1 in 2 learners would drive without a licence due to spiralling costs

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Fri, 09 May 2025

With the average cost of learning to drive now exceeding £2000, more than half of learners admit they would consider getting behind the wheel without a valid licence.

Analysis by Dayinsure has revealed the cost of getting a driving licence is now £2054, with driving lessons making up £1757 of that total.

This includes the cost of 45 lessons with an instructor, which the DVLA says is the average required to pass a driving test.

For 18- to 21-year-olds, this represents spending almost 30% of their average take-home income on driving lessons alone.

The average price for driving lessons is now £39 an hour. On top of this is 22 hours of private practice, plus the cost of the driving licence itself.

52% of learner drivers surveyed admitted to the temptation of avoiding all this by driving without a licence – despite the risk of receiving points on their licence before they actually get it.

"Learning to drive is getting more expensive, and for many young people, the cost is a real struggle," says Dayinsure director of operations Nicholas Shaw. "Affordability is a real issue."

The temporary car insurance provider also looked at the most expensive cities to learn to drive – and discovered that, at £365 per month (or 33% of a youngster’s take-home salary), Edinburgh tops the charts.

Second is Bristol, on £350 a month, then Glasgow on £331 a month. London is, surprisingly, only the fourth most expensive city, at £328 a month.

Manchester is the cheapest city to learn to drive, at £289 per month. That’s ‘just’ 25% of a youngster’s monthly take-home salary.

Sheffield is next on £284 a month, then Leeds on £286, Birmingham on £273 and Cardiff on £304 per month.

Ask HJ

What are the rules for L plates at night?

Are there any regulations on a learner diver being instructed at night? I overtook one, the weather was poor and the L plate was almost invisible, if it can't be seen then what's the point in having it at all?

In the UK there are no restrictions regarding learner drivers practicing at night, other than the same restrictions that apply during the day - the learner must have appropriate insurance, a provisional licence and be accompanied by a suitably qualified driver.

Answered by David Ross

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