L drivers and the high cost of learning to drive

Learning to drive isn't easy - and it's not cheap either. The cost of getting on the road can drive you round the bend as license fees, lessons and test fees all add up. Experts say Brits each spend more than £1,337 learning to drive which includes the cost of a provisional license, driving lessons and test fees.

In April the cost of the theory test increased from £28.50 to £30.00 and the practical test from £48.50 to £56.50 - a 12.3% increase for both tests. If you want to take the practical test in the evening or weekend it will set you back £67.

Automobile breakdown and car recovery cover, roadside assistance and repair service.

Before you start having lessons, you will need a provisional license which costs £50 - up from £45 - from the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). When you pass your test, you need to upgrade your provisional license to a full one but this is free. Provisional license holders can have lessons with a driving instructor or practise with someone aged 21 or over who has held their license for at least three years.

What your driving lessons could cost

Although its not compulsory (yet?), having lessons with an approved driving instructor (ADI) is the best way to get ready to pass your test. Research from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) shows that the average person will need 45 hours of lessons before they pass their test while other research suggests that it will take roughly double your age in the amount of lessons you will need. Hence its better to learn when youre young; a 17-year-old will take about 34 lessons to be test-ready while a 30-year-old could need 60 lessons.

The cost of lessons varies according to where you live and the driving school you choose, but its normally about £24 per hour. Some driving schools offer a cheaper rate if you block book lessons up front - for example, if you book a block of 12 lessons with the AA, you get £2 off each one - but its a good idea to check you get on with your instructor before doing so.

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You can take the combined theory and hazard perception test theory test whenever you like - before or after you start learning to drive - but you must pass the theory test before you book the practical.

For those drivers who do manage to fund and successfully pass their driving test, the costs don't end as the celebrations begin. Ripping up the L-plates to start a new independent life on the road doesn't come cheap. New drivers must factor in the cost of buying and maintaining a vehicle, including road tax, MOT, fuel costs (which currently stand at an all time high) and car insurance.

High cost of car insurance

Younger drivers can expect to pay an average of £695 for their car insurance - 67% more than the national average premium of £416. These costs make it essential for young drivers to save themselves money wherever they can and shop around for the most competitive deal.

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Insurers have clamped down on "fronting" which is where parents claim to be the main driver of a car which is actually driven predominantly by their son or daughter. Fronting is technically fraud and if caught the consequences are serious for both parent and offspring.

30 May 2008 © Moneyextra.com

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