As soon as young people turn 17, they often have their sights set on learning to drive. It’s easy to get carried away with the thought of buying a car or going on your first road trip… But, before all of that, you’ve got to learn to drive and think about insurance! It can all get quite costly, so, to try and help, here are 5 ways you may be able to save money when you're learning to drive!
1 Bulk book driving lessons
Drivers will need around 45 hours of driving lessons, with an instructor to be test ready. The cost of lessons can add up over time however, there are a few ways to try and save on this cost, so don't worry too much. Many driving instructors will offer a saving if you bulk-book lessons together. Check out what different driving instructors are offering if you're yet to choose one or ask your current driving instructor if there are any savings to be made.
2Pick up private driving practise
Another potential way to keep costs low when learning to drive is getting in private practise; to do this, you'll need learner driver insurance. This allows you to have extra practise outside of your driving lessons in a parent's car or friend's car. You can arrange cover on a monthly basis and practise what you learn in your lessons as much as you like during that time - saving you paying for extra driving lessons and preparing you better for that magic pass. The great news is that it's straightforward to arrange, there's no black box and you can be covered instantly!
3Book your test on a weekday
You may not realise this, but there are ways to cut costs even when booking your practical driving test. Booking your test mid-week is generally cheaper than if you book a test at the weekend. Whilst it’s not a huge difference, it’s still a saving of a few pounds. This way, you can also fit in a few extra hours of practise on the weekend with a supervising driver like a parent or friend, win-win!
4Pass on your first attempt
Of course, passing your driving test on the first attempt will save you money, because you won’t have to pay again if you pass! You may be eager to rip up your L plates and get your full licence, but if you book prematurely and you’re not test ready, you’ll have to fork out for another test! A great way to get that pass quicker is to pick up provisional licence insurance and practice driving with a supervising driver. Check out our driving practise tips for some more ideas.
5Learn to drive a car online
There’s nothing stopping you from picking up driving knowledge outside of lessons. In fact, studying at home (especially for your theory test) is a great way to go. There are a lot of resources online to help you when you’re learning to drive. The government website is a great place to start – they have information on everything from The Highway Code to a step by step guide on learning to drive a car. You can even take practise theory tests online, including the hazard perception test!
Bonus tip!
If you take out our Named Young Driver Insurance policy or our Black Box Insurance policy as a provisional licence holder, you'll start earning your own No Claims Discount before you've even passed your driving test!
