Hi demand for lessons and test waiting times in the post-COVID era continue cause issues.

As well as the record waiting times to take the test, many would be drivers cannot get a professional driving instructor.

If prospective drivers can get driving lessons, the increasing costs of learning to drive often leaves them searching for money-saving options.

Economics and time

A shortage of qualified driving instructors, high lesson costs and long waiting times for driving tests are seeing more people turn to family members to help them learn to drive.

Recent research from The Green Insurer, which is focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way, has been looking into the issues.

Their research highlights some of the economic and logistical reasons as to why learner drivers are increasingly relying on family members to gain valuable driving practice before they pass their test.

Combinations

The study found that almost one in three drivers had received instruction from a family member when learning to drive.

Almost one in four (22%) motorists say they had a combination of driving lessons from both a qualified driving instructor and a family member.

Seven per cent of motorists said that a parent or other family member had been their sole teacher.

However, seven in 10 (71%) had taken driving tuition from a qualified driving instructor.

Family fun

Of those who had chosen to take lessons from a parent or other family relative, 49% said that the high cost of driving lessons had been one of their main reasons.

Two in three (66%) liked the convenience of taking the car out for practice sessions anytime.

With waits for a driving test at many UK centres at 20 weeks or more, one in five (19%) said that driving sessions with family members had given them regular driving practice during their long wait for a driving test.

Five per cent said that a shortage of qualified driving instructors had made them turn to family members for lessons.

Seven in 10 (69%) described their experience of having driving lessons or practice with family to be “overall good” as they passed their test.

However, not everyone found driving lessons with their family to be a bonding experience.

One in four (26%) said that although they passed their test, they had experienced arguments or disagreements along the way.

One in 20 found the experience to be so negative that they gave up on their relative and switched to a qualified teacher.

Flexibility

Paul Baxter, CEO, The Green Insurer, said: “A combination of instructor shortages, high costs of driving lessons and a wait of several months to secure a test date is forcing many families to take a more active role in helping their children get the driving practice they need before taking their test.  Our newly launched short-term Learner Driver Insurance offers peace of mind for families to give their children practice in the family car in a safe, cost-effective way.  By providing a flexible, affordable insurance option, we can help alleviate some of the financial and emotional stress that often comes with learning to drive.”