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Original poster

How many driving lessons did your teen (or older) need?

72 replies

roastpotatoesrule · 30/12/2018 17:33

I'm trying to work out how much I need to save for lessons for my ds but have no idea really, how many lessons might be needed. That's paid for ones of course - I'm hoping to do a few extras later on for practice -is that a good idea? Any advice or tips would be most welcome

OP posts:

tired17 · 30/12/2018 17:49

My DD passed 2nd time, had a 2 hour lesson every week for 10 months and we took her out in between. Don't know what's normal though.

Frangipane · 30/12/2018 17:51

Without any between times practicing (no suitable car) my ds had about 25 to 30 lessons. Passed first time.

Frangipane · 30/12/2018 17:52

Those were in the main one hour lessons, though he had some 90 minute lessons nearer the test.

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Ariela · 30/12/2018 17:53

Mine had 10 lessons, and passed first time with no minors, despite having been struck down with a bug and being rather unwell on the day.

They were £28 a lesson.

We also had an old car in a field she and her friends got the hang of parking, hill starts etc, and she drove everywhere (admittedly in a considerably larger and longer car) for a couple of weeks beforehand.

For the theory, download the app and let them play it till they get a consistent 100% every time .

TheWiseWomansFear · 30/12/2018 17:53

I had 1 a week for a year and then 6 extra two years later

Original poster

roastpotatoesrule · 30/12/2018 18:00

Thanks for all these responses, quite a big range so far.
So would you recommend saving up for ten but then as those are going on, say one a week, I could save up for ten more. Also, if I am able to use my car, how many lessons in should we start doing that?

OP posts:

ApolloandDaphne · 30/12/2018 18:12

How long is a piece of string really. My DD1 took 7 goes to pass her test and had many, many lessons. DD2 had one two hour lesson a week for 6 months and passed on her first go.

Ariela · 30/12/2018 18:14

If you're taking your child out driving, how many lessons in possibly depends on how well you get on...!

I think once they've managed to get into 4th gear on lessons should give them enough confidence on the steering and gear change to avoid damaging yours.

tired17 · 30/12/2018 18:18

I didn't take DD out until her instructor said she was ready to put in for her test. Even then I think it was one of the scariest aspects of raising her to adulthood!!

Original poster

roastpotatoesrule · 30/12/2018 18:20

that's true ariela it might end up only being the once depending how terrifying, and if I can afford the insurance. That's useful to know about getting into 4th gear. It's a very long time since I learned so I can't remember much about it at all.

Any tips on finding an instructor -what to look for or not? I suppose there's an element of pot luck

OP posts:

Soiree · 30/12/2018 18:21

I needed 20 hours of lessons, I think that was good to average among my friends.

Original poster

roastpotatoesrule · 30/12/2018 18:22

Was it tired oh goodness! did it feel less scary in the car with her after she passed?

OP posts:

EmmaGrundyForPM · 30/12/2018 18:31

Both my ds had a 2 hour lesson every week for 6 weeks, then I started taking them out to practice and they dropped to a lesson every 2-3 weeks. So probably about 12 2-hour lessons in all. They both passed first time.

PUGaLUGS · 30/12/2018 18:31

DS2 had about 10 one hour lessons and only had that many because there was a bit of a wait - he booked the first one he could after passing his theory. He had driven field cars on his friends farm so was very capable from the off, it was more driving in a road with other road users he needed practice with. He passed with 1 minor.

DS1 had maybe about 20 one hour lessons. He had never driven a car before he had his first lesson. Passed with 4 minors and two of those were for not going fast enough - 60 limit but a windy road he hadn’t driven on and did around 50 - no other traffic so not holding anyone up.

Both drove my car if we went out together between lessons.

Both learned in cars that had 6 gears.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 30/12/2018 18:35

I passed in 13 lessons, on my 2nd test.

DD is learning now and has had 25 hour long lessons so far and is doing her 2nd test next week. I've taken her out in my car a few times, but only a few in a week here or there as my car's clutch is awkward and very different to the car she's learning in.

She had a text from the DVLA telling her the test was soon and asking how many hours practice she'd had so far. Then they replied to say that the 'average' learner has 67 hours driving practice when they pass their test.

goldengummybear · 30/12/2018 18:37

Apparently the younger you are, the fewer you need. I heard that most people pass in less than the number of years they are so 17 years old means less than 17 lessons.

Sunhill4 · 30/12/2018 18:44

My daughter's boyfriend passed last week after 4 lessons!!

wrenika · 30/12/2018 18:48

I had 8 months of weekly (1hr) lessons and passed first time. My dad took me out on my birthday and for a month after that to get the basics, then I started lessons once I had the basic idea of start, stop and steer! My parents also had me driving with them regularly along with the lessons. It's much easier I think if you practice between lessons.

Undies1990 · 30/12/2018 18:50

My DS passed first time after 25 lessons. I let him drive my car after 10 lessons but it was a really stressful, white knuckle experience! Good luck.

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 30/12/2018 18:51

I think anywhere from 3 months to a year is the norm. Depends on too many factors. I was advised not to start learning until I had saved a good 2k towards it as stop start learning takes longer.

ShowOfHands · 30/12/2018 18:52

I had two 2hr lessons a week for 7 weeks. I paid for 30hrs including my test and passed first time with no minors. I was twice the age of a teen learner however.

hattiehat · 30/12/2018 18:53

DD (with dyspraxia) passed after 8 months of formal lessons, I started taking her out as well after 3 months. Most lessons were 11/2 hours but she missed some due to holidays, bad weather etc, so I reckon she probably had around 40 hours of formal lessons and about 60 hours with me. Passed third time. It was hard work for her but she did it!

PawsPurrsAndWhiskers · 30/12/2018 18:57

I'm sure I remember reading that the average person takes about 40 driving lessons but that's with practising outside of lessons as well. I think that seems a lot though. I think I had about 20 lessons. I went out with my mum once and my dad once to practise, both times a nightmare so I wouldn't recommend it unless you love stress and rows!

TeenTimesTwo · 30/12/2018 19:00

DD1 passed first time in an automatic (she has dyspraxia).
She did ~80hours driving but with only 4 formal lessons (couldn't find an automatic instructor) so my DH taught her (but her car had dual controls which helped a lot).

Piggywaspushed · 30/12/2018 19:01

I am interested to know how all the posters who took their DCs out themselves justified/ afforded the expense? We can't get DS added to either of our insurance policies (they won't even quote) and a speartae standalone policy is over £150 for 4 weeks cover...

So far, he has had maybe 12 hour long lessons and not ready for a test. Theory booked for Feb.

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