Driving lessons: how many hours?

I've been thinking about taking driving lessons so that I can get a UK license, but I have no idea how much instruction in the ways of the British I am likely to need.  I just wanted to get a general idea of how much it might cost.

I have never tried to drive over here, and I've lived here for 5 years.  I think I have finally internalized which one is the right side of the road/car (I don't try to get in the driver's side anymore!) but I'm a bit worried about learning to shift with my left hand, and remembering to use the hand brake and the peculiar steering-wheel-shuffle that seems to be the correct way to drive here.  Other than that I don't think I need a lot of instruction in the basics of driving, like how to use the clutch or keeping all the different parts (shifting gears, using turn signals, and keeping an eye on other cars) going all at the same time.  It's more about learning the "road culture", so to speak.

How much instruction did those of you that switched from a US to a UK license feel that you needed before you felt secure enough to pass your driving test here?

I think I took around 30 hours.  For me, it wasn't so much about learning to drive (I drove in the US), but more about learning to pass the test.  I had never before reversed around a corner, but that is one of the manouvers you'll need to learn.  A driving instructor will know the test routes well, be able to point out any "tricky" spots and will know what test examiners are looking for.

I think I took around 30 hours.  For me, it wasn't so much about learning to drive (I drove in the US), but more about learning to pass the test.  I had never before reversed around a corner, but that is one of the manouvers you'll need to learn.  A driving instructor will know the test routes well, be able to point out any "tricky" spots and will know what test examiners are looking for.

Same here.  I had (I think) about 30 hours, but it might have been 40 - I've forgotten!  Those maneuvers are tricky - got pretty good at reversing around the corner, and turn in the road.  I used to be a good parallel parker in the US, but I have lots of trouble doing this on the left side of the road for some reason!  Or maybe it's the way they want you to do it here (for the test), I don't know - but was so relieved not to get that maneuver on my test. 

I only had about 3 or 4 one-hour lessons, but I had already been driving my car for a few months before I took the test as well so I already had a good feel for driving on the left. It was just the particular test techniques that I had to learn.

Yes, I was afraid of driving here, so I didn't drive here for the first 5 years I was here.  I am still not entirely comfortable with it, but I don't really get that much practice, tbh.  We don't really need to drive that much & so we don't - we walk or use public transport for the majority of our travel.

Yes, I was afraid of driving here, so I didn't drive here for the first 5 years I was here.  I am still not entirely comfortable with it, but I don't really get that much practice, tbh.  We don't really need to drive that much & so we don't - we walk or use public transport for the majority of our travel.

Yep, I don't really get a lot of practice, either, though I'm hoping to do some more driving in the near future. I've taken to ordering my groceries online lately since I can find more stuff at Tesco online than in my local shops, but that pretty much rules out much driving for me since we only work a mile from home. 

I was probably in the same frame of mind as you, Mander, and it took me 19 hours. I did my lessons in 90 minute blocks, though, instead of one hour blocks, and the 19 hours included the test, so it really wasn't very many lessons in total, about 11 lessons and then the test (which you have to pay for as a lesson since usually your instructor will take you out to warm up and practice just before the test, and then they wait for you while you take the test). It took me about 4 months from the time I sent off my provisional licence to the time I passed my test, including the theory exam and all of that. The main thing is learning the manouevres they test you on here, like reversing around the corner, turn in the road, parallel park, etc., and the examiners are pretty nit picky about some things. I think most of us had to break some habit (coasting or hand over hand steering, etc.) and that can take a little time to get right.

I'd recommend buying the Driving Test Success CD-Rom to start going over your theory test stuff. I started doing that before my lessons, and it helped to already know the signs and basic rules of the road before my first lesson. But you certainly don't have to. I just think it might make things go a bit faster in your lessons if your instructor doesn't have to spend too much time going over that stuff with you. You'll need to pass that test before your practical exam, so it's good to get going on that and set your test date when you first start lessons.

Good luck!

I only had about 3 or 4 one-hour lessons, but I had already been driving my car for a few months before I took the test as well so I already had a good feel for driving on the left. It was just the particular test techniques that I had to learn.

This is what I am doing also.  I have been driving for a month or so and have taken one 2- hour lesson.  My instructor said I didnt really need any help driving, but would need a few lessons to learn to pass the test.  I think just driving is more important (and so much cheaper) than taking lessons if you can feel confident enough to do it.

This is what I am doing also.  I have been driving for a month or so and have taken one 2- hour lesson.  My instructor said I didnt really need any help driving, but would need a few lessons to learn to pass the test.  I think just driving is more important (and so much cheaper) than taking lessons if you can feel confident enough to do it.

Yeah, it's great if you can do it mostly on your own. Some of us tried that and knocked the wing mirror off the car, though. Not mentioning any names. (OK, it was me. I did that.) 

Mander, for a total of 19 hours of lessons (£20/hour for me, you will have to look into the cost in your local area) and the provisional licence (£50) and test fees (£37 for the theory test and £60 for the practical test) and CD-Rom to study for the theory test (it was given to me, but would cost maybe £15), altogether it cost about £540. It isn't cheap. But how can you put a price on freedom?!  Anyway, I didn't pay for blocks of lessons since we couldn't spend a big chunk of money at a time, so I just paid £30 each week for my 90 minute lesson. You might be able to get by with spending less money on it if you can find a good instructor that gives a discount for booking 10 lessons up front. But it's up to you.

DH (he's from the states, not me) took only 4 or 5 lessons, the instructor evaluated him on his first lesson and did the estimate and was pretty spot on.

Hmmm.  Do any of the big national chains do a sort of "evaluation" lesson, so they can tell you what you do wrong and are likely to need practice with?  A sort of pre-test, as it were?

I certainly can't afford £540!!  Yikes!!  Maybe I can persuade a friend to take me out to a deserted parking lot, if such a thing exists, and see how I do.  That's how my Mom taught me to drive in the US.  Although finding the deserted parking lot might be a little difficult...

You can buy lessons individually, so in your first lesson you can just say that you want to know what you need to do to pass the test. I only spent about £50.

Hi, I'm new, and very happy to find this conversation! I've lived in Scotland (now Fife) for almost 5 years and am taking my practical today. Have been driving the entire time (no questions pls). I've had about 30 hours of lessons; it's come as a great shock that I needed that many. I reckon I have a 10% chance at best of passing today. Like the language, every little thing seems to be different -- for me, driving on the left seems like the least of it. For Kirkcaldy at least, it seems you also need a lot of local knowledge of the roads. If anyone in Fife, Dundee or Edinburgh can recommend help or instructors, I would love to hear of it!

Good luck to everyone out there,

Suzanne

I just wanted to add that I taught my husband (a German) to drive when we lived in the States. I think I'm a good driver. So why so many lessons (and still not perfect enough)? I feel taken advantage of on some level. Or maybe some locations are more used to foreigners taking the test and not *quite* so picky about exactly how many meters from the roundabout you downshift?

Suzane

Good luck with your practical exam today, Suzanne.

Mander - my good friend here is a driving instructor and does it in Durham - maybe you could contact her and do a trial run.  I have no idea what she would charge but I know she could meet you in Durham ;-)
It can't hurt to go with an instructor and have them tell you how much you need and I know anne would be dead honest with you.

Let me know
PS: she is on my FB as well - fan page is VIP driving