How many lessons does it take to drive? (2023)

How many lessons does it take to learn to drive?

Learning to drive at your pace

As a rule of thumb, learning to drive takes around 45 hours of professional lessons and 20 hours of practice. That could be spread out over three or four months.

It will depend on the length of lessons you take, but using the 45-hour average, it can be: 45 lessons of 1 hour. 30 lessons of 1.5 hours. 22.5 lessons of 2 hours.

However, there's less to get to grips with when you take automatic driving lessons. This means many learners are able to pass after just 20 hours of lessons, as long as they also get some private practice.

To gain the most from your driving lessons both in terms of learning progress and value for money, it's recommended that you take at least a single 2 hour driving lesson per week and where possible, to remain consistent with your weekly lessons.

The average learner needs 20 hours of practice to pass the driving test, in addition to 45 hours of driving lessons. Once you've started learning, ask your instructor for advice about when you are ready to start practising between lessons.

Yes, you can learn the basics of driving in a week. Rest will totally depend on your practice and skills.

It takes the average person 45 hours of driving lessons and an additional 22 hours of solo practice to fully master their driving skills, so cut yourself a little slack when it comes to learning to drive. Your driving instructor also won't typically start you on the road.

Generally speaking and for most people learning to drive, 2 hour lessons are more beneficial than 1 hour lessons. There are a variety of reasons for this which include: Reduced learning time overall (can reduce by a third) Reduced costs to the learner (2 hour sessions are reduced prices)

Car (class 1) driver licence tests

The test is 60 minutes long and includes 45 minutes of drive time. The remaining 15 minutes is used to check the safety of the vehicle prior to driving and to provide feedback.

How many times can you fail your test in the UK? There is no limit to how many times you can sit the test, so don't worry if you fail. The record for the highest number of fails is 42 for the practical and a whopping 158 times for a failed driving theory test!

Is it quicker to pass in an automatic?

Because there's less to master in an automatic car, some learners may find it quicker to pass their test. And the quicker you pass your test, the less money you'll spend on driving lessons. But lessons in an automatic car might be more expensive than learning to drive in a manual.

Well, looking at data from the DVLA¹, in 2019-2020 the average pass rate for automatic driving tests was 39.5%, whereas manual driving tests for the same period of time have a pass rate of 45.9%!

Frequency of lessons

Continuity of driving lessons is really important. The more often you're behind the wheel the better. Between 2 and 4 hours of private lessons per week is recommended. You're also likely to progress more quickly if you have two-hour lessons each time.

Being Picked Up

Your driving instructor will pick you up at either your home or work. Make sure that you double check the time so that there are no conflicts.

Because driving schools make money from charging each instructor a weekly fee to be supplied with work. Their aim is to take on as many instructors as they can (qualified or not) and make tons of cash. The problem is that then they need a huge supply of pupils to feed to all the instructors.

If you are exceptionally talented 12 hours will do. Then if you are pretty darn good at driving, 24 hours of lessons with no other practice will have you passing the test. However if you are just the average person, you are probably looking at 36 hours of lessons if you can't practice in another car.

Parents are the biggest influence on teens who are learning to drive, through coaching, monitoring, supporting, and helping them practice. And at 18 years old, youth are ready to leave home, whether it's go off to college or moving out into their own apartments. So 16 really is the best age for teens to learn to drive.

Driving is hard for some people because it consists of operating a heavy machine at high speeds over long distances in all kinds of environmental conditions, surrounded by other people sharing the same road. When you look at it this way, driving suddenly seems much more difficult.

What is the best time to learn driving?

If you're starting out learning to drive, have little experience or if it's your first driving lesson, the best time to take a driving lesson is when the roads are at their quietest. This may vary a little depending on where you live, but for weekday lessons, ideally aim for late morning or mid-afternoon (around 2 pm).

Amaxophobia (Fear of Driving) Amaxophobia (also called hamaxophobia) makes you feel anxious or fearful when you drive or ride in a vehicle, such as a car, bus or plane. With it, you have a fear of driving and may also get anxious being a passenger. This fear can interfere with work, socializing and travel.

Most instructors offer 1.5 hour lessons and they are ideal because they are not overly long, but offer enough time to get plenty of driving experience. If you are finding driving lessons long and tiring, your instructor will be more than happy to accommodate a short break.

Driving lesson duration can vary from anywhere between one and two and a half hours, depending on your driving needs and the amount of time you have. We do not recommend that you take more than 2 and half hours as we find drivers' attention tends to deteriorate and your learning speed will decrease.

In short, yes, you can take your driving test without lessons. However, in most cases, it's strongly recommended that you find an instructor to help guide you through the process.

What is a Three-Point Turn? The three-point turn is a way of turning a vehicle around in a small space by going forward, turning to one side, then backing up, turning in order to face the other direction, then going forward again. This type of turn is usually done when the road is too narrow for a U-turn.

Many learners assume that hitting the kerb while performing a manoeuvre will result in an instant fail, but again it's not entirely true. While mounting the kerb – or crashing into it hard – will be marked down as a major, a simple touch or clip during a manoeuvre (like turning in the road) is only classed as a minor.

Do you fail if you do a maneuver wrong?

Yes you can fail your driving test on a manoeuvre if you do something wrong, for example poor observations, speed, being in the wrong position or mounting the kerb. Manoeuvres are part of the driving test where you are the one that has complete control.

No they won't know. I failed first time (grumpy examiner, 12 minors 1 major which even my instructor said was a rubbish excuse for a fail, anyway not bitter anymore) and then the second time my examiner was lovely and chatty and much more relaxed. I got the same manoeuvre the second time too and passed with 1 minor.

Automatic Car – If you drive an automatic car, pull the shifter down into reverse mode while your foot is on the brake. Keep your foot on the brake, and never turn around until after you have shifted to reverse mode.

A manual gearbox is traditionally better at transferring power from your engine to your wheels, so you can accelerate at a faster pace. Cheaper to maintain: Manuals generally require less maintenance because they have a less complex design than automatics.

If you struggle with clutch control or gear selection, then yes, the automatic driving test is easier. However, other than having to deal with the clutch and gears, the automatic driving test is exactly the same as the manual test.

Automatic cars tend to be more expensive to buy than manuals, which generally means car insurance premiums are higher too. This is to cover the cost of any damage or a replacement vehicle. For example, an automatic gearbox is more complex than a manual one and so typically costs more to replace.

Automatics are Easier to Drive

Once you've set off there's no need to think about changing gear so you don't need to worry about the clutch or about stalling. This can take the fear out of difficult manoeuvres.

Manual car pros

The vehicle is more engaging for the driver. The driver has full control over gears and when to shift. It's usually less expensive than an automatic-equipped vehicle. The transmission often costs less to repair.

Generally speaking and for most people learning to drive, 2 hour lessons are more beneficial than 1 hour lessons. There are a variety of reasons for this which include: Reduced learning time overall (can reduce by a third) Reduced costs to the learner (2 hour sessions are reduced prices)

It takes the average person 45 hours of driving lessons and an additional 22 hours of solo practice to fully master their driving skills, so cut yourself a little slack when it comes to learning to drive. Your driving instructor also won't typically start you on the road.

How many driving lessons are required by law UK?

There's no minimum number of lessons you must have or hours you must practise driving. How many lessons you need will depend on how quickly you learn. You can download a form to record your progress with your instructor. You can complain about a driving instructor if you're not happy with their service or behaviour.

Some people may pick things up right away and some may take a little longer. In our professional view, we would highly recommend booking your theory test at least a month in advance, and spending around between 12 and 24 hours revising for your theory test within that time period.

Frequency of lessons

Continuity of driving lessons is really important. The more often you're behind the wheel the better. Between 2 and 4 hours of private lessons per week is recommended. You're also likely to progress more quickly if you have two-hour lessons each time.

Most instructors offer 1.5 hour lessons and they are ideal because they are not overly long, but offer enough time to get plenty of driving experience. If you are finding driving lessons long and tiring, your instructor will be more than happy to accommodate a short break.

Most roads are less busy early in the morning, up to 7 AM, and the hours before 5 PM. These hours are less busy because workers have not hit the road to either rush to work or back home.

Driving is hard for some people because it consists of operating a heavy machine at high speeds over long distances in all kinds of environmental conditions, surrounded by other people sharing the same road. When you look at it this way, driving suddenly seems much more difficult.

Yeah. Unless you're exceptionally good, no. Most people say the average is 40, however my instructor said 20-24 should be enough. I passed with around 24.

Car (class 1) driver licence tests

The test is 60 minutes long and includes 45 minutes of drive time. The remaining 15 minutes is used to check the safety of the vehicle prior to driving and to provide feedback.

How many times can you fail your test in the UK? There is no limit to how many times you can sit the test, so don't worry if you fail. The record for the highest number of fails is 42 for the practical and a whopping 158 times for a failed driving theory test!

What is the passing score for driving theory test?

The Theory Test pass mark is 86%, so you'll need to answer 43 out of 50 multiple choice questions correctly to pass. The questions will cover topics that include alertness, attitude, safety, road signs, and much more.

Getting your theory test results

You'll be given your results at the test centre in a printed letter shortly after you've finished. If you pass, you'll get a letter with your pass certificate number on it. Keep this in a safe place because you'll need the number when you book your practical test.

The theory test is split into two sections: multiple choice questions and hazard perception clips. You need to pass both sections in order to get your theory test pass certificate. So, don't count on being able to put all your eggs in one basket here: you'll need to revise both sections to perform well on the test!