The true cost of learning to drive

T he true cost of learning to drive (Brentwood)

There isn't a magical set figure to pay when you learn to drive, as the total cost very much depends upon a number of factors and is therefore a very individual reflection of a learning process that determines the true cost. 

The price of getting on the road, however, can spiral, so it's important to know what sort of figures you can expect to pay before beginning to learn to drive.

Budgeting
There are certain costs you'll have to prepare for when learning to drive, but the financial side of things will be much more manageable if you know what to expect.

Budgeting for a course and period of time as a learner driver can be tough, but making sure you know what some of the key costs are should help you prepare for the financial side of getting your driving licence.

Provisional licence cost?
The first step in the process of learning to drive is applying for your provisional licence.  This is a one off fee of £50 which is valid for 10 years or up until you pass, when exchanging the provisional for the full licence is free.

Driving lessons cost?

Price is obviously important, but learners will need to appreciate the difference between cheap and expensive in terms of quality.

How much your driving lessons will cost depends upon a number of factors.  How much your driving instructor charges per hour, the quality of tuition and how many lessons you take, for example, will have an effect on the price you end up paying.

Make sure you don't, however, just take price into account when trying to find the right driving instructor, because choosing the wrong instructor could mean you have to take more lessons and that you end up spending more for your driving lessons in the long run.

It is the cost of the tuition needed to pass the test that students should be interested in.  Taking the broader view, 50 poor lessons at £10 each cost the same as 25 quality driving lessons at £20.

DSA research suggests that the average learner driver requires 47 hours of driving lessons with a professional driving instructor, and, at an average local cost of £21 an hour, that's a total of £987. 

Again, this is very much an estimated cost and some learner drivers will end up paying more while some will end up paying less.

It's worth noting that you may also be able to get discounts on your driving lessons by booking your lessons in blocks or utilising any special offers that may be available.

Whilst intensive driving courses generally have a set number of hours over a certain period of time they again are based on the individual learner and should not guarantee a pass. 

Private practise
If you're also going to do some private driving practise with a family member or friend, you'll need to make sure you're road-ready in your own vehicle.  This involves getting your car insured with learner driver insurance and making sure you've got a set of L-plates to stick to your vehicle.

A number of insurance providers offer insurance policies for learner drivers and prices aren't as high as you might expect them to be although it's worth shopping around a few car insurance companies to find out what they have to offer in terms of policies for learner drivers.

The theory test cost?
The cost of a car theory test is £31.  You can pay for and book your theory test at Gov.uk.

The practical driving test cost?
The cost of a practical car driving test depends on when you take it.  Tests taken on weekdays cost £62, whilst driving tests taken on evenings, weekends and bank holidays cost £75.

Remember, if you have had enough practice with the correct tuition, only 1 attempt should be made at each test otherwise of the numbers will increase.

Be careful not to pay anymore than these prices to companies that increasingly advertise a booking service but charge hidden fees, sometimes an extra £30.

Conclusion
Whether it's you, your family or a mixture of both who'll be paying for you to learn to drive, you should take the time to come up with a budgeting plan and be prepared to spend in excess of £1000.

Whilst this sounds an awful lot of money, it is money invested wisely if you consider that a driving licence is valid throughout your lifetime. 

Avoid, trying to set yourself too rigid a time frame to pass your driving test, because everyone learns at a different pace.