How many driving lessons do i need?

[Zee]

Im learning to drive in an automatic car, i've never driven before in my life, and i have no one else to help me practice in.

how many lessons do you recommend i take before i take my test?

[roger skillin]

Totally depends on how good you are, if you are taking proper lessons then the instructor will decide when you are ready, you'll regret having an automatic only license, automatics are much more costly to fix, and you'll one day day see a car you really really want but it's a manual, my sister went through the same thing and regrets it

[Zee]

Originally Posted by roger skillin

Totally depends on how good you are, if you are taking proper lessons then the instructor will decide when you are ready, you'll regret having an automatic only license, automatics are much more costly to fix, and you'll one day day see a car you really really want but it's a manual, my sister went through the same thing and regrets it

true say, but i need to pass as soon as possible for personal reasons.

in the future i will maybe take some lessons on manual and hopefully pass that test.

im confidently driving now and i think im quite good, which is what the instructor said too.

[roger skillin]

Well there is no reason you can't go ahead and just book it yourself, you will probably have to wait a month anyway so you will have time for more lessons and if you fail you just book another one have a couple more lessons and then try again

[Wayfair]

I would say 30-40hrs minimum to get a nice broad appreciation of what's really going on around you as it takes a while to stop thinking about 'driving' and to be proactive instead of reactive..

imo the driving bit is the easy bit..

[AbyssUnderground]

I did 35 hours, but my instructor said I was ready at 30. I booked the test and 5 weeks later passed my test.

It all depends on the person and how good you are. Automatics are almost certainly easier with less to think about, but unless a disability or injury stops you, I would go for a manual car even if you intend to buy an automatic when you pass. It keeps your options open later in life.

[superbiatch]

I did 14 hours worth of lessons and passed my manual test first time, it totally depends on how quickly you pick it up.

[LondonRoad]

A rule of thumb my instuctor used to use was one hour lesson for each you've lived and a lesson before you sit the test.

Having said that, it was over 20 years ago.

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Wayfair

I would say 30-40hrs minimum to get a nice broad appreciation of what's really going on around you as it takes a while to stop thinking about 'driving' and to be proactive instead of reactive..

imo the driving bit is the easy bit..

I also heard that 40 hours with a qualified instructor, is the way to go.

It should also be noted if your are being taught my a friend or family member they must have had a liciense for 5 years.

[Matthew]

40 hours is about the normal so I was told.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Zee

true say, but i need to pass as soon as possible for personal reasons.

in the future i will maybe take some lessons on manual and hopefully pass that test.

im confidently driving now and i think im quite good, which is what the instructor said too.

Your first road accident will present its own unpleasant stack of personal problems. Trying to pass your test too quickly is a false economy, both in terms of your time and your money. You're ready when you're ready, and not a moment sooner.

There is absolutely no point going for an auto-only licence, because learning how to change manual gears isn't what requires time as you learn to drive. That part of it very quickly becomes second nature to you. What requires time is road sense, the ability to read situations in front of you quickly, to anticipate what the idiot in front of you is about to do.

Don't try to hurry to the test centre. You may be technically competent but you won't have the road sense that might save you from a serious accident maybe 3, 6 or 12 months later.

Learn to drive in a manual car, take at least as many paid lessons as there are years in your age, and beg a friend or family member to let you get as much additional practice as you can in their car.

[LondonRoad]

You could always take a crash course.

Seriously though, they do residential driving courses that claim high pass rates in a short timescale.

[v0id]

How long is a piece of string?

[AbyssUnderground]

Originally Posted by v0id

How long is a piece of string?

Twice half it's length

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Chris

Learn to drive in a manual car, take at least as many paid lessons as there are years in your age, and beg a friend or family member to let you get as much additional practice as you can in their car.

But they must have had a licence for 5 years.