Anyone learning to drive as an adult?

[Cosmod]

Is anyone here learning to drive as an adult? Is it worth it and how much is the whole thing costing you?

I've just moved to an area where the buses are slow and unreliable, and don't go any further than the town centre. From then on its trains and other buses! I feel very trapped and limited to what I can do, and really wanna broaden my horizons on what I can do with my 2 year old.

I'd love to learn to drive, but need to know how much I need to save to be able to afford to do so. I'm a single parent and relying on part time work and universal credit, so it'll obviously be a while until I can, I just want to know what I'm getting myself into!

Anyone got any advice? Is it worth it or am I better off just putting in the time to travel?

I passed last year and all in it cost me £1000. 30 hours of lessons paid in a block.

What about your first car and first insurance?

I passed aged 39
First car £8000 (paying back £300 a month)
Insurance is £77 a month
Tax £15
And it's costing me approx £80 a month petrol to get to work and back 5 days a week

I used to live in the city and walked or cycled to my job costing zero so it stings a bit!

But I moved to the middle of no where so had no choice.

Ultimately the freedom to get up and go anywhere is worth it.

Cost me approx £1500 to learn and passed 1st time. Test is £62 I think and theory £20 something. I did about 35 hours I think.

I’ve always been on a low income with a UC top up and have worked close to home with good local buses so never learnt to drive.
I’ve just accepted a new job starting in a few months and it would reduce my commute from around 90-120 minutes on public transport to 15-30 if I could drive so I have just started looking at lessons. I’m 39.
I had a few lessons in my 20’s and paid £24 an hour but they are looking at almost £40 an hour now so I’m hoping I can put a bit away each week over the next few weeks and then start having an hour a week once I’ve saved enough for the first block booking. My new job comes with a big salary increase so once I start receiving a wage from there I will be able to afford more but it’s a very demanding job so I don’t know if I will then have much time for lessons 😩 I’m hoping to pass by early next year if I can 🤞🏻

I recently passed my driving test and paid £30ph for lessons. I think I had about 40 hours in total with no practise outside of lessons; so about £1,200. Theory test is £23, practical is £62. I pay £250pm to lease and insure my car but I went for a much fancier car than I needed, if you’re happy with an old banger then that would be a lot cheaper.

It‘s saved me tonnes of money so far because I can get to free places like different parks, museums, forests, farms so don’t need to spend on entertainment anymore. I can nip to the supermarket on the way home from anywhere instead of having to buy everything in one big shop so I waste much less food with there only being 2 of us. It also just makes life a million times easier, popping out somewhere no longer takes the whole day… I’m actually struggling to fill my time a bit now tbh because we can get everything done so quickly!

Just came across this, sorry to hijack OP, I'm a little confused at some of the insurance costs mentioned. I was looking at £200 to £250 per month insurance, that's put me off learning, I'm early 30s

What age/type of car where you quoting on??

Quotes I've run for my teen a few months ago aren't even that high, albeit on an 11/12yo old car.

I passed at 34, and on a 6yo car, I was around the £80-90 per month mark.

That was 7 years ago. I know costs have gone up, but surely not that much?

If I pass my booked test it will be around £1000 I have spent on lessons and tests.
It's £60 for two hours and I've been weekly, will go to fortnightly to keep ticking over until my test (4 months waiting list here) once I've done a few more weekly, but 30 hours in total. I have failed tests before so had some experience but not for almost 10 years. I would be test ready according to my instructor in about a month but 4 months waiting for a test.
I saved the initial amounts for 20 hours and I'm saving now for the next lot. Theory passed first time at £23 with a £5 subscription to an app but I only needed a month of it. Practical is £62 which I've paid for already.

I am currently spending £100 on bus fare and probably another £50+ on taxi's when they aren't running so £150+ a month on travel which I'll have towards a car. I'm looking into costs now.

The buses where I am are starting to get really unreliable and that's why I'm trying once more. That and I'm not as much of a neurotic mess as I used to be now I'm older, so I'm giving it one last go, I've spent around £3-4k over the years I reckon on lessons and failed tests 🤦 and I got to a point where there didn't seem much point throwing good money after bad!
I think the long break has done me good and although I really do want to pass this time, if I don't then I don't, I don't think I'm some sort of failure because of it like you get told on MN .

I've done quotes on online comparison sites. I must have done something wrong, cars I'd looked at around 8 years old. I'll get someone to help me. Pleased I found this thread as it may be affordable after all

Passed at 33.
Lessons were 26ph.started.feb passed june 1 hr a week lessons.
1st car was £850 was an old 03 fiesta. Loved it did me well and is still going, sisters got it now as i needed bigger.
Insurance was £400 for the year. Paid upfront.

Dc does lessons now at 36ph

It is impossible in Glasgow to get a driving instructor as waiting lists so long. So they charge what they like. Some are nearly £40 an hour.