Learning to drive is an exciting milestone, but many learners understandably ask: how long does it take to pass your driving test in the UK? While everyone learns at a different pace, there are key averages and factors that can help you estimate your journey.
In this guide, we’ll break down what to expect when learning to drive in 2025, including how many driving lessons you might need, the latest driving test waiting times in the UK, and how to speed up the process safely and confidently.
How Long Does It Take To Learn To Drive
Learning to drive needs to be thought about as a process. This process involves the following:
- Driving lessons
- Practice and learning
- Your theory test
- Your driving test
Each of these makes up the learning to drive journey, and each one takes time. Even if you only need a handful of lessons, you need to account for potentially long wait times for either the driving test or the theory test. You may also pick up the practical driving element very quickly, but take time to pick up your theory and hazard perception skills.
How Many Hours Does It Take To Learn To Drive?
The average number of hours it takes to learn to drive is 45 hours of lessons and 22 hours of private practice. These numbers come from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) themselves.
As this is an average, some people will take significantly longer while some people will take a substantially shorter time. It comes down to you as an individual, your ability to learn, and your instructor.
How Many Driving Lessons Do I Need?
This will depend entirely on the individual learner. However, if you take the average number of hours needed to learn as 45 hours of expert tuition, plus 22 hours of private practice, you can use this to roughly calculate how many lessons you may need.
It will depend on the length of lessons you take, but using the 67-hour average, it can be:
- 67 lessons of 1 hour
- 44.5 lessons of 1.5 hours
- 33.5 lessons of 2 hours
Again, these are just averages.
How Many Driving Lessons A Week?
The number of lessons you take a week comes down to personal preference and your instructor’s availability. Many people only have one lesson a week, but if you are trying to pass quickly, you may want to have two or three a week. As with any new skill, the more you do it, the better you will become.
Where Should I Be After 20 Hours of Driving Lessons?
Twenty hours of driving lessons may well feel like a significant milestone, and it may also feel like you’ve been learning for ages. Setting goals for yourself is important and reviewing where you’re at once you reach 20 hours of lessons can be a good idea.
If you are doing this, always remember that everyone learns at different speeds. Some people take to driving more naturally, while others may struggle with lots of little things.
There is no set level that you should be at after 20 hours of lessons; however, your instructor will likely have covered the basics that they feel you are ready for, like:
- Basic Manoeuvres – Be able to perform basic manoeuvres like starting, stopping, changing gears, as well as steering.
- Stopping and starting safely – Including how to perform an emergency stop.
- Driving on A roads – Be comfortable with driving on A roads and be able to cope with the increased traffic and speed.
- Manoeuvres that may come up in your test – Have a good understanding of manoeuvres like three point turns and be able toot execute them safely.
- Road Awareness – Have a good understanding of the road rules and be able to react while driving to common road hazards.
- Car Controls – Be comfortable with all of the car controls, like accelerating, braking, and using the indicators.
Important considerations after 20 hours of driving
At the 20-hour mark, it’s natural to reflect on your progress, but it’s just as important to focus on how you’re learning as well as what you’ve learned so far. Keep the following points in mind:
- Individual learning pace – Everyone learns differently; some people pick up driving skills quickly, while others need more time to build confidence and consistency.
- Don’t rush – Trying to fast-track your learning can lead to bad habits or increased stress, so it’s better to prioritise safe and steady progress over speed.
- Focus on areas of concern – If certain manoeuvres or scenarios are challenging, ask your instructor to revisit them until you feel more comfortable and capable.
- Seek feedback – Open communication with your instructor helps you understand where you’re improving and where to focus your efforts next.
- Reflect on lesson goals – Review what’s been covered in your lessons so far and discuss upcoming topics with your instructor to set realistic short-term goals.
- Consider supplementing with private practice – If possible, start practising with a family member or friend in a safe environment to reinforce what you’re learning in lessons.
Driving instructors will assess where you are at and give you feedback at the end of each lesson. They will let you know how far along you are and will also let you know when they feel you should start looking to book your test.
How Long Is The Waiting List For Driving Tests?
As of late 2024, driving test waiting times remain a significant challenge for learners across the UK. According to the DVSA, average wait times for a car practical driving test currently stand at:
- Nearly 21 weeks in England
- Over 15 weeks in Scotland
- 13 weeks in Wales
These figures highlight the ongoing pressure on the driving test system and mean that even if you’re ready to take your test, securing a slot can involve a lengthy delay.
To help manage this, your instructor will assess your readiness and may advise you to book your test well in advance—sometimes even before you’re fully test-ready, so the timeline aligns with your progress. It’s also worth exploring test cancellation tools or apps that can notify you if an earlier appointment becomes available.
Bear in mind that while theory test wait times are generally shorter, they can still vary by region, with some learners waiting several weeks for a local slot. Booking early and being flexible with your location can help reduce delays.
What other factors affect the time it takes to learn to drive?
When it comes to learning to drive, multiple factors can affect the total time it takes that aren’t simply down to the number of hours you spend having lessons. These include:7
- Passing your theory test – Your theory test is your first real obstacle to overcome. You can’t book your driving test until you’ve passed your theory. If you’re looking to pass quickly, you’ll want to get your theory booked in early, especially as failing means having to re-book.
- Booking your driving test – As we’ve already mentioned, there’s a current backlog of up to 21 weeks in England. This is often one of the main reasons people take longer to pass.
- Failing your driving test – We all have bad days, and failing your driving test means you’ll need to re-book. With the current backlog, this could mean another long wait before your re-test.
- Lesson regularity – If you were only to have one hour a week, it’s probably going to take you longer to learn. Increasing the time and how often you take your lessons should speed up your learning.
- Instructor availability – That being said, if you’ve got yourself a good instructor, they’re probably going to be popular. Make sure you book multiple lessons at a time and well in advance to get the time slots you desire.
7 Ways of Shortening the Time it Takes to Learn to Drive
If you’re looking to pass as quickly as possible, we’ve compiled a few tips.
- Apply for your provisional driving licence as soon as you’re able to
You can do this as soon as you turn 15 years and 9 months, so get it sorted early if you want to start learning to drive as soon as you turn 17. - Book your driving theory test immediately
Get your theory test booked as soon as you can. You could, in theory, even do this before your first lesson. - Revise, revise, revise
Once your theory test is booked (or even before), it’s important to start revising. Familiarising yourself with the Highway Code and practising hazard perception scenarios early on can greatly improve your chances of passing first time. To support your learning, we recommend downloading the Bill Plant Driving School App for free. To access the full range of theory practice materials, including our hazard perception package, you can purchase our Theory Package for just £4.99. - Talk to your instructor about a lesson plan
After your first lesson, you should chat with your instructor about how quickly you want to pass your test. They can then help you put together a complete lesson plan. This will include the number of lessons you should have a week and the amount of time you should have for each lesson. - Practice
If you can, practice outside of your lessons. Ideally, you’ll be able to get insured on a parent or friend’s car. It is recommended by the DVSA to have 22 hours of private practice to improve your driving skills. - Take feedback on board
Your driving instructor will give you feedback at the end of each lesson. Take this away and work on it during your independent practice (if possible). The sooner you iron out any issues, the sooner you’ll be ready for your test. - Book your test in advance, based on your instructor’s feedback
After a few lessons, your instructor will know how far off they think you are from your test. Booking your test proactively, even if it’s a few months down the line, can stop you from having to wait months once you are ready.
So, How Long Does It Take to Learn to Drive in the UK?
In ideal conditions, the average learner in the UK takes around 45 hours of driving lessons and 22 hours of private practice to become test-ready, usually spread over a period of about six months. However, with current DVSA driving test waiting times stretching up to 21 weeks in England, that timeline can easily extend by another five to six months, depending on where you live and how quickly you can secure a test date.
That means for many learners in 2025, the full process, from the first lesson to the driving test, could realistically take anywhere from 6 to 12 months.
The most important thing is to learn at a pace that builds your skill and confidence, not just to pass the test, but to become a capable, independent driver. Whether you choose to learn gradually or take an intensive course, planning ahead, staying consistent, and booking your tests strategically can help you stay on track.
Ready to start your driving journey? Book your first lesson or explore our intensive driving course options with a local Bill Plant Driving Instructor today.