My friend just told me I will never pass my driving test only doing a 1 hour a week lesson

[Evangeline1992]

Is she right? :( I am not in a position to afford any more than that right now and feel a bit deflated now. My first lesson is tomorrow and she said I might as well not bother as it isn't enough time.

I know people who had 1 x 2hr lesson per week and I’m sure their instructors were conning them. They (male instructors) were having them drive to far away locations that were nowhere near the local test centre.

I think that’s quite a specific problem relating to some dodgy instructors. Most driving instructors aren’t out to con you. My two hour lessons were all around the test routes. It was better for me because a smaller proportion of each lesson was spent driving there.

There’s nothing wrong with doing exclusively one hour lessons. There also nothing wrong with doing two hour lessons.

If I were you op, I’d save a bit first and do longer or more regular lessons to make faster progress. That might save money overall. Totally up to you though.

I passed in 1997 and I had 1 hour a week for 7 weeks and passed on my 8th week. She is talking rubbish I think unless tests have changed dramatically in that time.?

You will be fine.

Ignore her, most people only do 1 lesson a week . Does she drive ? Maybe has a hang up about it

I had one lesson a week with no additional practice. I did have 2 a week nearer the time of the test though to build my confidence a bit

Your friend is not necessarily correct

I had two hour lessons once a week but I work with a young lad (17) who has just passed first time after seven lessons which is great, his insurance is £5,000 though on a 1.2 Fiesta that cost half that

I did one hour a week for 6 months and passed second time, the first time I failed because I panicked reversing round the corner and touched the kerb so not really a major problem and I passed easily second time with only 2 minors. Between the first and second tests two weeks apart I did 2 hours a week just to up my confidence. Its 100% possible in fact I don't know anybody who did more than an hour a week unless the instructor was a relative teaching them for free

You'll pass eventually but it might be a false economy, as you'll spend half the lesson recapping the previous week. It might work out faster and cheaper if you save the money you would have spent on lessons for a few months, then get an intensive course.

It may just take you longer that way but when you get to grips with the basics I would try and increase it to 2 hours a week.

It's so difficult to get tests at the moment anyway and that is going to go on well into summer next year so unless you have a particular need to pass asap and will go all out with app service for cancellation slots, having one hour a week for the foreseeable is actually very sensible and many driving instructors won't be able to offer more than that a the moment. Good luck, with friends like that, who needs enemies.

My daughter passed first time from 1hour a week, we upped it to 2hrs nearer to her test time. Good luck.

You'll be fine. I passed first time and had one one hour lesson a week. Took 5 ish months. Good luck for your first lesson!

I have a friend who could only afford one 45 minute lesson per week and had no one to go out and practice with. Still passed first time.

I could only afford one hour per week and I had no car available for practice. It is possible.

Haven't read the full thread but it's worth thinking about where the test centre is. If it's a 25 minute drive from your house an hour isn't really enough to get any significant experience driving on the test routes which may put you at a disadvantage. If it's a 5 min drive then great!

Wait a minute .... can she drive? Her comment smacks of jealousy and resentment.

Is she the go to friend because she can drive?

Honestly you don't need someone like her in your life, she is no friend. Friends help and support each other not drag you down.

Maybe it was different 15 years ago but it was normal for everyone to just have 1 hour a week! Most people I knew passed first time in well under a year with the 1 hour a week

Most people I know did that. I had two hour long lessons weekly, but that was due to the lesson taking me home from work, if that makes sense.

Tbh practising with a family member can be detrimental - they often don't realise that certain things have changed in the test, try to teach you the wrong thing etc! They can pass on 'bad habits' and make you more nervous, sometimes.

I did 1 hour a week and took me a year and passed second test. I prob would have done 2 hours looking back but it was fine.

I did. I was 17, passed first time. It's a physical skill plus road skills. You can 'practice' without a car if you're concerned. Get in a chair and think through things. Great way to train the muscles and brain ready for the next lesson. Also paying attention when you're a passenger to road signs, road position when to signal etc.

Depends entirely on how you learn. I started on a 2 hour lesson once a week and 18 years later still hadn’t passed! (I had gaps where I stopped for a couple of years in between 1-2 years of learning). Every time I got back in the car I had forgotten everything- my instructors (many of them) said it was like starting from scratch every time.

But I know people with different learning styles who picked it up quickly. Most people I know who have passed had 2 lessons per week and practice with a family member.

When I eventually passed (At 37) I had an intensive 3 weeks of 4 hour lessons a day 5 days a week right up to the day of my test. I passed with no minors. There is no way I would have passed on 1 hour a week.

People saying they passed years ago with only a few lessons - I think it was easier to pass back then. (I passed over 35 years ago). Certainly where we live, the roads are busier and more complex than years ago - 20mph limits (if you're a learner you will be the only one doing 20), bus lanes, spiral roundabouts with traffic lights... When my DDs were taking their tests I looked up pass rates, and the highest pass rates were in rural areas where they don't have these things to contend with.

My daughter passed a couple of years ago on one lesson a week. Took her 18 months as she was quite nervous. Loves driving now.
Some people are very deflating/negative best not to spend too much (or any ) time with them. Same with your instructor, if he/she does not suit, get another! Enjoy your lessons!

Well if you listen to her then you definitely won't pass, because you won't even start! You are doing a good thing in learning to drive, it will help you in so many ways. Don't be put off or dragged down by other people.

A reliable driving instructor once told me than an hour per week would realistically take 18 months to pass.

I don’t really trust instructors and always suspect them of conning people.