All those motorists zipping down the highways and bi-ways of the UK are understandably concerned with the high cost of petrol, insurance, maintenance and car payments. Many of them have already forgotten what it costs just to quality for a license to drive. The breakdown of costs from start to finish of a successful driving application is quite astounding when you think of it.
First you need a provisional, or learner’s license just to get legally behind the wheel; that costs £50. Then you have lessons; the Driving Standards Agency reports the average learner needs 47 lessons plus about 22 hours of private driving practice, and that cost can run as high as £30 per lesson, though the average is around £24, which amounts to another £1,128.
Before you even take the official driving test, there’s a flat fee of £31 for the theory test, which involves the Highway Code and basic knowledge of safety signs, etc. Finally you get to take the actual test, at £62 on weekdays and £75 on evenings or weekends. According to the DSA, the majority of learners flunk on the first try, so figure another £62, at least.
Once you’ve actually got the license, pay heed to the insurance laws, since driving without sufficient insurance can cost you a fearful amount of money when (not if) you’re caught, and heaven forbid you should have an accident while uninsured. Insurance costs vary considerably, depending on the driver’s age and sex, the type of vehicle insured and a number of other factors, but don’t expect to pay less than
£4,500, according to a recent survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).
