Paige Williams, a 28-year-old single mother from Barnsley, is striving to obtain her driver’s license. Her three-year-old son’s occasional public transportation meltdowns—involving screaming, crying, or floor-throwing—make the prospect of driving a necessity for easier family visits and outings.
However, the £35-per-hour cost of driving lessons forces her to severely curtail spending on food, gas, and electricity. “It’s a constant struggle to afford even one lesson a week,” she explains.
This financial strain reflects a broader trend. Rising driving lesson costs, coupled with the existing high cost of living, are impacting numerous learners. The BBC interviewed over a dozen learners and instructors, revealing widespread frustration over pricing and differing perspectives on its justification.
While the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) doesn’t publish average lesson cost statistics, a September 2024 DVSA survey of over 5,000 approved driving instructors (ADIs) highlights a significant price increase. The most common hourly rate was £36-£40, with only 31.5% charging £35 or less (a halving since June 2023), and nearly triple the number charging over £40 compared to June 2023.
For many, driving is essential for childcare, commuting, and care responsibilities. Public transport may be unaffordable, inaccessible, or unavailable. Department for Transport figures show that two-thirds of British commuters drive, and 45% of 5-10 year olds are driven to school.
Faustina Kamara, a 23-year-old aspiring media runner in Birmingham, faces similar challenges. Her £60 two-hour lessons limit her to bi-weekly sessions, delaying her test. Sandra Onuora, a 30-year-old civil servant in Newcastle, managed only three lessons a month due to cost, extending her learning period and impacting her quality of life. She endured a grueling daily commute involving six buses.
Adding to the strain, a substantial driving test backlog means learners, like Keith Rose’s 17-year-old son, must continue lessons to maintain skills, incurring further costs while awaiting tests. The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, has acknowledged the long waiting times and pledged to reduce average wait times to under seven weeks by summer 2026.
Instructors defend their pricing, citing rising business expenses: car costs, fuel, insurance, and maintenance. Stewart Lochrie, chair of the ADINJ, suggests prices were previously under-priced. Terry Edwards, an instructor in Ashford, Kent, details his monthly expenses (fuel: £280; insurance: £135; car payments: £440), highlighting that increased lesson prices don’t translate to significant pay increases.
High costs are deterring some, like Amy Burnett, a 22-year-old pharmacy advisor in Glasgow, from pursuing lessons. She hopes to learn by 24, if affordable options become available. Paige, however, remains determined, viewing driving as a crucial step towards returning to work and reducing stress, ultimately enabling cherished seaside trips with her children.