How much do driving lessons cost in the UK?
Get the lowdown on driving lesson costs to help you pass your test with flying colours
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The average cost of driving lessons in the UK has been steadily going up, so it’s well worth getting an idea of how much you’ll need to pay.
Learning to drive is a definitely an investment. From lessons and your driving test to your first car and the dreaded learner driver insurance, it’s good to gauge what you’re set to spend from the get-go.
So, we’ve put together this guide to help you get an idea of how much driving lessons cost and other learner driver expenses.
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What is the average cost of driving lessons in the UK?
The cost of driving lessons will differ depending on where you live. If you’re in an area with a high cost of living – apologies, but you may have to spend more.
On average, you’ll typically be looking at £25 to £45 per hour. Some instructors will also offer discounts if you buy a block of lessons.
On average, learners have around 45 hours of lessons before they’re ready to take a test.
You might be able to shave that down a bit if you can practice in your own car with another experienced driver, but this also means you need to pay for learner car insurance.
So, if we go off the higher end of the lesson prices, you could spend around £2,025 on your sessions alone.
What affects driving lesson costs?
There are a few things that can influence how much your lessons will cost, like:
Instructor experience
Some instructors might have been in the business a while and have a track record of excellent teaching, meaning they charge more.
Choosing a driving instructor with a great rep can cost more, but you might end up needing less hours.
It’s worth weighing up the costs or having a trial lesson to see if you suit their teaching style.
Lesson duration and frequency
You might be able to get a discount on lessons if you book a block of them closer together, or by paying for an intensive course to squeeze all your lessons into a week or two.
Some instructors also offer a discount on two-hour lessons. For example, they might charge £45 for a two-hour lesson and £25 for one hour.
Regional price differences
We mentioned earlier that location can influence driving lesson costs, and it’s typically the biggest factor.
Lessons in London are usually going to be more expensive than in a small town up north – as with most expenses.
You might find that you can save more by travelling to your gran’s house in a smaller town for your lessons, for example.
How to save money on driving lessons
Block booking – some instructors offer discount for booking a set amount of lessons at a time
Introductory offers – you might be able to get money off your first lesson with a new instructor
Referral discounts – some instructors offer discounts if you’re referred by another student, or you refer someone yourself
Practice – if you have access to your own car and have an experienced driver who can help, practicing without your instructor can speed things up
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Does it cost more to learn to drive in different types of vehicles?
Driving lessons are priced differently depending on what you’re learning to drive.
As a rule, expect learning to drive a manual car to be cheaper than an automatic – but what other options are there?
Manual cars
Most people learn to drive in a manual car, where a lesson will set you back between £25 and £45 on average.
Automatic cars
Learning to drive in an automatic car can be handy if you struggle in a manual or have mobility issues that make operating a clutch difficult.
Automatic lessons tend to be more expensive than manual because automatic cars cost more to buy and maintain.
On average, automatic lessons tend to cost about £5 extra per session than manual lessons.
Additional costs
Even after budgeting for your driving lessons, there are still other costs to consider.
Theory test
Before you take your practical test, you’ll need to pass your driving theory test. These cost £23 for cars, and you'll have to pay again to retake if you don’t pass.
Provisional license
You’ll need a provisional driving license to get started on your lessons, which you can do by post or online.
It’s cheaper to apply online, costing £34 compared to £43 by post.
Mock tests
Your instructor might also recommend you take a mock test, and this might be longer than your average lesson or come with an extra fee.
Practical test
Your practical driving test will cost £62, but you also usually have to pay your driving instructor for their time and use of the car.
This will vary depending on the instructor.
Cancellations
Most instructors have a cancellation policy that could mean you have to pay for cancelling your lessons.
You might be charged the full amount or a percentage, but this is typically only if you cancel on short notice or without a valid excuse.
Most instructors tend to be understanding of illness or other emergencies.
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How many driving lessons are needed to pass?
You’ll usually need about 45 hours of lessons before you’re ready to pass your test, but this will vary depending on the individual.
There are also intensive courses where you usually have between two and five hours of lessons a day for one week or two.
Are intensive courses better than standard lessons?
Whether or not an intensive driving course is better than standard lessons will depend on you as a learner.
With an intensive course, you’ll learn a lot in a short amount of time. You might not be able to keep up with all of the information or feel burnt out.
Depending on the course set up, you might not get as many hours on the road as a typical learner driver.
Intensive courses can be a good choice for some learners, especially if you’ve done lessons before. These courses can give you the final push to get over the finish line and pass your test.