Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3

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:

Original poster

roastpotatoesrule · 30/12/2018 23:16

That's a good idea sparkling I hadn't realised that could be an option, thanks.

OP posts:

BringOnTheScience · 30/12/2018 23:37

Another one with a dyspraxic teen learner here! Started learning in May, 40 hours so far, test booked for late Jan. Extra driving with me when suitable as much as possible.

It's nerve wracking being in the passenger seat the first time! I think that driving instructors should offer sessions with advice for parents

User10fuckingmillion · 30/12/2018 23:44

Well it took me 18 months, 5 tests and about a billion lessons. Really depends on the person.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking

User10fuckingmillion · 30/12/2018 23:45

^also I think there are a lot more people like me then this thread will reveal...

mum11970 · 31/12/2018 00:02

Putting the kids on our insurance whilst learning was negligible as they are accompanied at all times, so not sure why some people have paid a huge hike in premium for that.
We found taking them to empty car parks or industrial estates to learn the basics of pulling off and clutch control before starting lessons saved a lot of money as weeks can be spent mastering it. Also found longer lessons, closer together were more beneficial as it saved time refreshing what they’d forgotten since the last lesson.

Sparklingbrook · 31/12/2018 00:07

My insurance company wouldn't insure a l 17 year old learner driver on my car so it must vary.

RedPandaMama · 31/12/2018 00:16

I passed 4 years ago (age 18) and it took me 25 x 1 hour lessons at £20 a pop, passed first time. No driving in between. My best friend took over 100 lessons and passed second time. My sister had about 30 lessons and passed third time - instructor entered her after only 16 hours and it was way too soon.

It's different for everyone really, hard to estimate.

Piggywaspushed · 31/12/2018 06:27

mum curious to know who your insurers are! My insurance company (RAC) wouldn't quote and Compare The Market's cheapest quote for insuring my 17 yo on my car was £1000!

Mississippilessly · 31/12/2018 07:18

Frequency definitely helps. I had 1 hour a week (all I could afford) and it took me a year. If I could have gone out with my parents in sure it would have sped things up.

FinallyHere · 31/12/2018 09:30

I had one term's worth of lessons, so probably twelve, in the UK then back home for the Christmas holidays. I had applied for a test as 'practice' and got a date a few days after my return. Instructor was on holiday but found someone else with a similar car for me to take the test. I was v v surprised to pass, especially since i first took the examiner to the wrong car and then stalled within a few minutes of setting out, and stalled several times during the drive. I also had to scrabble around for the headlight switch, I had never driver in the dark but dusk came on during the test.

On hearing the verdict, I had to ask him to repeat himself, I just didn't believe i had passed. Much older DSis took two years of weekly lessons and passed second go, we took our tests about the same age.

Boasting, moi?

peridito · 31/12/2018 09:36

IME it all depends on how good the instructor is .If you're anywhere near Dartmouth/Totnes in Devon I can recommend a lovely one .

mum11970 · 31/12/2018 10:08

We have a motor traders policy and all I can think is that we have a very good insurance broker if others are paying so much more. Didn’t occur to me that it was any different for anyone else as learners are always accompanied. However, insurance does seem to have gone up considerably between our 21 year old and 18 year old passing. Insurance for dd, once she passed, was a staggering amount compared to what we had to pay for ds at the same age.

BringOnTheScience · 31/12/2018 10:23

There are lots of Learner driver insurance providers out there. They have 2 big advantages - the car owner's No Claims Bonus is totally unaffected if there should be a scrape, and the policies can be very short term: just a few weeks if that's what you think you need.

Witchend · 31/12/2018 10:54

DD1 had about 20, but went out a bit with dh.
I was told it's approximately 1 lesson for every year of your life.

Learner driver insurance is cheap compared to once they've just passed.

Stephisaur · 31/12/2018 11:06

I had 2 x 1 hour lessons a week. It took me 9 months to pass my test (2nd time)

My instructor did a bulk booking discount though so if I prepaid then I got 10 lessons for the price of 8.

FOTTOSOFTFOSM · 31/12/2018 11:11

I was 35 before I got in a car with my dad with me driving...

My mum took me out when I was learning but I still had about 8 months of weekly lessons and 2 tests to pass. I didn't go out with my mum until I was pretty confident and almost test ready. She did start talking me through what she was doing when I was in the car though to get me used to what I had to think about eg pointing out road signs etc,.

roundthehorn · 31/12/2018 11:15

Here in Queensland kids have to log 100 hours of supervised driving before they can take their test. I'm about to start with DD3, thoughts and prayers welcome!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 31/12/2018 11:17

DD had 12 lessons (1 hour each) and passed 1st time. We did take her out in our car a lot though, hours and hours.

Nacreous · 31/12/2018 11:22

I had 18hrs of lessons, but practiced with my parents too. I had unusually few lessons I would say: most were around the 30-40 hour mark, with some friends having nearly 100 hours of lessons

Glad I'm not having to think about saving for that for a while!!

BackforGood · 31/12/2018 17:50

Also found longer lessons, closer together were more beneficial as it saved time refreshing what they’d forgotten since the last lesson.

I agree with this.
ds was really disorganised - didn't save when he was earning before he turned 17 / forgot to book a lesson then found he couldn't get a lesson when he wanted etc / would sometimes go 3 weeks without a lesson. It took him forever to pass, as I reckon he must have spent at least 1/3 of each lesson getting back to where he was at the end of the previous lesson.
dd, OTOH had saved from her job before she turned 17 so had her money ready to go, and had 2 hours of lessons each week. Passed in 4.5 months.
If you are in a position of being able to afford 1 lesson a week, I reckon it is much more beneficial to save that money for 3 months, then pay for 2 x lessons a week, and I reckon you'll save over the long term by needing fewer lessons.

Mayrhofen · 31/12/2018 17:53

dS one hour a week for seven months.

DD 1-2 hours a week for nearly two years and three tests.

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 31/12/2018 17:55

About 15 but she had access to a car to practice in between times.

Flip

1 2 3