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“How Long Does It Take to Learn How to Drive?” “How many lessons do you think I’ll need?” Some questions we hear on the daily.

So, you’ve decided it’s time to get behind the wheel and conquer the roads. Maybe you’re 17 and desperate for that sweet taste of freedom, or perhaps you’ve been dodging public transport for years and finally had enough. Either way, you’re probably wondering, “How long is this whole driving thing going to take?” Well, buckle up, because the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might hope. The time it takes to learn to drive can range from a few weeks to what feels like a lifetime—yes, really. But don’t panic just yet; here’s a breakdown of what to expect and some tips to get you behind the wheel in no time.

The Starting Line: Before You Hit the Road

First things first, you can’t just jump into a car and start cruising down the motorway. Nope, you’ve got to get yourself a provisional license. This little green card is your ticket to start learning, and it takes a couple of weeks to arrive—so don’t expect to be mastering clutch control by next Tuesday.

While you’re waiting, use the time wisely. Do a bit of research on driving instructors or schools, Shift is a great choice (obv). It’s like dating—you want someone who’s reliable, patient, and won’t make you cry within five minutes. Check reviews, ask around, and make sure they’re DVSA-approved.

How Many Lessons Do You Need?

Ah, the million-pound question: “How many lessons will I need?” On average, it’s about 40 hours of professional tuition and 20 hours of private practice. But that’s just an average—some people are naturals, while others… well, let’s just say they’re not. There’s no shame in needing more hours though; it’s better than becoming an involuntary YouTube sensation for “Worst Parallel Park Ever.”

And if you’ve got a motorbike license already, congratulations—you might just have a head start. As for the rest of us, it’s all about practice, practice, and more practice.

The Roadblocks: What Slows Down Your Learning?

Several things can jam the brakes on your progress:

Theory Test: You need to pass this before you can even think about booking your practical test. Get it out of the way early, so you don’t have it hanging over you like a dark cloud.

Practical Test Waiting Times: Once you’re ready to take your practical, you might have to wait… and wait… and wait some more. The queues can be long, especially if everyone in your area suddenly decided they want a license too.

Lesson Frequency: One hour a week is great if you’re not in a mega rush, but if you want to pass before your hair turns grey, consider doubling up. Intensive courses are like a crash diet—intense, but they work. Just be ready to eat, sleep, and breathe driving for a little while.

Test Failures: We all like to think we’ll pass the first time, but the statistics say otherwise. If you do fail, don’t despair—it’s not the end of the world, just the end of your week’s good mood. Keep calm, carry on, and remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a perfect driver.

Cash Flow: Driving lessons can drain your wallet faster than a weekend in London. If money’s tight, you might need to take breaks between lessons, which can slow things down. Budgeting ahead and looking for deals can help keep the momentum going. Block bookings may save you a few quid too.

Top Tips to Speed Things Up

If you’re itching to get your license ASAP, here are some tricks to help you get there faster:

  • Plan Ahead: Instructors get booked up quickly, especially during holidays. Don’t leave it to the last minute.
  • Practice Between Lessons: If you can get some practice outside of lessons, do it. Just make sure you’re not picking up any bad habits from your uncle who thinks he’s the next Lewis Hamilton but drives like Mr. Bean. Practice what you’ve been learning in your lessons too.
  • Stay Consistent: Regular lessons keep the information fresh and your skills sharp. Gaps between lessons can lead to more time spent recapping instead of moving forward.
  • Consider an Intensive Course: If you’re in a rush, an intensive driving course might be just what the driving instructor ordered. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but it’ll get you to your test faster.

After the Test: The Real Learning Begins

So, you’ve passed your test. Congrats! But here’s the twist: you’ve only just begun learning. Driving solo is a whole new ballgame, and you’re still on probation for two years—get six points on your license, and you’ll be back to square one.

To ease the transition, consider a Pass Plus course, which not only boosts your confidence but might also shave a few pounds off your insurance. And remember, every drive is an opportunity to improve, so keep calm and carry on driving—just try not to make your insurance company nervous.

In the end, learning to drive is a personal journey. It takes time, patience, and more than a few deep breaths. But with the right mindset and approach, you’ll be on the road in no time—just don’t forget to celebrate when you finally ditch those L plates!

I passed my driving test last weekend, I want to say huge thanks to my instructor Lisa baour, she's been amazing mentor throughout the process. I'm from different country and I didn't have any driving experience before, so I had to learn everything from the scratch, she's been calm and polite from the very beginning, that help me lot to boost my confidence and take out my driving nervousness. Thank you so much Lisa and shift for making me a better driver, i higly recommend Lisa and shift, you won't be disappointed..cheers 🍻🍻
100% recommend Shift to anyone looking to learn. Simon is an excellent instructor, so calm and confident, took his time to understand me and how I learn best so that I could become a confident driver. Passed today with only 1 minor fault!
I highly recommend Shift Driving School Gateshead for beginners or anyone with some prior experience. Their website is excellent, and the app is incredibly user friendly, it makes booking lessons, tracking progress, making payments, and setting your availability so simple.

One of the things that impressed me most was how quickly Shift matched me with an instructor. Within a week of purchasing my package, I was driving. Other companies I contacted took over two weeks just to respond and told me I’d be waiting up to five weeks for an instructor. Choosing Shift was definitely the best decision I made.

I had Simon as my instructor, and he was fantastic. He was super flexible with my hectic schedule, gave me honest and constructive feedback, and used the app to track my progress so I could clearly see what I needed to work on and what I was already doing well. This made the lessons streamlined and efficient.

Simon also gave me the confidence to believe I was ready before I even felt it myself and he was right. Thanks to his teaching, I passed my driving test with zero faults (not even a single minor!).

Overall, Shift offers great cars (Mercedes 😉), an easy to use system, and most importantly, excellent instructors. Huge thanks to Simon for making the learning experience such a positive one!
Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me to be my best. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Swift and Hassan. Thank you!
Passed with Simon today! He’s an outstanding instructor, so much patience and understanding, especially for neurodivergent learners. My confidence developed massively whilst learning with Simon. Also big shout out to the whole team, especially Lewis, for being so reassuring when I first reached out about lessons. I’d recommend these guys to anyone.
I 10000000% recommend this driving school my instructor has been appsalutly amazing he had so much patience and really helped me through all my lessons then he recommend me a nervous course which really helped me as I really struggled with my nerve on my test but I finally done it and passed my test and I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for lewis so thank u sooooo much :)
Lewis is a great instructor very patient, clear, and encouraging he made learning to drive feel easy and enjoyable highly recommend.
What a great company to not only learn to drive with, but to actually work with too. We would highly recommend Shift without a doubt.
Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Shift and Hassan. Thank you!
I just passed my driving test. With many thanks to Simon instructor at Shift driving school. I learned a lot and Simon was very patient and guide me well. I am grateful for the excellent teaching and kind lessons I had. Definitely recommend.