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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Driving lessons - how many?

50 replies

Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:31

My 17yo has been getting driving lessons. I have been paying for them in blocks of 5 lessons (2 hours per lesson). So far, I have paid for 5 blocks of lessons which now in total as cost me £1800. Every time he comes to the end of a block, the instructor asks me for another payment. I keep asking him how many lessons are needed and was originally told at least 40 hours but you just pay for lessons until he passes his test!
I messaged him today to ask how many more lessons are needed and his response "he needs to pass his theory then book his text, lessons taken until he passes". I then explained its a 5 month waiting list for practicals so no way am I just gonna keep paying for lessons. he said he could get a cancellation if he's ready.
Does this sound right? I feel like he's taking the pi**. I do take my son out occasionally but I'm a nervous passenger so it never ends well.
He did fail his theory so has it booked in again for early June.
Maybe this is normal and he's just not picked it up very well - I'd be interested to hear other's experiences. I cannot afford any more.

EDIT: I've have just googled it and read that they should have 'on average' around 45 hours PLUS 20 hours or practice.
So, maybe its me being unreasonable. Yikes, I'm gonna have to start taking him out more.

OP posts:
LadyDanburysHat · 15/05/2025 13:37

They shouldn't need loads of hours of lessons if they can practice regularly outside of that. Theory should really have been done before the start of lessons as the wait is so long for tests. A good instructor would tell you if your DC was ready for a test or not.

Original poster
Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:41

@LadyDanburysHat That was our absolute first mistake - not getting his theory test sorted earlier!!! I definitely need to get him out more - I HATE IT

OP posts:
DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 15/05/2025 13:42

Once DS passed his theory we booked him some intensive lessons, he had been having 1-2 hours a week for a couple of months before this. The intensive course was 5 x 6 hour days with a test on the last day.

He failed 2 practical tests but the intensive school got cancellations within a couple of weeks and just did a couple of hours of lessons before each test, with us taking him out in between. I would recommend looking at a school that offers intensive lessons. The school we went with offered 1-5 days depending on previous driving experience.

Original poster
Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:43

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 15/05/2025 13:42

Once DS passed his theory we booked him some intensive lessons, he had been having 1-2 hours a week for a couple of months before this. The intensive course was 5 x 6 hour days with a test on the last day.

He failed 2 practical tests but the intensive school got cancellations within a couple of weeks and just did a couple of hours of lessons before each test, with us taking him out in between. I would recommend looking at a school that offers intensive lessons. The school we went with offered 1-5 days depending on previous driving experience.

I wish I had booked his theory before he even started lessons!!

OP posts:
ZebraPrintt · 15/05/2025 13:44

It's so bloody expensive. I started learning at 17, I didn't realise at the time but after alot of money (not as much as it is now), my mum knew he was taking the piss so I stopped. Id had a good few. Then started up again when I was 21, went with a new guy who took me on one lesson and said book a block of 10 and I'll have your test passed, if not lessons after that would be free. I did pass first time. I would say trust your gut, or even book 1 lesson with someone new just to see if they do anything differently

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 15/05/2025 13:45

Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:43

I wish I had booked his theory before he even started lessons!!

Show quote history

Yes with hindsight its easy to see that, but we were none the wiser at the time. Times for theory tests were a month or so apart, but we had to swap test centres.

LadyDanburysHat · 15/05/2025 13:45

I think it would be fair to say you are taking a break from lessons until your DS passes his theory, you are just wasting money otherwise.

For more info on number of lessons my eldest had 10, however it was covid times and we waited forever for a test. He practiced with me for months between some of his lessons. And he was very confident in learning.

My middle one is 2 weeks from his test now and has probably had double that in lessons, but he is less confident. And less keen to practice regularly with me, although still out a couple of times a week.

Original poster
Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:45

@ZebraPrintt thank you! He did come highly recommended which is why I chose him.

OP posts:
HelpAWelshie · 15/05/2025 13:47

This one is on you a bit I think. You do need to be a bit more prepared with his theory and then getting his practical booked because it’s such a long wait. Although, I think the driving instructor not communicating this with you or him is a bit shit.

I’d recommend stopping lessons, getting his theory passed then booking a practical as soon as you can after that. Then you can restart lessons and hopefully he won’t need many if he’s already got a fair amount of hours done already.

Original poster
Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:48

@LadyDanburysHat well I've just paid for another block of 5 but he will have his theory test soon. I did think about just stopping lessons but I worry that all that money will go down the drain if he doesn't keep up with them.
I will just have to assess the situation after this block is finished. I may just have to take him out myself then book 1 lesson before his test maybe.

OP posts:
pengwing · 15/05/2025 13:49

I agree I’d pause the lessons til he’s passed his theory. Are you able to keep taking him out in the meantime? Then practical a test and book lessons back in at that point.

Luluco · 15/05/2025 13:50

DS17 passed last year and had about 35 hours. Never went out with us at all in the car so all with the instructor. I think this is about average.

Original poster
Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:51

His instructor hasn't even covered parallel parking or 3 point turns yet!!
I think I might let him have today and next week and then freeze the last 3 lessons until he has passed his theory test.

OP posts:
Ohfuckrucksack · 15/05/2025 13:51

Agree with the others. Stop now, theory test booked and passed. Practical test booked.

If you can keep them practising whilst this gets done, do that.

Once that's all in place (theory passed) then restart lessons, with the practical test date as the goal.

I refused to pay for practical lessons until theory was passed.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 15/05/2025 13:52

Is there a reason why he didn't book the theory test himself, OP?

My dd was far more clued up than I was about how far in advance she needed to book stuff because that seems to be common knowledge amongst young people. I did pay for most of her lessons (I think around 30-40 in total) but she sorted everything else.

EdisinBurgh · 15/05/2025 13:52

Wow! My nephew only had ten lessons as that’s all they could afford. Supplemented by regular (2/3 times a week) driving practice with his Dad that mirrored rhe lessons. Driving practice included driving regular errands such as to the supermarket or sports clubs for siblings so lots of practice shoe-horned into family life. Passed no problem.

I thought ten lessons was at the frugal end but not far from the norm. This is another level!

spiderlight · 15/05/2025 13:52

Mine booked his theory test as soon as he started practical lessons, and then I think he had four blocks of ten hours of lessons with the instructor (so 40 altogether), and DH took him out for a couple of hours several times a week as well. He booked his test as he started the third block and still had quite a wait - he used a cancellation app to try for an earlier test, but the only slots that came up were during a week when he was completely floored with COVID. He flew through the test first time with no minors, so it was worth the time and money, but it did seem like a lot at the time.

Original poster
Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:54

@spiderlight I think the key takeaway now is to get him out myself a lot more. Not booking the theory early enough is a bit pointless complaining about now - that ship has sailed.

OP posts:
MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 15/05/2025 13:56

EdisinBurgh · 15/05/2025 13:52

Wow! My nephew only had ten lessons as that’s all they could afford. Supplemented by regular (2/3 times a week) driving practice with his Dad that mirrored rhe lessons. Driving practice included driving regular errands such as to the supermarket or sports clubs for siblings so lots of practice shoe-horned into family life. Passed no problem.

I thought ten lessons was at the frugal end but not far from the norm. This is another level!

I think a lot depends on how much practice they get in between.

DD didn't have any practice outside her lessons as I didn't really want to take her out and DH doesn't drive, so we were happy to pay for a few extra lessons instead. However, a young person getting plenty of practice wouldn't need so many.

HelpAWelshie · 15/05/2025 13:56

@Anon751117000 they don’t do 3 point turns for the test anymore. I’ve had 2 DC pass and neither did parallel parking or the other manoeuvres until a lesson or 2 before their test.

Original poster
Anon751117000 · 15/05/2025 13:57

@HelpAWelshie that's good to know! I did wonder if it had all changed now. I mean, I passed 30 years ago!!

OP posts:
Sdpbody · 15/05/2025 14:00

My DD took her theory the week after her 17th birthday (March) and we immediately booked her in for a driving test which was scheduled for June (we were prepared to rearrange if we needed too).

She had 2, 2 hour lessons a week and drove daily with us for 30mins/1hour. We liked having a timeline to work to and she passed her test first time with 3 minors.

FrenchandSaunders · 15/05/2025 14:53

You have to try to get over the nerves and take him out a lot yourself, or your DH/other family member. It is scary to start with but after that many lessons he should be pretty confident.

My DD only had ten proper lessons, we just took her out constantly leading up to her test, every day, sometimes a few times a day. Download the routes for your local test centre and do those.

Some driving instructors do take the mick ... DDs one was upset with her for not using his car and paying for it, during her test. She used hers as she was far more familiar with it.

whirlyhead · 15/05/2025 14:56

My friend's driving instructor told her one hour for each year you have been alive which sounds a lot...

I did mine after 4 hours of lessons and a few hours of practice and passed with no errors and that was at the age of 18.

mondaytosunday · 15/05/2025 15:02

Yea that theory test…. It took my son four goes at it and he basically stopped his lessons til he passed it. He lives 70 miles away so no chance if practice sessions (plus the insurance is pretty prohibitive). He eventually passed first time and I think he probably did about 40 lessons in all.
My DD will learn this summer and passed her theory last summer. She’s never sat behind the wheel so I reckon it will take her a lot of lessons as she’s not very confident about it. Learning in London too (as I did, which I think is a good thing as used to lots of traffic and tight spaces).

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