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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Driving lessons..a life skill or luxury?

134 replies

Uurrjb · 17/11/2023 21:49

Hi do you view driving lessons like swimming lessons?

You learn from parents and have a top up from paid lessons to improve (obviously you have to have formal lessons from an instructor for driving and the f you have a spare but of cash for a weekly swim club)
trying to work out…when your teen is ready to learn to drive do you pay like you would for additional swim lessons when little (cause you had a toddler and a baby and life etc) and it’s an an essential life skill to swim (and you can take them out to practice)

or is it a birthday present as it’s a lifestyle choice and it’s actually quite expensive

OP posts:
scaredofff · 17/11/2023 21:51

I my family you aren't asked what you want for your 17th, it's driving lessons no matter what

I was thinking the other day how valued it is as a skill to me and how much more difficult it would have been to learn later on in life when I have more distractions compared to being at college and passing my test being the only thing on my mind

DustyLee123 · 17/11/2023 21:52

For me it’s an essential life skill.

Singsonggsu · 17/11/2023 21:54

I agree it’s a life skill. But if you can’t afford to pay for your kids to have lessons then that’s difficult!

kittythames · 17/11/2023 21:54

Agree it's an essential life skill, although I don't think this doesn't mean you can't gift the lessons.

BeetyAxe · 17/11/2023 21:54

It’s a life skill. So many jobs count you out without a licence.

Pipsquiggle · 17/11/2023 21:57

It's an essential life skill.

If you can afford it, you pay for lessons, then the parents help boost up the driving hours /practice in-between.

RosesAndHellebores · 17/11/2023 21:58

It's a life skill. If parents can't pay, children must when they are earning.

MrsAvocet · 17/11/2023 21:58

Where we live, in the countryside with literally no public transport it's seen more as a necessity than a luxury. I think the parents in our area look forward to their children learning to drive at least as much as the youngsters themselves do!
DH has taught ours to drive though, with a few lessons from instructors at the end to learn the test routes etc so we haven't spent a huge amount on lessons.

Duvetdweller · 17/11/2023 21:59

I think it’s such an important life skill that the lessons should be heavily subsidised - I think it’s unfair that some kids won’t get the opportunity as it’s prohibitively expensive

NorthernSpirit · 17/11/2023 21:59

I believe it’s a life skill, although I don’t think kids need driving lessons at 17/18.

Not everyone can afford a car, insurance etc for 17/18 year olds.

No reason they can’t afford to pay for their own lessons later in life when working.

allhellcantstopusnow · 17/11/2023 21:59

Life skill. I'll pay for my daughter to learn and her first car, same as my parents did for me.

gotomomo · 17/11/2023 22:01

It's only an essential skill if you live remotely. I was in my 30's when I learned to drive . One of my DD's saved up her summer job income whilst at university for hers, the other hasn't bothered yet

shivawn · 17/11/2023 22:01

Life skill. I'll make sure my kids get lessons and they'll be insured on our cars until they get their own.

Fourfurrymonsters · 17/11/2023 22:01

Life skill for sure. My 2 both got driving lessons for their 17th birthdays. My son is a mechanic (almost fully qualified now and turned 20 last week) and really needed it for his job, as well.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 17/11/2023 22:03

Absolutely a life skill where we are. Rural and minimal public transport. My teens couldn’t have done half as much as they have in terms of work and socialising if they couldn’t drive because it wouldn’t have always been possible for me and DH to have given them lifts.

JamSandle · 17/11/2023 22:04

It's a life skill but an expensive one.

CherryBlossom321 · 17/11/2023 22:06

Depends on your circumstances. I’m 40 with two teens and I can’t drive. I get by. I would like to pay for them to do it however when the time comes. As it’s so expensive, it will be a luxury for us.

daffodilandtulip · 17/11/2023 22:06

It's a life skill but it doesn't have to be at 17/18 of that doesn't work / you can't afford. DD is off to uni, and she's said herself that it would be a waste as she won't need a car while she's there, plus she enjoys spending every spare minute studying and doesn't want a distraction. She's said she'd like to learn when she's 20, prior to her industry year. I paid for myself but I do plan on paying/helping DD.

DrCoconut · 17/11/2023 22:07

I didn't get to drive until my 30s. My parents couldn't afford it when i was 17 and then when I tried in my 20s I had to give up due to the expense. It's definitely a huge privilege to have it paid for when you're young.

persisted · 17/11/2023 22:09

Life skill.
I was 25 before I learned to drive because no-one was in a position to pay for it and it took that long before I could. It meant I missed a lot of opportunities.

Littlebitofacold · 17/11/2023 22:09

Definite life skill.

Always driving lessons for 17th birthday in my family (cousins etc) and some cheap cars for 18ths.

However some people can’t afford to give their kids swimming lessons never mind driving lessons. Both are very sad to me!

ThePoshUns · 17/11/2023 22:12

Essential life skill.
Limits opportunities if you can't drive

Amberlady · 17/11/2023 22:14

Life skill. Modern life and options for employment can be very compromised if you cant drive. Ok you can manage without it, but choices are more restricted.

supersonicginandtonic · 17/11/2023 22:15

Definite life skill, my parents put 7 of us through driving lessons when we turned 17. All drive daily now.

Justcallmebebes · 17/11/2023 22:16

Like swimming, absolute life skill