How Long Does It Take to Learn Driving?

For most beginner drivers, how long does it take to learn driving is a very common question because learning to drive requires commitment and time. It also requires a financial commitment and it is natural that one of the first things any learner driver will want to know is when will I be able to drive and how much time and money will I need to spend on this? So, in this article let’s try and answer this question.

First, we need to make clear that it is possible to learn to drive reasonably quickly, however, to learn to drive confidently and safely can take much longer and will depend on a number of things becoming automatic. For example, to drive a manual car and make smooth gear changes must become second nature and this only comes through practice. So, how long doe it take to learn driving?

Learning to drive requires, on average, 50 hours of private driving lessons with an experienced instructor plus approximately 20 hours of practice with another driver. The learning time varies for each person and may take longer or less than this depending on the ability and skills of the learner.

Let’s now take a deeper look at this, and consider the different aspects of learning to drive and how long they may take to master.

Table of Contents

• What is the Best Way to Learn to Drive?
• What Do The Driving Experts Say About How Long It Takes To Learn To Drive?
• Getting Started With Your Driving Lesson – What You Need to Know
• Working Towards Your Driver’s Permit – The Theory Class
• Working Towards Your Driver’s Permit – Practical Class
• Why Does it Take So Long to Learn to Drive?
• What Factors Affect Your Driving Skill and How Long It Will Take You to Learn
• Practice Takes a Lot of Time
• The Typical Driver’s Struggle and How to Learn
• Tips For Beginners on How To Learn To Drive In Less Time

What is the Best Way to Learn to Drive?

Learning how to drive is a big step for many people. It’s also a skill that can take some time to learn and perfect.

The best way to learn is by taking a class at a reputable driving school. However, these can be expensive and time-consuming so it may be easier for some people to take lessons from an instructor with experience teaching others.

There are also courses which have classes starting from one-hour sessions while others go for days. There are also classes which you can take on weekends too.

Some of these organizations also offer group lessons while others focus on individual coaching. Finally, depending on the course provider, some will offer online courses while others will only provide traditional face-to-face presentations.

Online courses are a good option because they allow you the freedom of learning at home without any distractions or interruptions. However, practice is essential in learning how to drive safely and quickly.

Generally speaking, it will take you about 3 months to learn how to drive if you study for about 30 minutes every day and practise the skills you’ve learned. Due to work or school commitments, it can be difficult to set aside a regular time every day and, so, many people take one or two lessons a week.

The problem with this is it will take a bit longer because you will need time at the beginning of the lesson to pick up where you left off the last time.

One other helpful method to learn driving is to read driving guides online or watch videos about driving which will explain everything you need to know about driving, road signs and whatnot. This way you do not have any formal lessons so it can save money but it will take more time than taking formal lessons.

All this being said, in my experience, nothing can replace actual practice and instruction with an experienced driving instructor. This is by far the best way to build your confidence behind the wheel and to learn from a qualified driver and teacher.

You will also get valuable feedback and help based on what you do in the vehicle. The advice and the time spent with your driving instructor is not cheap but will shorten the length of time it takes you to learn driving.

What Do The Driving Experts Say About How Long It Takes To Learn To Drive?

According to Helpful DIY, it takes about 50 hours of lessons and 25 hours of practice to learn driving. But this is an average and everybody is different, some people will take longer and some much less.

In the opinion of an experienced Driving Instructor, DriverEdinaBox, it takes as long as it takes. In other words, until someone has mastered the skills necessary for driving such as acquiring the judgement and assessment of risk on the road and reacting appropriately. It also depends, he says, on the natural ability of the learner driver. Some are more able from the start and some are quicker learners than others.

Another experienced Driving Instructor from the UK, Learn to Drive Travis, agrees with the above but adds that in the UK the average is 47 hours of private driving lessons and about 20 hours of practice with other family members or friends. This appears to agree roughly with what Helpful DIY said.

Getting Started With Your Driving Lesson – What You Need to Know

Getting started with your driving lesson is the first step to becoming a good driver.

In your driving lessons, you will learn the skills of driving and the instructor will demonstrate them to you. It is a safe environment where, in case of difficulty, the instructor can take control of the vehicle because there are usually dual controls.

The first steps in your initial lessons are the most important because you will establish the correct thinking and order to do things and begin the process of understanding and practice that later will transform into automatic responses to situations on the road.

The amount of time you devote to learning to drive each week is up to you. Most lessons last an hour but you can do longer lessons. In my experience, shorter lessons of one hour and often is the best way to go. Some days it seemed that I just couldn’t make progress whereas other days it just suddenly seemed to click, so longer lessons may not be a good idea.

These first steps are usually quickly covered but take time to fully become automatic.

Another reason why it takes a long time to learn driving is that there is more to driving than just knowing how to change gear or apply the brakes. During your driving lessons, your instructor will teach you what you need to know about driving based on his or her years of experience, and how you should act on the road. You will also learn how to take care of your car and get familiar with what each control does.

Working Towards Your Driver’s Permit – The Theory Class

Theory class is not mandatory in some states, but it is highly recommended to take the class. In the UK, since 1997, it is necessary to pass the Theory Test before you can take the practical driving test. Studying for this test will obviously take several hours of study at least.

Some of the topics that are covered in theory are road rules, road signs, obeying the law, and identifying hazards on the road. Many driving courses are designed to provide a better understanding of what you will be up against when you’re behind the wheel, including everything you need to know to pass the theory part of the driving test.

Once you pass the theory you will need to devote all your time to pass the practical driving test.

Working Towards Your Driver’s Permit – Practical Class

The first step to getting your driver’s permit is completing a DMV approved driver’s education program. In the UK and other countries, the system will be different but basically will include a driving test, probably theory then a practical driving test.

It will take time for you to study for and practice for the tests and then you will have to wait for your test date after booking. Here is a link to find out more about DMV driving tests.

Classroom instruction has many benefits such as the instructor’s feedback and encouragement, real-time practice with other students and hands-on experience with driving. On the other hand, it requires time and effort to get there every day for thirty hours of instruction (necessary in some parts of the US).

Sometimes you will be able to do a part of the study online. The online curriculum is self-paced and can be done anywhere at any time which might be more convenient for some people. This might be faster depending on how you prefer to study.

Why Does it Take So Long to Learn to Drive?

There are so many things to learn, for example, you need to be familiar with the controls of the vehicle. The basic control is the steering wheel and the accelerator for speed.

The basics of driving are relatively simple to master, but if you’re not careful, you could hurt yourself or someone else. Here are two things you will need to learn before you drive:

#1 – The Basic Controls

The first thing you need to know is how to operate your vehicle. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the basic controls such as steering wheel, gas pedals and brake pedal, clutch, handbrake, lights and indicators. Only through hours of practice of driving will you be able to easily use these controls.

#2 – Safety First

Safety is always important when operating any motor vehicle and that includes bicycles, motorcycles and cars. Keep safety in mind at all times by wearing a seatbelt and making sure passengers do as well. Buckle up for safety!

One of the first things the driving instructor taught me was before moving into traffic do this:

• Mirror
• Signal
• Manoeuvre

This is another process that will require you to practice over and over until it becomes second nature.

What Factors Affect Your Driving Skill and How Long It Will Take You to Learn

Driving is a complex task that requires an immense amount of skill and knowledge. To understand what factors affect your driving skill, you need to start with the basics.

A person’s driving ability is determined by their age, gender, how long they have been driving for and how much experience they have. The driver must also know the rules of the road and their car must be well maintained for it to run smoothly.

The most important factor that affects your driving skills is your emotional state. If you are feeling unsafe or scared, then this will affect your ability to process information quickly enough to react accordingly. This can lead to tragic consequences if the driver decides not to take action when they should have done so – leading to accidents or other incidents on the road.

All of these skills will take time to develop and learn, some more than others depending on the kind of person you are, how quickly you learn and how much natural driving ability you have.

Practice Takes a Lot of Time

To improve your driving skills, it is necessary to practice some of these often so they become easy:

– Practice your parallel parking (and parallel parking isn’t as hard as it seems!).

– Practice driving during nighttime (you never know when this might come in handy).

– Drive on windy roads or highways (this will help you get used to sudden turns and changes).

– Drive around town

– Three-point turns

As well as the above you will need to develop judgment and this is one of the things that takes a lot of practice and many hours to acquire.

The Typical Driver’s Struggle and How to Learn

Some drivers find that they feel more comfortable behind the wheel after wearing glasses for distance vision instead of contact lenses or reading glasses. Drivers with limited flexibility may benefit from using a mirror mounted on top of the steering wheel so they can see what’s behind them without turning their head too far.

Learning about any limits or difficulties you have with driving whilst in the vehicle also takes time.

Sometimes all you need is some coaching or an instructor who can point out your bad habits. It’s then up to you to take the time to practice and improve.

Tips For Beginners on How To Learn To Drive In Less Time

Driving is a skill that one needs to learn. It takes time and practice, but it is ultimately worth it because of the freedom that comes with owning your own vehicle. Here are three tips to reduce the length of time it takes you to learn driving:

-Set yourself realistic goals

-Be patient and stay calm while driving

-Find a safe place to park your vehicle where you can take time to review what you learned and think about what you need to work on next