Learner Drivers Spend Average £924 on Lessons and Tests Before Passing

Learner drivers spend an average of at least £924 on lessons, theory tests and practical tests before obtaining a full licence, GB News reported. The typical learner completes 18.5 hours of lessons costing around £777 at national average prices, plus the £23 theory test fee.

Approximately half of learners require at least two practical test attempts, leading many to spend about £124 on test fees alone.

Nineteen per cent of learners have considered giving up because of cost, while a quarter identified upfront expenses as the biggest barrier. Almost one in four respondents said inability to drive restricts job opportunities, travel and social lives. Almost half cited gaining independence as their main motivation for learning.

First-year costs after passing range from around £3,430 for a Fiat 500 Pop to more than £7,700 for an Audi A1 Sport when insurance, road tax and purchase price are included. Insurance for drivers aged 17-20 starts at around £1,063 for a Fiat 500 and reaches £2,015 for an Audi A1. Vehicle Excise Duty varies from £20-£35 a year for some models to £360 for certain Volkswagen Polo variants.

Drivers across the UK spent more than £400 million on practical tests between 2023 and 2025, according to DVSA data cited by GB News. Annual income from those tests rose seven per cent from £128 million to £137 million over the period. Learners spent a further £221.6 million on theory tests, including £79.6 million in 2025.

The average wait for a practical test stood at 12.3 weeks. The longest delays occurred at the Isles of Scilly with 25.4 weeks, followed by Arbroath at 19 weeks and Wellingborough at 17.3 weeks. Matt Crole-Rees, car insurance expert at Confused.com, said learning to drive remains a major milestone but costs are becoming increasingly difficult for many young people to meet.