Learner drivers rush to pass test as lessons reach record high of over £1.5k
Learning to drive is often seen as a rite of passage for youngsters, giving them freedom and more autonomy as they become adults. Even those who learn later in life can have their independence totally transformed by driving their own car.
Unfortunately, this freedom comes with a price and learning to drive is now more expensive than ever as the cost of living crisis continues to impact everyone's wallets.
Students can expect to fork out on average over a grand and a half just on lessons alone - not including any tests, resits or the cost of actually driving and insuring a car.
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The cost of lessons is forcing people to save money by rushing to pass their test (Getty Images/Westend61)Most students take around 45 lessons to pass, with intense short courses offering six hours per day for up to eight weeks. Lessons on average cost £35 per hour, adding up to a whopping £1,575 over the time it takes to learn.
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"This is nearly 5% of the average annual income for a UK household, introducing a huge cost and barrier to learning to drive for many across the country," said James Armstrong, CEO at insurer Veygo, who collected the data.
While many just put off learning to drive, sticking to lifts and public transport, which has its own pros and cons - others are racing to book their test, before they're even ready.
James added: "We are seeing a systemic issue of people failing their driving tests. Learners are trying to pass as quickly as possible so that they don't have to pay for expensive lessons, which is resulting in taking the test before they're fully ready.
"This is feeding into the ongoing issue of long driving test waiting lists, and increasing the overall cost of learning to drive."
After the pandemic, there was a shortage of test slots with a massive backlog of drivers to get through. Unfortunately this hasn't changed as the wait time for a driving test in the UK is still at around 15 weeks - although this can vary greatly from six weeks all the way to six months.
This extended wait time has created a culture of booking as soon as possible and hoping you are ready when the time comes. Veygo has seen a drop in the pass rate to below the usual 50% with 50,000 tests in the last 12 months taken by people who had failed more than five times already.
With the test itself costing up to a massive £149, these 50,000 could have added £745 worth of driving tests onto their £1.5k lesson cost, which for many is simply not affordable.
Skimping on lessons also means you might not have the experience or time behind the wheel needed to feel confident and drive safely - even if you happen to pass.
Therefore, young drivers who rush their test might save money in the short term but end up with a much worse deal from damage or worse, which is already common with new drivers.
James said: "I'd recommend that learner drivers prepare as much as they can before their tests, even if they have a limited budget. One way to do this is to support your professional lessons with practice in a private vehicle.
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"Having access to a family member or friend's car – with full learner insurance – is therefore a huge bonus for learners, making it quicker and much more affordable to learn to drive."
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