How Many Driving
Lessons Do You Need?

An honest guide for learners and parents: the typical numbers, what makes a difference, and how to tell when you’re ready for your test.

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How many driving lessons do you need? It’s the first thing most learners and parents ask us, and the honest answer is: it depends on you. But there are some useful figures to go on, and plenty you can do to keep the number of lessons down without cutting corners.

The short answer

According to the DVSA’s figures, learners who pass their test have had, on average, around 45 hours of lessons with an instructor, plus about 22 hours of private practice with family or friends.

That’s an average, not a target. Some people need fewer hours, plenty need more, and both are completely normal. What really matters isn’t the number of hours. It’s whether you can drive safely and confidently on your own, on any road and in any conditions.

Before your first lesson

You can start driving lessons in a car from the age of 17, and you can apply for your provisional licence from 15 years and 9 months, so it’s worth sorting early. You’ll need the provisional licence before your first lesson, and you’ll need to pass your theory test before you can book your practical test.

Many learners start revising for the theory test alongside their first few lessons. What you learn for the theory test makes much more sense once you’ve seen it on the road, and the other way round.

What affects how many lessons you need

How often you have lessons. Regular lessons, ideally every week, mean less time going back over what you learnt last time.
Private practice. Time behind the wheel with a family member or friend between lessons helps skills stick. Whoever sits with you must be at least 21 and have held a full licence for at least 3 years, and you’ll need L plates and insurance.
Confidence and nerves. Nervous drivers often take a little longer at the start, then make quick progress once they relax.
Previous experience. If you’ve had lessons before, you may need fewer this time.
Where you learn. A mix of busy town roads, roundabouts, country lanes and faster roads prepares you properly. Across Hertfordshire, we use all of them.

Why 2-hour lessons work well

Our lessons are 2 hours long. That gives you time to settle in, practise something properly, then try it out on different roads, rather than stopping just as it starts to click.

Over a course of lessons, that usually means steadier progress than lots of short sessions.

How do you know you’re ready for your test?

You’re ready when you can drive a whole lesson without your instructor needing to help, including:

handling roundabouts and busy junctions on your own
dealing calmly with things you didn’t expect
driving independently, following road signs or a sat nav
carrying out manoeuvres safely and under control
making safe decisions without being prompted

We’ll always give you an honest view of when you’re ready. Booking a test too early usually just means paying for another one.

Getting the most out of every lesson

Have lessons regularly and avoid long gaps between them.
Get some private practice in between, if you can.
Come to each lesson rested and ready to learn.
Ask questions. There’s no such thing as a silly one.
After each lesson, think about what went well and what to work on next time.

Had lessons before?

If you learnt before and stopped, or failed a test and want to know what went wrong, our lapsed learner and refresher lessons start from where you are, not from scratch. See our lessons for more.

If you’ve been let down by another driving school and your practical test is 2 weeks or less away, call us straight away on 0800 048 7098 and we’ll do everything we can to help.