How many driving lessons will I need?

If you’re starting to learn to drive, one of the first things you’re probably wondering is:

How many driving lessons will I need? 

The answer:

Our experience in teaching learner drivers over the last 25+ years tells us that,

For absolute beginners…

You’ll probably need around 38+ hours of lessons to pass your test.

But this varies…

Based on  everything from age to previous experience.

In fact, rather unhelpfully,  according to the government…

They say ‘ There’s no minimum number of lessons you must have or hours you must practise driving. How many lessons you need will depend on how quickly you learn.’

So to clarify how many lessons you need…

We’ve created a guide to help people who are looking for driving lessons to understand how many driving lessons are needed based on your own driving experience and circumstances.

Private Practice is Recommended

Why Private Practice Matters: Combining professional driving lessons with private practice can significantly accelerate your progress.

We recommend at least 20+ hours of private driving practice alongside your lessons.

This additional time allows you to reinforce what you’ve learned in lessons and gain real-world experience. Practising in different environments – like quieter residential areas or busier city streets – helps improve your adaptability and confidence when handling various driving situations.

Tip: Make sure your private practice follows the same rules as your lessons, and always drive with someone who is qualified to do so.

Tip: If you’re going on a UK holiday, and you have a suitable driver with you, consider driving as much of the journey as is legal and you feel comfortable doing. This experience will help to:

• Reduce the number of driving lessons you need before you’re ready to pass
• It will make you a better driver, provided you make sure you keep to good habits and
• It should reduce your nerves in a test, as it should also make driving feel more like second nature to you. This should help increase the liklihood of you passing.

Factors Affecting the Number of Lessons You’ll Need

Each learner is different, and several things can influence how many lessons you require:

• Age: Younger learners tend to have faster reflexes, but this doesn’t always mean fewer lessons. Driving requires maturity, focus, and judgment.
• Finances: Regular, frequent lessons are key. If you space out lessons too much, it might take longer to reach test standard if you forget previous techniques.
• Learning Style: Are you a visual learner, or do you thrive on practical, hands-on learning? Understanding your learning style can help tailor your lessons.
• Confidence Levels: More anxious drivers often require additional time to build up their confidence on the road.

Discuss these factors with your instructor to get a better idea of how they might impact your learning experience.

Frequency of Lessons Affects How Long it Will Take to Pass Your Test.

How Often Should You Have Driving Lessons?

Frequent lessons, ideally a minimum of 1-2 per week, lead to quicker progress.

This regularity helps you retain what you’ve learned from each session, allowing for continuous improvement. As said above, if your lessons are too far apart, you may forget important skills, which can delay your progress.

For learners aiming for a quicker path to passing, consider an intensive driving course that condenses lessons into a shorter time frame, maximising your focus and skill development.

Choosing the Right Instructor

Choosing a qualified instructor is crucial to your success. It’s not just about expertise but also how comfortable and supported you feel. A good instructor will adapt their teaching style to your needs, provide constructive feedback, and track your progress. Be sure to ask your instructor for regular updates on your performance and areas to improve. Remember, the goal is to make sure you feel prepared and confident to pass your test and be a safe, independent driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see the FAQ and graphic data below.  This information should be used only as a guide, as every pupil have different experiences and circumstances.

Speak to us to assess how many lessons you’ll need.  The data has been created based on thousands of pupils who passed their driving test with Intensive Courses (Smart Intensive) Driving School, in both, manual and automatic driving lessons.

Number of Driving Lessons Needed (FAQ)

You may need 10+ hourly driving lessons, providing you have kept up practice in between

You may need 14+ hourly driving lessons, providing you have kept up practice in between.

You may need 24+ hourly driving lessons, providing you have kept up practice in between.

You may need 38+ hourly driving lessons, providing you have kept up practice in between.

You may need 38+ hourly driving lessons, providing you have kept up practice in between.

So there you go. I hope this guide will help you to answer your questions about “How many driving lessons will you need”. 

The conclusion here is, if you have failed to pass your driving test, don’t postpone it for too long but try to do another driving test as soon as you can. If you need driving experience, get your provisional driving licence and practice your driving as much as you can with an experienced and good driver. You don’t want to end up getting bad driving habits before your driving exam, so practice responsibly as much as you can before and during your driving lessons.

Despite how many lessons you have, remember that probably the most important lesson you could ever have is to NOT let your circumstances or driving experience stop you from learning. Aim to become a good driver and don’t let prices to determine which driving instructors will help you to pass your practical driving test. Learn your driving resources and aim to pass your driving test the first time! Good luck.