How long did your dc take to learn to drive?

[thebluehen]

What's the average amount of lessons over what sort of time frame?

I know everyone's different but it would be helpful to get some feedback from other people.

I'd say average is anywhere between 10-20 hours. Though not uncommon to need up to 30. Above that I think would be excessive.

DS (surprisingly) didn't start lessons until just after his 18th birthday. I think he had about 10 lessons, plus practice with DH (we bought him a second hand car which he contributed towards) and passed his test first time after about two months.

10 months and passed first time (have to say was not expecting that!). For the last couple of months she was also practising in her car. Looking back she felt that extra practice helped.

Both passed first time 4 months after turning 17. They had an hour long lesson each week with extra lessons close to the test date. I went out with ds at least daily for between half an hour and an hour. I did less with dd I think. She had less free time as it was a busier time in the school year. I think we spent around £300 on lessons for each of them.

My dd passed first time after 3 months and had about 20 hours of lessons.She also had lots of practise with me or dh in between lessons. She was so desperate to pass!

DD has just failed her test after 30 lessons and practice in our car. She couldn't get another test booked for 8 weeks.

My DS had about 30 hours tuition and about 3 hours practice with me and passed 2nd time . What we discovered was that the amount of lessons was less important than the actual instructor - we had 3 and it was only the last one where he made any kind of progress and he only had about 8 lessons with him .

ds1 is learning to drive. hes had about 10 hours so far. we need to book him in for his theory test and hopefully he will be ready not long after that.

he has his own car already but its not insured as he hasn't got a proper job yet and only he occasional shift, so he needs to get a steady part time job to be able to drive his own car. We've paid for the lessons, the car, the provisional license and will be paying for the tests, its only fair that he pays the insurance.

the instructor, says that the dvla say 50 odd hours average for those to pass their test but he reckons on 30 hours ish.

The first time pass rate is approximately 50%

DD failed for not going through an amber light - perhaps she braked too suddenly. The examiner told her she is clearly "a competent driver, but on this occasion he was unable to pass her".

DS had about 15 hours of lessons I think, maybe less; I paid £500 for them as a GCSE gift.

He bought his own car so drove himself to school and back with me sitting in which helped a lot.

Passed first time within about 5 months of starting.

The practical test cost £120.

Our DSes' driving instructor said the average was 30 hours.

DS1 did it in 10 weeks, 20 hours with the instructor and practise with us.

DS2 did it in 15 week, 22 hours with the instructor and practice with us.

You can buy learner driver insurance for your car. It is an individual policy so if they did have an accident it wouldn't affect your no claims. We paid about £250 each time. It is well worth it because it means they get a lot of experience. We took out two round the local town where they do the test, so the knew the traffic lights, road layouts and roundabouts really, really well.

It paid off, they both passed 1st time with 3 minors.

The practical test cost £120.

Christ on a bike! DS2 passed in September, it cost me £62!

Oh - maybe DD meant the combined cost of both test is £120. Off to google.......

Apologies - £62 for a test.

About 600.

That's how long it took.

My ds did a week long intensive course driving for four to five hours each day. Cost £600. He passed his test at the end of the week first time.

I thought about an intensive course for DS, my worry is that he's not going to get enough practice between lessons as I've just had my licence revoked so won't be able to sit with him.

I would be wary of intensive courses. A week is not long enough to gain any kind of experience. I think it's important to make sure they have lessons at all times of day, in the dark and most importantly in ice and fog.
DS had a mix of lessons and practise with me. He drove everywhere we went for several months. He failed his first test on minor faults and said to me six months after passing that in hindsight he was far from ready to drive alone. I also paid extra for a 2 hour motorway lesson after the test was passed.

It's also worth thinking about when they have passed. I did not let DS take passengers for six months and even now over a year later I would not let him drive a car load of lads at night.

In his year group I've lost count of the number of boys who have had accidents within days or weeks of passing. Usually while driving the car given by generous parents.

Dd had 25 hours of lessons in total but loads of practice in our car too ( we paid for learner driver insurance). She had had 8 lessons before her instructor said she would be ok on quiet roads for practice. After a few more weeks she was very secure and drove us everywhere. She passed her test on the second attempt just under 6 months from her first lesson. The recommendation is about 70 hours of driving which she far exceeded.

A few months after she passed we then paid for her to do the pass plus course so she could have some proper lessons on the motorway.

We have a huge car sono practise took dd a year but failed first time passed 2nd time 6ish weeks after

fairy which insurance company did you use? DS is about to turn 17 and he would like to practice in my car between lessons. Although having seen him on a teens supercar driving day, I'm a little worried ...

My dd(17) had about 45 hours and passed first time. She didn't have any extra practice inbetween lessons.

DSS1 did 45 hours of tuition over a year. Passed first time and he really could drive in Paris traffic straight away without people fearing for their lives/car!