How long is reasonable for driving lessons?

thehappybutterfly

I had 65 lessons but did pass first time! Two a week but I had no confidence. My poor hubby was in despair, wondering how long this was going to take!

HurdyGurdy

I was told one lesson for every year of your life as a guide to how long it will be before you are ready for your test.

Whether that is borne out in fact, I have no idea.

When I was learning in the early 80s I was told to put in for my test on my second lesson. Just as I was preening myself, thinking I was already an amazing driver, the instructor informed me that at that time there was a shortgage of driving examiners and it would be at least a year before I got a test date! (He was right, but I passed first time )

madelaine

I think the average given by school of motoring is about 44 lessons plus 22 hrs training on your own, so you have quite away to go, good luck.

motherofstudents

It shouldn't take you long to learn how to drive the car, it is experience in different types of traffic, roads, weather etc.that you need. Once you know how to drive you need to get plenty of practice with a friend/husband, anyone who will take you out.

I had 20 lessons and passed first time but it was in the 1970's so not as much traffic. One of my kids passed at 17 after 3 months of driving school lessons and going out with me. The other one failed twice before passing at 18 so everyone is different. Good luck.

Sally_A

I think the main issue here is that you have to want to learn. I've never learnt anything that was a chore, but I am very quick on the uptake if it's something I want to do.

I must have had 40+ lessons on and off between the age of 17 and passed just before my 19th birthday; I think initially I just had lessons because everyone else I knew was learning. I worked within 2 miles of my home, city life was within 2 miles - the kick up my backside to really learn was when I started playing netball and our matches were played 20 miles away and relying on others to get me there was a right royal pain.

I remember the day it all fell into place, a nasty bend in Kelston, I took the corner and then instinctively, went down a gear and powered up again - sweet as a nut - suddenly it all made sense. My co-ordination and confidence grew immediately, suddenly I felt I was in control of the car, rather than vice versa; and I passed soon after.

You will know the day it all clicks into place, and when you are ready to take your test.

onlyroz

If you're a bit of a nervy driver have you considered just getting an automatic license? I've always driven manuals but my current car is a semi-auto (with optional gear-changing paddles on the steering wheel) and I don't think I'd want to drive a manual again.

claire16c

I took 6 months & had 1 lesson a week, plus going out with my Dad sometimes. Most of my friends took around 6-8 months. And often the last 6 weeks was effectively just waiting for a test slot & practicing in thr mean time, especially if they failed first time as you had to wait a while sometimes.

Figgerty

I agree with a previous poster that you are better off having 1 x 2 hour lesson than 2 x 1 hour lessons per week as on a 1 hour lesson you are just settling into the lesson when it ends. When I was learning I had a 2 hour lesson one week followed by a 1 hour the next week. I couldn't afford a 2 hour lesson every week at the time. Also, travel in the front of a friends car and ask them to explain the road signs and markings whilst they are negotiating traffic and complex junctions so you are road savvy by the time you get behind the wheel. I presume you have passed or studied for the Theory Test. I remember this site having a link to the test some time ago and we could all test our knowledge or lack of.

Last bit of advise is to make sure you have a motorway lesson as soon as you pass your test as that will give you the confidence to drive anywhere.

Good luck and safe driving.

southcoastrgi

if the lessons are going well, why not go for a week course with the test at the end, much easier than having a lesson a week when you may forget things or get nervious between lessons

piglet74

I had 11 lessons with an instructor, plus my uncle used to take me out once or twice a week, so I passed in a few months, tho I was 17 (it was 1991 so prob not the same volume of traffic)

Good luck, don't give up on it x