How many driving lessons are required to pass a driving test?
It depends on the individual.
The average learner has an average of 67 hours behind the wheel before passing their test: made up of 47 hours of professional tuition, and 20 hours of private tuition (with a family member or friend), according to The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
The number of hours taken by the average learner will likely increase due to the new test, that was introduced in December 2018, requiring the developing of more skills in more detail (which will see learner drivers asked to perform new manoeuvres and follow directions from a sat-nav).
The amount of lessons you’ll need to pass your driving test will depend on a range of factors such as your previous driving experience, your age and your understanding of the road.
Other factors
There are other factors that affect the average hours of professional tuition required to pass your driving test.
Require more hours:
- How far you live from the test centre (travel time to practice on test routes) – if you live more then 20 minutes from the test centre then add 10 lessons.
- Dont know how to ride a bike (you are missing basic hand and eye co-ordination exercises) add 10 lessons
- Having gaps in between lessons (loss in memory and practice) add 1 lessons for each week missed
- Nervous (can add from 10 lessons to 30 lessons)
- Had a major car accident in past? Can add nerves (can add 10 lessons to 30 lessons)
- Not doing homework (can add up to 10 lessons)
- Picking up bad habits from your close ones (can add up to 10 lessons and lower pass rate)
- How much your work or family life affects your mind
- Learning difficulties may not affect you at all or you may need double the lessons
- Bad road attitude (can add up to 20 lessons)
- Find it difficult to take criticism (can stop you from progressing)
Require less lessons:
- Already had lessons? Can save you from 10 lessons to 30 lessons. Take 1 lesson away for every 2 lessons you have had in the past.
- Taking 2 lessons a week? Then reduce by 10 lessons
- Taking 3 lessons a week? Then reduce by 20 lessons
- Mechanically knowledged? Take away 10 lessons
- Practiced with family? take away 1 lesson for every 5 hours you have practiced
How to save on lessons:
- More lessons you have closer together the better (can save 10-20 lessons)
- Two hours at a time – In a one hour driving lesson you may find that by the time you’ve gotten up to speed with it your lesson is already finished. You may find you get better value for money if you take your lessons in two hour sessions.
- Get on your bike.. it helps with hand & eye coordination also road sense, etc (saves you from 1-10 lessons)
- Start to observe drivers from now on however don’t forget you need to notice the faults too.
- Closer your Instructor lives the better! due to the instructors knowledge of best local areas to train and availability in booking is more flexible.
- Get your parents to show you what is what: under the bonnet and outside the car. (saves 1 lesson)
- Get you Parents \ Guardian to teach you how to start and stop the car and basic steering in a private empty quiet car park. (saves 1-2 lessons)
Are you ready?
If you take your test before you are ready you may fail. A few failed tests is a big blow to your confidence and is also expensive. You may be better off with a few more lessons if you are not able to get time behind the wheel with a friend/ relative.