Everyone wants to pass their driving test quickly. The sooner you pass, the sooner you’ll be driving independently. And the fewer lessons you have to pay for, the less learning to drive will cost. On the other hand, driving safely is a life skill that can’t be rushed. So, how long does it take to learn to drive?
Learning to drive at your pace
As a rule of thumb, learning to drive takes around 45 hours of professional lessons and 20 hours of practice. That could be spread out over three or four months.
The trouble is, everyone is different. There’s no guarantee that 45 hours with an instructor will be enough. Equally, you could take to driving really easily and pass with fewer lessons. The question “How long does it take to learn to drive?” is a really hard one, because the answer is different for different drivers.
Giving yourself the best chance of passing
We can’t guarantee that you’ll pass the first time, or that 45 hours with your instructor will get you to test standard. But you can give yourself a good chance of passing. Here’s how…
- Find the right instructor. Recommendations from friends go a long way.
- Don’t neglect theory. You need to pass the theory test as well as the practical, remember.
- Read the Highway Code. You’ll need this knowledge for the theory test, and to make you a better driver on the road.
- Use apps. There are lots of great apps to help you get to grips with driving.
- Practise in between lessons. It helps reinforce what you learn with your instructor.
- Believe in yourself. Your instructor won’t put your forward for your practical test until they believe you are ready.
- Learn from failure. If you don’t pass the first time, learn from your mistakes and come back stronger.
