levels, ability to take in new information and existing information. Good luck!