Source: Intelligent Instructor
£7k Learners
Learning to drive could cost nearly £7,600 by 2045
Learner drivers across the UK could be facing dramatically higher costs to get behind the wheel in the decades ahead.
That’s according to a National Car Scrap report, which has analysed projections based on data trends.
Priced up
The analysis suggests that the full suite of expenses, from driving lessons, tests, insurance, to fuel and associated costs, could climb from around £2,400 today to nearly £7,600 by 2045, more than tripling current totals.
Even between 2020 and 2025, the average cost of learning to drive has increased sharply, with driving lessons alone now frequently topping £35–£45 per hour.
Add to this sharply rising insurance premiums over recent years, as well as long test waits, which force learners to take extra lessons.
Industry figures and learners are already feeling the pinch.
Ella Thompson, 18, who has been saving for lessons while juggling part-time work, said: “It’s hard to see how people without financial help will afford to learn. Every lesson feels like a luxury now.”
Driver trainer Marc Ellis, from a Midlands driving school, said the climb in costs is “the result of many linked pressures—fuel, instructor running costs and test availability all feeding through.”
He added: “If the current trajectory continues, learning to drive is going to be something only wealthier families can easily afford.”
Head winds
Recent research from RAC and insurance comparison sites also shows that the “complete cost of getting on the road”, factoring in buying a first car and insurance for the year after passing, often exceeds £6,000, underscoring how learning costs fit within broader financial barriers for young drivers.
Government policy changes aimed at improving test availability could help reduce some indirect costs.
Long wait times for practical tests, now often exceeding 20 weeks, have been widely criticised for forcing learners to schedule extra lessons while they wait.
Transport analyst Sarah Day said: “Reducing test backlogs and supporting more efficient booking systems are critical—not just for convenience, but because delays directly increase costs for learners.”
Projected Costs: Learning to Drive, UK
| Cost Component | 2025 Estimate (£) | 2045 Projected (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Driving lessons (45 hrs) | ~£1,575 (45×£35) | ~£6,000+ (trend estimate) |
| Learner insurance | ~£200–£300 (short-term) | -£800–£900+ (projected) |
| Theory & practical tests | ~£85 | ~£100+ (inflation effect) |
| Fuel for private practice | ~£100 (typical) | -£300+ |
| Total | ~£1,960 – £2,060+ | ~£7,600+ |
(Notes: Projections over 20 years assume continued increases based on historic trends. Figures are illustrative based on current price ranges.)
Wider impacts
The rising cost of learning to drive has broader implications beyond personal finances.
With young people already struggling to afford lessons and insurance, many say they’re reconsidering whether to get a licence at all.
A recent survey by insurance analysts found that more than half of learner drivers might consider driving without a licence because of steep costs, despite the legal and safety risks.
Campaigners argue that without targeted support, such as subsidised lessons for low-income learners and improvements to the national practical test booking system, mobility and employment opportunities for young adults could be curtailed, especially in rural areas with limited public transport.
Drive ahead
As costs continue to evolve amid broader economic pressures, policymakers and industry stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the dream of independent travel becomes harder for the next generation to achieve.
Test waiting times are adding to the financial burden and frustrations among young people considering learning to drive.
Add to this the rise in home-based working and the prospect of autonomous vehicles, and the road ahead for learning to drive looks increasingly bumpy.