How Many Driving Lessons Do You Really Need to Pass Your Test?

If you’re worried about spending too much on your driving lessons, remember that these lessons are not just an expense but an investment.

You need to taking enough driving lessons to truly master the road. This makes sure that you won’t lose money having to retake your driving test and more importantly, you’ll be a much safer driver for life.

How Many Driving Lessons will I Need to Pass Test?

Let’s get straight to the facts. The official government line is that there’s no minimum number of lessons required.

There’s no minimum number of lessons you must have or hours you must practise driving.

DVSA

If you have some sort of prior experience of driving you can take Intensive Driving lessons.

But relying on just “feeling ready” is risky, especially when you’re facing real-world scenarios like merging onto Deerfoot Trail or handling slippery, adverse weather conditions.

88 Driving School and other experts agree that the average beginner needs between 35 and 50 hours of professional driving lessons before they are test-ready.

Some people might get by with fewer, maybe 15 to 25 hours if they practice a lot outside of lessons, but the general average often lands closer to 40-45 hours.

If you are just starting out with no prior driving experience, aim for at least 7 to 10 hours of instruction right away.

If you’re an international license holder just preparing for a local test, we still recommend starting with 3 to 5 hours due to a historically high failure rate in that category.

Why Your Learning Journey is Unique

Why such a wide range? Because the number of hours you need depends heavily on specific factors:

1. Experience Level: A complete beginner will need more time than someone who has practiced before.
2. How Often You Drive: Taking lessons more frequently or scheduling longer sessions helps you retain skills and stops you from failing your test.
3. Private Practice (The Homework): You can’t skip this. It’s recommended that you get about 22 hours of private practice with a trusted relative or friend who is over 21 and licensed for at least three years. This is great for trying out different cars and varied driving environments.
4. Confidence and Nerves: If you deal with driving anxiety, like our student who felt the world turning into a “watercolor,” you may need additional time to build the confidence required to handle real-world challenges, such as heavy traffic.

Investing in 88 Driving School’s Quality Driving Lessons

Focus on the quality of your training, not just the clock. You need an instructor who tailors a plan to you.

If you aren’t progressing from lesson to lesson, it’s a waste of money and time.

88 Driving School’s skilled instructor provides structured learning, exposes you to multiple driving situations (from busy intersections to tricky roundabouts), and gives immediate feedback to stop you from developing bad habits.

If you try to cut corners by minimizing lessons, you risk failing your test, which means more retakes and higher long-term costs.

By choosing quality instruction right from the beginning, like the personalized approach we offer at 88 Driving School, you get to master all the essentials driving skills from parallel parking to defensive driving techniques, so you can a confident driver.

Need to know how many hours are right for you?

Invest the time now so your driving skills are built to last. Signs you’re ready are confidence in controlling the vehicle, navigating traffic smoothly, and being comfortable with challenging maneuvers.

We’re ready to help you every step of the way.

Get in touch with 88 Driving School at our location in London Brough area and let’s start your customized road map to success.