Cost of Driving Lessons and Ways to keep it Down

There's no escaping the fact that learning to drive is expensive . According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) it takes on average 45 hours of lessons and 20 hours of private practice to pass the driving test. The cost of lessons has sky-rocketed in recent years, with many learners paying between £30-50. Taking £40 as average that's £1800 just for lessons.

There are other costs too; a provisional driving licence is £34, the theory test is £23 and the driving test itself is £75. Totting that up, you can expect to pay upwards of £1919!

Obviously, when it comes to preparing  yourself, for lifetime of safe motoring you don't want to cut corners but there are ways to save.

Block-book lessons

Many driving schools and instructors offer a discount for block-booking lessons. For example, a driving school might offer lessons at £35/hr but a block booking for 10 at £330 (£30 saving)

However, do wait until you're sure the instructor and your teen are a good fit for each other before taking the plunge. You don't want them to be locked into a tutor-pupil relationship that just isn't working. Once you know your teen is happy to continue with their instructor then by all means take advantage of the savings.

 

Choose the right insurance

You can take out learner driver insurance, which can be taken out on short periods ie month by month basis.

The more you practice, the faster they're likely to pass their test.

 

It's cheaper to take a driving test on a weekday (£62) than evenings, weekends and bank holidays (£75), so book strategically to save money.

Stay Calm on your Test Day

No matter how desperate you are for you  to pass first time so you can stop shelling out for lessons, do your best not to let it show.

Use techniques such as breathing exercises, affirmations such as 'I am ready to drive alone' or imagining that they are a different character, such as a cool, calm airline pilot, to get them into the right emotional and mental space for a successful test pass."

 

National Pothole Day -  is 15th January and the purpose of that is to raise their awareness.

Potholes are formed by a combination of weather and wear. Water gets into small cracks in the road, then freezes and expands in the cold. When the weather heats back up, the water evaporates, leaving gaps in the road surface, which can be worsened by vehicles driving over them. Some 2.4m potholes were reported across England and Wales between January 2020 and December 2022, according to Go Compare. 

 

Type of Damage  that can Occur

Colliding with a pothole could damage your car in a variety of ways, including:

·         damaged shock absorbers

·         broken suspension springs

·         distorted wheels.

·         Pothole impact could also affect catalytic converters, which are pricey to repair. 

 

Get a quote

Does car insurance cover pothole damage?

Yes, it does. You can claim back the cost of repairs from pothole damage on your insurance. 

But you should only claim once you've weighed up the pros and cons.

Rightly or wrongly, insurers regard pothole claims as 'at fault', which means you'll have to pay an excess. If the cost of your repairs is lower than your excess, there's no point in making a claim. 

Then there's the fact that you'll forfeit any 'no-claims' bonus you may have had on your policy, so it could be more expensive when you renew.

If you do claim, you'll need a record of repair costs: a receipt if you've already paid, or a quote if you're paying later. 

It can also help to note down the time and date you hit the pothole and to take a picture of it if it's safe to do so. 

Can you claim compensation from your council?

If you don't want to claim on your insurance, you may be able to recover repair costs from the local authority responsible for maintaining the road.

Again, you'll need a receipt or a quote, and details of where the pothole is, including that potential picture. 

If the council rejects your claim, you can appeal its decision. If it rejects your appeal, you can take it to the small claims court. 

How to help with getting rid of potholes

You don't have to hit a pothole yourself to help remove it from our roads. 

If you spot one while you're out and about, you can report it with the government's report a pothole   webpage.