A driving license is an incredibly powerful asset to have, representing a key skill and enabling you easier and more practical access to fundamental needs, from work to family and beyond. But learning to drive is also an incredibly expensive endeavour, made even more so by the cost of sourcing a car and the rising cost of fuel. For the cash-strapped, what ways can the cost of learning to drive be reduced?
Sniff Out Discounts
A solid piece of advice for saving money in any situation or discipline is to look for discounts and deals wherever you can. Rather than paying full price for a set of lessons from a local instructor, try instead to look for online discounts and vouchers for reduced rates. Larger learning centres are much more likely to offer discounts as part of their marketing, and you may even be able to get a referral for a reduced price.
Learn From A Loved One
Of course, the only thing cheaper than a discount driving lesson is not paying for driving lessons at all. While licensed driving instructors are indispensable for getting you exam ready, you could be learning the rudiments and brushing up on your skills in-between by learning from a friend or family member.
In order to do this, you would need to ensure you have provisional insurance that covers you to drive, whether in your car or your friend’s car. With this, though, you can save significantly on lessons by spending time on the road with a close friend or relative. They can help you keep your eye in, and ensure your chances of passing remain high.
Block-Book Your Lessons
Even with a trusted friend or relative on-task with teaching you in the interim, you will need lessons to learn the proper technique for certain manoeuvres, and to properly understand your upcoming practical test. In block-booking your lessons, you can keep the amount you need to a minimum. You may also be able to negotiate a bulk discount for multiple lessons.
Block-booking your lessons in advance can incentivise you to learn quicker and more judiciously, reducing the chance of test failure and shielding you from a drawn-out, expensive journey to becoming a license-holder.
Take Your Time
Taking your time when learning to drive may seem counter-intuitive to saving money – and it would be, if you were taking your time getting to grips with your lessons. But you might benefit not from learning as soon and as quickly as possible, but instead waiting until you are ready to drive at all.
Rather than jumping head-first into lessons, you could think instead about the long term. Is there a point in the future when you might be better equipped to learn faster, and have more of a budget for your first car? If your time is taken up with work and other commitments, there may be a quieter time during which you can cram your driving lessons, and minimise the number you need to take.