How to Save Money on Driving Lessons

Learning to drive along with its associated costs involves making an important life decision.

With the budget conscious in mind, we have compiled the following ideas to save you money.

You’re not alone if you have been looking forward to getting your driving license. It’s the key to independence and will allow you to go anywhere you want without having to depend on anyone else, not to mention those living in remote areas, for whom it’s an absolute necessity.

One of the barriers to new drivers is cost. You can easily spend over £1000 without considering the price of a vehicle. So, if you are on a tight budget, the following tips will help you save.

1. Approach driving instructors directly

Driving lessons can cost up to £30 each. One possibility for prospective learners is booking a driving instructor directly instead of going to a driving school where sessions are more expensive as they need to cover their expenses. For example, you receive a recommendation for a driving instructor working for the AA Driving School. Instead of calling the driving school, you could speak directly to the instructor.

Instructors usually pay a commission for bookings made by the driving school as a percentage of the price of your lesson, so arranging a direct appointment means they could pass this saving on to you in their prices.

An online search will offer a list of local instructors and details of how to contact them.

Consider that booking directly with an instructor means you may not have access to extra services such as a website or dispute resolution offered by driving schools.

2. Buy a course of driving lessons.

Driving lessons can cost less if you buy a set number in advance. However, don’t be tempted to buy too many before you know your instructor is right for you. Until you’re sure, it’s best to book one or two. Then, once happy, you can buy a course and make your saving.

How many driving lessons should you buy?

According to the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), it takes approximately 45 hours of tuition and another 22 hours of practice to reach the standard necessary to pass the test.

There will always be those who pass with less, and your instructor may want you to take more to give you a better chance of passing, so it’s worth knowing these figures before buying a set number of lessons.

3. Book two-hour driving lessons

Driving lessons are one or two hours in duration, and you can often save by taking two hours as these frequently cost less than two single hours.

However, the other advantage over the single hour is continuous driving practice without having to adjust seatbelts, get in or out, or arrive somewhere suitable for learning manoeuvres.

Two-hour lessons give you much more time to concentrate and help you improve faster than during a single hour.

The quicker you learn, the faster you pass, meaning the fewer lessons you need.

4. Enlist the help of friends or relatives

The cheapest way to learn is to ask a friend or relative to teach you. You’ll be able to practise for free, but sometimes this will be costly. Instructors are professional and have the necessary knowledge that the test requires. Passing isn’t a question of learning to drive. Safety precautions and actions such as continuously checking mirrors and surroundings are essential when driving on the road. In general, you must be highly conscientious.

Friends can develop bad driving habits over time. If they pass them to you, it could prevent you from passing the test. So, although the lessons may be free, they may incur the cost of extra tests.

As a compromise, we suggest a mix of free driving lessons alongside some with a professional instructor. This way, you will pay for fewer but still gain the necessary experience and knowledge to pass.

If you decide to learn with friends or relatives, remember that they must be aged 21 or over and have held their full licence for at least three years.

5. Take your theory test early

Completing your theory test as soon as possible is an excellent way to save money on lessons, as you won’t need so many.

Consider taking the test earlier if your instructor insists on teaching theory during lessons. The theory takes time from practice during lessons, and you’ll need the practice to pass your driving test, so the more time spent on it, the better.

You only have two years to pass your practical test before your theory pass expires. Even though this sounds like a long time, it can be tempting to put off learning when other commitments present themselves.

Having a deadline will give you something to aim for and encourage you to work towards passing the test.

6. Book your test once you are prepared

Remember, you must pay to retake driving tests. So, the way to save money is by passing on the first attempt. So, please don’t take your test until you are ready for it. Of course, you may want to pass as soon as possible to stop paying for driving lessons, but if unprepared, it’s best to wait.

Apart from the expense of a retake, failing your driving test dents your confidence, making it more difficult to progress and inevitably necessitating more lessons and costs.