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How many lessons does it take to learn to drive?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
How many do you think?

I have heard 50 and 100 being mentioned a lot.

I made enqruires with a driving school and you can yoru first lesson free and then 5 for £56 (basic stuff tho ur learning) which is fine, but then its shots up to £20.95 a lesson.

you have 50 of those and your spending over a grand on lessons.

I wanna learn to drive but don't wanna bankrupt myself on lessons, course then you have car and insurance to buy aswell.
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    you cant put a number on it!

    different strokes for different folks!

    i think (correct me if i'm wrong) that i read you'll be learning in an automatic? if thats the case, i'd presume you'd need less than in a manual anyway :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Doomsday wrote: »
    How many do you think?

    I have heard 50 and 100 being mentioned a lot.

    I made enqruires with a driving school and you can yoru first lesson free and then 5 for £56 (basic stuff tho ur learning) which is fine, but then its shots up to £20.95 a lesson.

    you have 50 of those and your spending over a grand on lessons.

    I wanna learn to drive but don't wanna bankrupt myself on lessons, course then you have car and insurance to buy aswell.

    Depends on the person and teacher. You can drive a car after 2 lessons but to pass the test you'll need a lot more practice. Best way is if you can practice in your mum/dad/friends car. It doesn't take 50 anyway. I had about 20 and was ready for my test. Didn't take it though.

    Also, I'd recommend finding a private instructor rather than a school, it's cheaper. I paid £15 an hour then £17 an hour (but he usually took me out for anything up to 2 hours).
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    A lot of it will depend on how close your lessons are together, how well you pick things up, how road wise you are and how much practise you get.

    If you only drive in your driving lessons, have never had much to do with roads other than being an idle passenger/pedestrian, need to repeat things to learn them, and only have a one hour lesson once a fortnight then it will take a lot of lessons.

    If you've ridden a bike (of any sort) lots, get plenty of practise between your lessons and can remember stuff from one lesson to the next then it won't take many at all.

    Another way to cut the cost is to try and find a trainee instructor, they've done the first part of the course and passed that assessment, but you've got to do a certain amount of teaching practise before you can become a full instructor.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I had about 15 hours of lessons before my 1st test. I didn't have another lesson after that, just went out in my mums car and in the end took my test in her car as well.

    But as everyones said, it completely depends on how quickly you pick it up so no one can say you will need x amount of hours.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I had about 25 to 30 but I was ready after about 20. I didn't have a car to practice in, just one hour lesson a week. But I've always been pretty clued up on road laws and stuff, from just watching other people, riding a bike to school when I was a kid, and being one of those geeky kids who knew what road signs meant.

    If I could give some advice, it would be to not book your lessons at the same time every week. Get used to different weather conditions, different times of the day, different levels of light, and it'll improve you no end. And make sure you've got an instructor and car that you get on with. It'll cost you less in the long run to learn with an instructor that knows how to explain things in a way you understand, than someone who charges less per lesson, but doesn't get through to you as well.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    By the end I had quite a lot. I had about 30 hours before my 1st test but I failed and it was 2 months until the next test so I probably had about another 15 hours while I was waiting. After a couple of hours your instructor will probably be able to give you a guide on how much you may need
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    alot of these 'offers' are little more than a tease, you won't gain anything using these cos at the end of the day they decide when you should go in for your test and you can guarantee it's when they've had plenty of lessons out of you. Best advice, ask people you know who they used and would recommend thats what i did and passed first time having a reasonable amount of lessons.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I failed my test 3 times before i passed and i kept on having lessons inbetween which i didn't really need, apart from before my 4th test, the one i passed on, typical :p so i think it would probably work out at about 50 and they were £19 each.
    And then you get the four tests which worked out as £80 each and then your theory is about £25 i think and then i did my pass plus which was 6 hours of driving so about £115 for that, if i added it all up i think it would make me cry!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    £1410 ;)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    £1410 ;)

    :yuck:

    boobs.

    Although i only started learning cause me and my boyfriend one 3k on the lottery, i guess that was where my half went then!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Quite a few for me. It's a good idea to find a willing (stupid) friend to lend you their car to practice in. I went with my friend to some farmland and drove his works van into a ditch the other weekend. Tehe
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    how long is a piece of string?! it depends on how fast you are at learning/how long it takes you to be ready for your test. i had in the region of 60-70 lessons. :eek:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    how long is a piece of string?! :eek:
    My thoughts EXACTLY.

    What a silly question to ask, it's all relative!!!!!!!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If you've ridden a bike (of any sort) lots, get plenty of practise between your lessons and can remember stuff from one lesson to the next then it won't take many at all.

    I think riding a bike has given me some bad habits though. On a bike you always have to think 'what if' but my instructor in a car just tells me to ignore the other traffic if I've got right of way. On a bike I was taught to double check that they're not going to try and kill you, then mentally think of escape routes and set yourself up best for how to do that incase. It becomes a habit, but my instructor doesn't like it because... well he just tells me it's my right of way and I don't need to think about the cars waiting to come in.

    Also steering, on a bike it's very direct and intuitive, but I'm struggling to get used to a car because it's very remote and not much 'feel' for the handling, like half a turn on the steering wheel doesn't = half a turn on the tyres.

    But anyway, as for the numbers I've been given, between 35 and 65. 65 is the official number apparently including independent driving (on average), and 35 is the amount of lessons that my instructor normally gives ish - so I suppose they could meet up.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    "It depends". But I know it cost me a fortune to do all the lessons and tests. Admittedly taking a break for two years didn't help.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You only really start learning once you pass your test, that's the easy bit..

    ShyBoy, your instructor sounds like he's a few cookies short of a selection pack.. I've had to undertake lets say further driver training as part of my employment, plus being a big fan of both the Rospa and Institute of Advanced Drivers programs. In none of those programs are you to have such believe in your own perceived right of way that you should not incorporate others into your own driving plan.

    It doesn't sound like your instructor is a rider, if he were he would actually see how much of an asset the awareness that you build simply trying to stay alive is when in the relative comfort of a 4 wheeled vehicle. I could go on but the long and the short of it is remember this TNF = Trust No F*cker... Next you'll be saying he actually tells you respond to people flashing etc...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I was thinking something's up when he was slapping my hands for moving them too far round on the steering wheel :p. But I get on with him pretty well so it's not too bad actually.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    ShyBoy wrote: »
    I think riding a bike has given me some bad habits though. On a bike you always have to think 'what if' but my instructor in a car just tells me to ignore the other traffic if I've got right of way. On a bike I was taught to double check that they're not going to try and kill you, then mentally think of escape routes and set yourself up best for how to do that incase. It becomes a habit, but my instructor doesn't like it because... well he just tells me it's my right of way and I don't need to think about the cars waiting to come in.

    Also steering, on a bike it's very direct and intuitive, but I'm struggling to get used to a car because it's very remote and not much 'feel' for the handling, like half a turn on the steering wheel doesn't = half a turn on the tyres.

    But anyway, as for the numbers I've been given, between 35 and 65. 65 is the official number apparently including independent driving (on average), and 35 is the amount of lessons that my instructor normally gives ish - so I suppose they could meet up.


    Your current instructor sounds a bit rubbish to be honest. Assumption over right of way used over and above observation and reaction is only going to get you into an accident.

    Personally I think your way that you have learnt on the bike is a lot safer and more proactive than your instructor's rather random "just keep swimming" ideas.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    how long is a piece of string?! it depends on how fast you are at learning/how long it takes you to be ready for your test. i had in the region of 60-70 lessons. :eek:

    thats alot of lessons!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My thoughts EXACTLY.

    What a silly question to ask, it's all relative!!!!!!!


    sorry I thought this was an advice site......


    Anyway, unfortunately I won't be able to get any practice as everyone I know drives a maunel (if I learn in an automatic) and I aint coevered on their insurance anyway, even my folks.

    My mate recommended his instrutctor, tho he had 2hr lessons at over £30 each so.

    Plus I ma working full time so alternating times is a bit tricky.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Doomsday:

    Can I just ask why you are wanting to learn in an automatic? Is there any particular reason?

    Just wondering as this could limit you massively in the future - for example if you have to drive a pool car that your company owns. Chances are these will be manual transmission.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    g_angel007 wrote: »
    Doomsday:

    Can I just ask why you are wanting to learn in an automatic? Is there any particular reason?

    Just wondering as this could limit you massively in the future - for example if you have to drive a pool car that your company owns. Chances are these will be manual transmission.

    If I remember correctly (sorry if its wrong Doomsday) he has dyspraxia and driving a manual car is pretty much out of the question due to it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If I remember correctly (sorry if its wrong Doomsday) he has dyspraxia and driving a manual car is pretty much out of the question due to it.

    Right - that would be more than fair enough then!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    nail on the head freeallangels!

    yeah thats the reason, I dunno if its impossible to learn in a manuel but it makes it a hell of a lot more difficult, coordination is the issue.

    so yeah an automtaic for me.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Doomsday wrote: »
    nail on the head freeallangels!

    yeah thats the reason, I dunno if its impossible to learn in a manuel but it makes it a hell of a lot more difficult, coordination is the issue.

    so yeah an automtaic for me.


    Yep, that definitely makes sense.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    so should I go for the offer of 1st lesson free and 5 for £56 then going up to £20.95 each or try somewhere else?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I am paying £24 an hour, so anything less than that sounds like a bonus to me!

    I've also had about 25ish hours so far and am nowhere near my test.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    damn Life of Kate.

    I rang 2 more companies today, one is charging £21.25 per hour or £42.50 for 2hrs plus £1 extra and hour for an automtaic and thats with a dicount for where I work tho i think u get other stuff free suppsoedly like mock tests and hazard test and suposedly RAC membership.

    and another one has an introductory lesson for £15 an hour or £30 for 2hrs and to learn in an automatic its £22 maybe a bit more or if you block book 10 they say it works out at £21 per hour.

    Is it more or are these charges stupidly high?

    and why charge more for an automatic? why is it specialises? surely you do less work in an automtaic not more???
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It's probably more to do with the fact that automatic cars are more expensive to buy and convert to dual control etc, but don't quote me on that.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    and why charge more for an automatic? why is it specialises? surely you do less work in an automtaic not more???

    Not sure for definite but I just assumed it's because it takes less time to learn in an automatic so I guess the driving school will want to make as much cash out of you before you pass.
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