Britons slapped with almost £1,000 in driving costs as one in five risk being pushed off UK roads

Learner drivers have been spending almost £1,000 before they even get their full driving licence, with rising costs forcing many to consider giving up altogether, according to new research.

A new study found the average learner now spends at least £924 on driving lessons, theory and practical tests before passing.

It reported that the typical learner completes 18.5 hours of lessons, costing around £777 based on average national prices.

On top of that, drivers must pay £23 for their theory test, while many also face repeat practical test fees after failing their first attempt.

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Around half of learner drivers need at least two attempts to pass their practical test, meaning many spend about £124 on test fees alone.

Almost one in five learners (19 per cent) admitted they have considered giving up because they cannot afford it, while a quarter said the upfront cost is the biggest barrier to getting behind the wheel.

The research also found that almost one in four people believe not being able to drive limits their job opportunities, travel options and social lives.

Despite the growing expense, many still see driving as an important milestone, with almost half of respondents saying gaining independence was the main reason they wanted to learn to drive.

However, the costs do not stop once drivers pass their test. For motorists aged between 17 and 20, buying and running a first car can add thousands more to the overall bill.

The report found that first-year costs range from around £3,430 for a Fiat 500 Pop to more than £7,700 for an Audi A1 Sport, once insurance, road tax and buying the vehicle are included.

Insurance remains one of the biggest expenses facing young motorists. Cover for a Fiat 500 starts at around £1,063, while insurance for an Audi A1 can reach £2,015.

Meanwhile, Vehicle Excise Duty can also vary significantly depending on the vehicle. While some cars cost as little as £20 to £35 a year in tax, others, including certain Volkswagen Polo models, can cost £360.

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Matt Crole-Rees, car insurance expert at Confused.com, said: "Learning to drive has always been a major milestone, but for many young people the costs involved are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

"Between lessons, theory tests, practical tests and the expense of buying and insuring a first car, it's easy to see how the total cost can quickly run into the thousands."

Mr Crole-Rees said the findings show that while driving remains an important step towards independence, the growing financial burden means it is becoming increasingly difficult for many young people to get on the road.

Separate Freedom of Information data obtained from the DVSA also highlighted that drivers across the UK spent more than £400million on practical driving tests between 2023 and 2025

Annual income from practical tests rose by seven per cent over that period, increasing from £128million to £137million.

Learners also spent a further £221.6million on theory tests during the same three years, including £79.6million in 2025 alone.

Across the UK, learners waited an average of 12.3 weeks for a practical driving test between 2023 and 2025.

Some test centres had much longer delays, including the Isles of Scilly with the longest average wait at 25.4 weeks, followed by Arbroath at 19 weeks and Wellingborough at 17.3 weeks.

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