Driving lessons and exam on a budget

Car_54

a.turner wrote: »

I think it's about £30 an hour for lessons these days and you'll probably need about 20.

20 hours is wildly optimistic.



According to the DVSA, the average is about 42 hours of professional tuition, plus about 20 hours of practice with parents etc. Males average a few hours less, females a few more.

loskie

I moved away(400 odd miles) from home at 16. At 17 took driving lessons, I think I had around a dozen 1 hr lessons and passed my test. No other car driving practice but did have a 125 cc motorbike

onomatopoeia99

Car_54 wrote: »

20 hours is wildly optimistic.

I had 18 lessons. The instructor told me to put in for my test after eight, but there was a six month wait for a Saturday appointment at the local test centre (my school didn't accept "driving test" as a valid reason for absence), so we went down to less frequent lessons.

I was 17 at the time so still young enough to learn quickly, perhaps. First lesson was the Saturday after my birthday, I wasn't waiting (never really understood people that did tbh, unless they live in TFL zone 1/2 ).

42 hours of professional tuition .... :eek:

Car_54

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

I had 18 lessons. The instructor told me to put in for my test after eight, but there was a six month wait for a Saturday appointment at the local test centre (my school didn't accept "driving test" as a valid reason for absence), so we went down to less frequent lessons.

I was 17 at the time so still young enough to learn quickly, perhaps. First lesson was the Saturday after my birthday, I wasn't waiting (never really understood people that did tbh, unless they live in TFL zone 1/2 ).

42 hours of professional tuition .... :eek:

I had 4 hours of lessons. That doesn't alter the fact that most people need many more, and the average is over 40.

DCFC79

The right instructor could also help with how you do in your lessons.
Get a copy of the highway code, sure it can be found for free, try your library.

engineer_amy

As others have said, if your parents can take you out in their car to show you the basics - steering, braking, clutch control, gears - just to get you comfortable with the car, it means when you take your first paid professional lesson, you can actually spend it driving and out on the road. Most cars will feel different, but the basics are the same so don't worry if they drive something very different from your instructor) Depending on where you live, you might be able to go to a local industrial estate on a sunday afternoon when the roads are quiet - you wouldn't even need to be out on the main roads.
Of course, that depends on what your parents drive and whether you can be added to their insurance for a reasonable price. Some insurers will offer short term add-ons for learners, and its usually not too expensive as there will be another (experienced) full licence holder with them at all times. The more practice you can get following a proper lesson, the better. It may reduce the number of paid lessons you need.


I think I ended up taking 15 paid lessons before the test as my dad was able to help me out at weekends. Failed the first attempt due to a really stupid mistake (totally my fault) and rebooked the test immediately for the following fortnight. Had a couple of family drives, but no paid lessons before the second attempt and passed second time round. I would estimate I had about 60 hours of driving time overall before the tests because as I progressed to be comfortable on the road, he allowed me to drive to my weekend job with him beside me (about a half hour drive each way) on Saturdays and sundays, and home again.


Ask friends for recommendations of who they passed with, its important that you feel comfortable with your instructor.


And most will do discounts if bought in blocks of 5/10. so worth saving up enough to pay for a block at a time. it could work out enough of a saving to pay for an additional lesson. ask parents and friends for a cash donation to a driving lesson fund instead of presents at Christmas and birthdays.


and lastly - during your test - overconfidence can be as much a reason for fail as nerves. I failed my first attempt within the first 5 minutes by being c0cky and thinking I knew it all. after completing the reverse round the corner manoeuver successfully, I ended up mounting the kerb while turning the corner as I was thinking about how fabulous a driver I was. instant fail, and carried on with the rest of the test with only 2 minors. so keep calm and just concentrate on the road and the test.

wongataa

Remember that once you pass the driving test running a car isn't that cheap either. You have have enough money to buy a car and pay for any maintenance it requires. You will need enough money for fuel. As a new driver insurance will be expensive as well.

Car_54

DCFC79 wrote: »

The right instructor could also help with how you do in your lessons.
Get a copy of the highway code, sure it can be found for free, try your library.

The HC costs about £2.50. If the OP can't afford that, then maybe driving isn't for them!


But DVSA also recommend "Know Your Traffic Signs" and "Driving - The Essential Skills", and can base theory questions on them.

AdrianC

Highway Code is, of course, online...
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code

(plus various commercial sites)

OhhEnnEmm

No matter what, it always costs a bomb.

The best way to negate costs is to find someone you know who is willing to let you practice in their vehicle. Research as much as possible. A real instructor will teach you not to drive, but to pass your test.

So yeah, just any practice you can get in a friend's/family's vehicle and as much research as possible.

Best of luck!