New data from Confused.com has revealed that learner drivers in the UK face costs of at least £924 before obtaining their licence, with nearly one in five young people deciding not to learn to drive because it is too expensive.
Cost Breakdown: Lessons, Tests, and Retakes
According to the research, the average learner has already paid for more than 18.5 hours of driving lessons. Based on the average cost of driving lessons in the UK, this equates to a minimum cost of £777, though costs vary depending on location.
Matt Crole-Rees, car insurance expert at Confused.com, noted that for those who need to retake their practical tests, the amount of money required can become unmanageable and unpredictable. Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency shows that more than 2.3 million practical driving tests were taken by 17 to 24 year olds in Great Britain between January 2023 and March 2025, yet almost half resulted in a fail.
With half of learners taking at least two driving tests, by the time they get their licence they will have paid around £124. Adding this to theory test prices and the cost of driving lessons brings the average cost per learner driver to at least £924.
Waiting Times Add to Costs
Lengthy waits for driving tests also add to the overall cost. Between 2023 and 2025, practical driving test waiting times averaged 12.3 weeks in Great Britain, but some locations have much higher wait times. For example, the Isles of Scilly had an average wait time of 25.4 weeks, followed by Arbroath at 19 weeks, Wellingborough at 17.3 weeks, Pinner at 17 weeks, Montrose at 16.9 weeks, and Oban at 16.8 weeks.
These delays can leave learners waiting months to retake a failed test, increasing both time and expense. In some cases, long gaps between attempts could mean a learner's theory test certificate expires before they pass their practical test, requiring them to pay to take it again.
Young Drivers Sacrificing Opportunity
Many learners say they are making financial sacrifices to afford getting on the road. More than a third (35%) have cut back on other spending, such as socialising and shopping, to cover the costs of learning to drive. Nearly one in five (19%) admit they have considered not learning to drive at all because of the expense, and almost one in four (22%) say not being able to drive limits their opportunities for work, travel, and socialising.
Matt Crole-Rees said: "Learning to drive has always been a major milestone, but for many young people the costs involved are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Between lessons, theory tests, practical tests and the expense of buying and insuring a first car, it's easy to see how the total cost can quickly run into the thousands."
He added: "Our research shows that many learners are already making sacrifices to afford getting on the road, with some even questioning whether they can afford to learn to drive at all. At the same time, lengthy waiting times and the need to retake tests can add further costs and delays to the process. And once you've got past the hurdle of getting your licence, there are other major expenses to consider, including buying a car, insurance, fuel and road tax."
First-Year Motoring Costs
With first-year motoring costs reaching as high as £7,700 among some of the most popular first cars, choosing the right first vehicle can make a significant difference to how much new drivers spend overall. To help learner drivers, Confused.com has created a cost of driving calculator that estimates the first-year cost of driving by comparing some of the most popular cars among 17 to 20 year olds, as well as the cheapest cars to insure. The tool breaks down key expenses, including average insurance premiums, vehicle purchase prices, fuel costs, and road tax, helping motorists make more informed decisions when choosing their first car.
