Learning to drive - meet the parents who are teaching their child due to high driving lesson costs

The average cost of learning to drive in the UK is somewhere between £1,125 and £2,700, according to the latest figures from the RAC. This includes weekly lessons, tests and other costs. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency recommends around 45 hours of lessons minimum to pass your test, this alone equates to around £1,575.

In some cases, this could be even higher depending on how many lessons you need and whether you need to take your test again, as your theory test is only valid for two years from the date you pass. This means that if you’re struggling with lessons, unable to find the money for the test or lessons or even if you’re struggling to find an actual date for your test, you may need to take the theory again, which will result in more costs. 

This can be a significant barrier for many young drivers wanting to gain independence and learn how to drive. This is why some parents have unconventionally decided to become a driving instructor, and teach their child how to drive to save money. 

Comparison site Money Expert spoke to one family from Darlington to find out more about why they’ve decided to teach their child how to drive, how much they’ve saved and what their experience is like as instructors. 

Cassie Cooper, 42, is a librarian and blogger and along with her husband, she’s been teaching her 17-year-old son to drive in their Nissan Qashqai. Over the last couple of months, they’ve been going out as much as five times per week, and so far have saved over £700 after being initially quoted £35 per lesson. 

Money Expert wanted to find out what the main reason was behind Cassie and her husband  teaching their son how to drive.

“We felt that teaching him ourselves gave him vital experience on the road and also helped his confidence with getting started with driving. We remember how expensive it all was when we learned, and how much time and money can be wasted. At various times growing up, I wasted money passing theory tests for them to eventually run out because I didn't have the funds to keep going with the lessons. I was lucky my grandmother helped me pass my test when I was 30 as I had never been in a situation to fully commit to learning.”

As the couple aren’t professional instructors, Money Expert wanted to know how they found the process of teaching their son how to drive and whether they had to refresh their own knowledge before starting. 

“We’ve taken him out on about 15-20 occasions so far, and are going to build up to mastering more experiences, like busier roads or dual carriageways, for example. My husband or I take him out about five times a week, and he drives himself down the road to college after his lunch when we have been out. We just try to get him out in the car as much as possible, even if it’s a short journey.”

“He’s definitely keen and asking to drive which is much better than how I remember feeling during the process. I’m actually really pleased with how he’s doing. He has already gained so much confidence, and it’s great to be able to support him. We have had to research differences from back in the 2000s when I learned. It’s been even longer for my husband as he passed at age 18.”

“I was anxious at first but it has brought us closer together. I'm happy I can help him with this important stage in life, I wouldn’t want him to repeat the same mistakes I did and he is always grateful for the support, we are really proud of how he has handled the process. I guess the proof will be in the test!”

After speaking with Cassie, Money Expert wanted to find out more from their son on how he found being taught to drive by his parents rather than an instructor, and whether he was confident in his driving skills so far. 

“I’ve been learning for about a month so far, but recently I’ve been driving a lot more and further distances in order to get better and familiarise myself with different situations. Driving with your parents isn't too different from driving with a normal instructor. They still give you the right instructions on how to drive and keep you safe while you are driving. But I'd say the main difference is that they don't have dual control with the pedals, so if you were in danger the braking would rely on you solely. Also it's free, which is great, as long as your parents have the free time to take you out.”

“It’s important to not get over confident in your driving skills when you first start learning as that's when mistakes happen, and I do still occasionally make mistakes. However, I feel like my progress is currently the same as if I had a professional instructor.”

Some people have been critical of this approach due to parents not having specialised training to identify and correct bad habits, even some of Cassie’s sons’ friends were sceptical. 

“Some of my friends were a bit sceptical about it but I just think it’s the prejudice that's built up over time, maybe from their parents, that has made their opinion and that it's easier just to cave to the daunting task of driving by getting someone whose job it is to teach you.”

The team at Money Expert finally wanted to know whether he felt as though he was missing out by not learning with a professional instructor and also whether he thought he’d be able to take a test after only learning with his parents. 

“For the most part I don't think I am missing out. I think my parents explain to me the most important rules and the correct way to drive. However, the rules you have to follow on the road have changed over time, so there could be some things I do and have become normalised to, because of my parents teaching me that aren't correct and maybe that's where an instructor would be able to help. But given enough time I absolutely believe I would be able to take a test and pass just from my parents teaching me.”

Commenting on Cassie and her husband teaching their son how to drive, Commercial Director at Money Expert, Liz Hunter, said,

“I do understand why so many parents have turned to teaching their children how to drive, as it can save a lot of money, especially when other household costs are rising. However, learning to drive without a professional instructor may not be the best idea as they could inadvertently teach incorrect techniques or pass on bad habits. Leading to increased risk on the road and a higher chance of failing your driving test.”

“For this reason, a professional is usually preferred when it comes to learning how to drive. This is because they have expert knowledge and experience at teaching others how to drive, they have dual controls so they can intervene during critical situations and have a neutral perspective. This means they’re able to provide objective feedback without any emotional connection, which can be crucial when it comes to learning. Especially during potentially stressful situations.”

“However, with costs rising, I understand that this isn’t always an option for those who are looking to teach their children how to drive to save money, it’s important that you refresh your own driving skills and brush up on any current safety regulations.”

Liz outlines some things to remember if you want to start teaching your child how to drive:  

“Get insured - Ensure that both you and your child have insurance to drive your car. Even though they’re only learning, they still need to be named on your car insurance. You could either add them to your own insurance, or have them take out their own temporary learner driver insurance. This shouldn’t impact your existing policy, however, if you are supervising a learner, you do need to let your insurance provider know. 

Consider learner-specific car insurance - Car insurance designed for learners can be a much cheaper solution than adding your child onto your existing policy. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, the price for learner car insurance can be as little as £235, significantly less than adding a named driver to the policy. 

This opens up more options for your child when they’re learning. By practising in a parents vehicle with learner car insurance, learner drivers could also consider getting tuition from a professional to ensure they’re picking up the right skills and experience before their final test.