After an agonizingly long train delay in 2022, I realized I needed to learn to drive.

After a weekend at home with my family, I made my way to Oxford Road in Manchester to catch an evening train back to Liverpool. I ended up waiting nearly four hours for my train – and when it came, it was packed to the brim with passengers and luggage.

At that point, I knew I had to learn to drive – otherwise, every time I wanted to visit my family or travel to hospitals further away as a medical student, I would be at the mercy of our unreliable train service. I also work as a freelance journalist.

Two years later, at 22, and after countless driving lessons in between, I finally passed my test – but it was a very expensive experience. Here’s how much it cost.

Driving lessons

According to MoneySuperMarket.com, the average driving lesson in the UK costs between £25 and £30. However, I was initially quoted £45 for a one-hour driving lesson in an automatic car.

If you opt for intensive courses, driving schools can charge up to £1,000. These are essentially several driving lessons booked over a shorter period of time, with the aim of you taking your driving test in a couple of months.

However, many students use them as an opportunity to get a driving instructor, as many driving schools have “no availability” unless you book several lessons with them.

I was one of those students. After four months of searching for a driving instructor to no avail, I had to pay for “intensive lessons” but ended up taking them weekly. When my lessons ran out, I just paid my instructor per hour or sometimes booked a few lessons in a block as one would normally do.

I paid around £30 per hour for a driving lesson and in total my driving lessons cost me around £3,000. One way I was able to reduce the price (although it was already high) was by helping her practice for her DVLA test.

All teachers run exams from time to time, and I know friends who have also managed to get discounts or even free lessons by offering to be the student during the exam. It’s worth asking your teacher to think of you if you’re interested.

Total: £3,000

Driving test

I decided to book my driving test in February 2024 and the earliest possible date was the end of July 2024, which I took.

I then paid £17 for an app that tracks cancellations to get an earlier test date. My driving test centre is one of the most popular in the UK, so the waiting lists are exceptionally long.

After keeping an eye on the app for a few weeks, I managed to reschedule my appointment to early July, so I think using the app was worth it.

Luckily, I passed the driving test on the first attempt – the relief of not having to wait months for the next test if I failed was greater than the relief of actually passing.

The test cost me £64, and I also paid £23 to pass the theory test the first time.

If I had to take multiple tests like many others, the costs could easily skyrocket even further.

Total: £87

Car insurance

Car insurance is currently extremely expensive for new drivers. According to Compare The Market, car insurance premiums rose to over £3,000 in June 2024.

The average premium for a 17-year-old who has just passed their driving test is now £3,075, compared to £2,004 last year. The rise is attributed to parts shortages and an increase in vehicle thefts.

The Association of British Insurers also reported that the typical car insurance sum was £635 in the first quarter of 2024, compared to £478 in the same period in 2023.

When you’re younger and in your early twenties (like me), car insurance is very expensive. When I got quotes on comparison websites, I was shocked. If I’d only insured myself, insuring my Toyota CH-R would have cost me £4,576. The most outrageous quote I got was from Happy Connect – a shocking £5,711.48.

After adding both parents as additional drivers, I eventually opted for a black box policy with Hastings Direct, which cost around £2,700.

Many young drivers are encouraged to install black boxes as it can reduce costs. It works by evaluating driving behaviour on several factors including speed, acceleration, cornering and braking before giving me a score out of 100. So far I’m happy with it.

Total: £2,700

Pass-Plus lessons

My parents attached great importance to me taking further driving lessons after the test – especially to master driving on the motorway.

This is called Pass Plus and can also help lower your insurance premium.

My lessons cost £35 per hour and I paid for six lessons in advance. However, most providers charge £40 or more per hour so it can get quite expensive.

I chose to take the lesson because as part of my degree I will be doing a lot of hospital trips on the M62 from September – so it is important to be safe when driving on the motorway.

Total: £210

Costs for car and petrol

I haven’t driven it much so far and a tank of fuel has cost me £30 – but that’s only because it’s a hybrid model so it runs in electric vehicle mode when I’m driving under 30mph.

The cost of the car itself is £350 a month and I am very lucky that my parents help me with the expenses.

Of course, petrol costs vary depending on usage and market. Currently, the price of unleaded petrol is 142.46 pence per litre, while diesel is rising to 147.31 pence.

However, since these have been subject to fluctuations, I can assume that I may have to pay more in the future.

Total: £380 per month

In total

In total, it cost me nearly £6,500 to drive for the first time. While this isn’t the same for everyone, depending on the cost of driving lessons and how often you have to take a test, it’s a good indication of how expensive it can be.