How many driving lessons do you need?

If you’re learning to drive, you'll no doubt be wondering how many driving lessons you need before you're test ready. Lessons are expensive, so it’s natural to want to know how many you’ll need before booking.

While we'd love to give you a straightforward answer, the amount of driving lessons needed really depends on the individual; taking your experience, your instructor, confidence, how often you practice and how quickly you pick things up, all into account.

In this guide we'll dive into what factors affect the number of lessons you'll need, and tips to help you make the most out of your lessons.

What's covered:

• How many driving lessons does the average learner need?
• What affects how many driving lessons you’ll need?
• 5 tips for making the most of your driving lessons
• Driving lessons: FAQs

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How many driving lessons does the average learner need?

According to the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency)*, the average amount of lessons a learner needs is:

That’s 67 hours of driving experience before most people are ready to take their practical test.

But this is just a guide — some learners pass with fewer hours, others need more. For example, faster learners may find 20-30 hours of lessons is enough, while slower learners may need up to 60-80 hours before they're test ready.

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What affects how many driving lessons you’ll need?

There are several factors that come into play when determining how many lessons you need before your test.

1. Age

Age is an important factor in learning to drive. Data from DVSA on driving test pass rates* demonstrates that younger learners tend to pass faster: 17-year-olds have the highest pass rate at 59.2%, with rates gradually declining with age.

So, the older you are, the more lessons you might want to consider to build your confidence behind the wheel and ensure you're fully prepared.

Male learners also tend to have slightly higher pass rates than female learners, though the gap is narrowing. Older learners may need more time to develop safe driving skills, but consistency goes a long way.

2. Your learning style and pace

People learn at different speeds. You might take to driving like a duck to water, or it might take you a little longer to feel confident and comfortable wheel. Similarly, everyone has a different learning style; some learn best through repetition, while others are visual learners who might benefit from using flashcards and diagrams.

A good instructor will tailor their teaching strategies to the learner, ensuring they've fully absorbed each aspect of driving before moving onto more difficult tasks.

3. Lesson Frequency

How often you take lessons can massively impact how quickly you learn. Learners who drive once or twice a week tend to retain skills better and build momentum, while those who take long gaps between lessons tend to have slower progress.

Longer lessons (e.g. 2 hours per lesson or more ) can also help you cover more ground and get the most out of your money.

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4. Your driving instructor

An experienced instructor should help you progress weekly, while teaching new skills, help you avoid bad habits, and build your confidence as a new driver. Their lessons should be tailored to your learning style.

The right instructor could help you reach a test-ready standard in a shorter amount of time.

5. Private practice

Practice makes perfect! If you have access to a private vehicle (e.g. a family member's car) for practice, you can significantly increase your driving experience and may require fewer lessons overall.

The more time you spend behind the wheel, the faster you’ll improve. In fact, research shows that you're 1.5 times more likely to pass when you combine private practice with driving lessons.*

6. Previous driving experience

If you’ve driven before, perhaps in another country or on private land, you may already be familiar with basic controls and road signs. Having a basic foundation can help reduce the number of lessons needed. However, UK driving tests have specific standards, so formal instruction is still essential to meet DVSA requirements.

7. Driving Environment

Where you learn to drive matters. If you’re learning in a busy city with complex junctions and heavy traffic, you may need more lessons to feel confident. In quieter rural areas, learners might progress faster due to simpler road layouts. Your environment shapes the challenges you face, and the time it takes to master them.

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5 tips for making the most of your driving lessons

1. Consistency is key!

Taking long gaps between lessons can squash your progress and make you forget techniques and road knowledge. Exams, holidays and work commitments can all get in the way of your progress so make sure you plan your life around your lessons.

Tip: Try to book 2–4 hours of lessons per week. Regular driving helps build muscle memory and keeps your progress on track.

2. Practise between lessons

Private practice helps you apply what you’ve learned, while boosting your confidence and driving experience.

As per DVSA's advice, you should be aiming to do at least 22 hours of private practice outside of professional lessons. Just make sure that:

• You’re supervised by someone over 21 who’s held a full licence for 3+ years

• You’re properly insured. Make sure you take out adequate learner driver insurance, and if you're driving someone else's car, such as a parent's, make sure you're a named driver on their policy.

3. Focus on your weak spots

Struggling with parallel parking? Nervous about hill starts? Use your lessons to tackle the tricky stuff. Your instructor should help you identify areas to improve and don’t be afraid to speak up.

4. Know the rules of the road

When you start learning to drive, you should aim to pass your theory test as soon as possible. This way you'll have a much better grasp of UK road rules, which will help you during driving lessons.

It's also worth familiarising yourself with the Highway code, which you can download here.

5. Budget wisely

Driving lessons are expensive business, so you'll want to use your money wisely to maximise your learning time. Generally, you can expect to pay around £25 to £35 per hour, depending on location. To save money:

• Book lessons in blocks (many instructors offer discounts for block bookings)

• Ask about student rates

• Practise privately as much as possible (with the right insurance)

6. Find the right instructor

Choosing the right instructor for you can make a big difference in your learning journey and ultimately passing your driving test. Not sure where to start? Check out our guide here.

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Sources:

*DVSA - Ready to Pass?

*DVSA - Driving test and theory test data: cars

*GOV.UK - How driving instructors can use and support the campaign