From new driving test booking changes and lengthy waiting times to insurance premiums and vehicle costs, getting on the road has become increasingly challenging for young drivers.
New research today reveals a striking postcode lottery when it comes to waiting times driving test centres in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK.
From new driving test booking changes and lengthy waiting times to insurance premiums and vehicle costs, getting on the road has become increasingly challenging for young drivers. New research today by Confused.com reveals the growing cost of getting on the road, with learner drivers facing costs of at least £924 before getting their licence. Before learner drivers are ready to take their test, the cost of multiple lessons adds up in the first instance. The average learner has already paid for more than 18.5 hours of driving lessons. Based on the average cost of driving lessons in the UK, this equates to a minimum cost of £777, with costs depending where you live.
Meanwhile lengthy waits can also add to the overall cost of learning to drive. With wait times for tests remaining longer than ever, some learner drivers might have to wait a long time to get behind the wheel of their first car from the time they purchase it. Between 2023 and 2025, practical driving test waiting times averaged 12.3 weeks in Great Britain.
These delays can leave learners waiting months to retake a failed test, increasing both the time and expense involved in obtaining a licence. In some cases, long gaps between attempts could even mean a learner’s theory test certificate expires before they pass their practical test, requiring them to pay to take it again.
The average waiting times (in days) for test centres in Northern Ireland
Test Centre
2023
2024
2025
Altnagelvin
41
33
20
Armagh
52
21
24
Ballymena
49
46
27
Balmoral
40
39
26
Coleraine
42
40
15
Cookstown
66
38
18
Craigavon
27
27
18
Dill Road
71
77
–
Downpatrick
74
63
35
Enniskillen
35
30
19
Hydebank
–
55
36
Larne
60
62
37
Lisburn
62
46
29
Mallusk
32
31
28
Newbuildings
6
7
7
Newry
46
44
32
Newtownards
46
42
30
Omagh
30
30
26
And for those who need to retake their practical tests, the amount of money required can become unmanageable and unpredictable. Data obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) shows that more than 2.3 million practical driving tests were taken by 17 to 24 year-olds in Great Britain between January 2023 and March 2025, yet almost half resulted in a fail.
With half of learners taking at least two driving tests, by the time they get their licence, they will have paid around £124. Adding this with theory test prices and the cost of driving lessons, this takes the average cost per learner driver for getting on the road to at least £924.
Item
Cost
Average number of driving lessons = 18.5
£777
2 x practical driving tests
£124
1 x theory test
£23
Total
£924
The costs faced by learner drivers are reflected in national spending figures. Data obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the DVSA and Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) shows that more than £400 million was spent on practical driving tests across the UK between 2023 and 2025.
Annual income from practical driving tests increased by 7% over the period, rising from £128 million in 2023 to £137 million in 2025, highlighting the substantial scale of the driving test industry and the significant revenue it generates each year. Meanwhile, learners across Great Britain also spent £221.6 million on theory tests between 2023 and 2025, spending £79.6 million in 2025 alone. But the costs don’t stop when drivers get their licence. New drivers face the additional challenge of buying and insuring their first car, with even some of the most popular models for young drivers carrying significant upfront and ongoing costs. Research shows that among the most common first cars driven by 17 to 20-year-olds, total costs, including purchase price, insurance and road tax, range from around £3,430 for a Fiat 500 Pop to more than £7,707 for an Audi A1 Sport.
Purchase prices range from around £1,970 to more than £6,200, while insurance premiums almost double from £1,063 for the Fiat to £2,015 for the Audi. Drivers must also factor in road tax of £20 to £35 for both models, although for other popular first cars among 17 to 20-year-olds, such as the Volkswagen Polo S, it can reach £360.
Matt Crole-Rees, Confused.com car insurance expert, says learning to drive has always been a major milestone, but for many young people the costs involved are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
He added: “ Between lessons, theory tests, practical tests and the expense of buying and insuring a first car, it’s easy to see how the total cost can quickly run into the thousands.
“Our research shows that many learners are already making sacrifices to afford getting on the road, with some even questioning whether they can afford to learn to drive at all. At the same time, lengthy waiting times and the need to retake tests can add further costs and delays to the process.
“And once you’ve got past the hurdle of getting your licence, there are other major expenses to consider, including buying a car, insurance, fuel and road tax.
“While some costs are unavoidable, choosing the right first car can make a real difference to how much you spend overall. That’s why we’ve created our cost of driving calculator, helping young drivers and their parents compare the costs of different cars and get a better idea of what their first year on the road could cost before making a decision.”
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