Learner drivers can get up to 40 hours of FREE driving lessons… but they must meet two key conditions
HARD-UP learner drivers can get up to 40 hours of free lessons – but they must meet two key criteria beforehand.
With the ongoing cost of living crisis, taking driving lessons can quickly eat into your savings - with experts at discovering that the average cost of a one-hour session is £27.
According to their findings, London, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the most expensive with an average cost of £30, while in the south-west it dropped to £24 on average.
Thankfully, there is a support system in place for qualifying people with disabilities thanks to the Motability Scheme - which can offer up to 40 hours of free driving lessons.
Anyone who qualified for the scheme and got the full 40 hours, that would make a total saving of £1,080 - if they were paying the average rate for a driving lesson.
The average learner needs between 45 and 47 hours of lessons to get to be test ready, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
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So people would get most of their lessons paid for.
As well, if you already have a driving licence but need to change to an adapted vehicle, the scheme can help provide familiarisation lessons.
The lessons focus on people learning how to operate an adapted vehicle under the supervision of a trained instructor.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHEME
The Motability Driving Lessons Grant Programme gives funding for people who want to learn to drive and are:
1. In receipt of one of these disability allowances:
- Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of PIP
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance
- Higher Rate Mobility Component of Child Disability Payment
- War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
2. Receive a government-assessed means-tested benefit including:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit (Council Tax Support, Council Tax Reduction)
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
“This means we will look at your financial situation to determine if we are able to provide a grant towards your lessons.”
This comes as an astonishing 80 per cent of drivers confessed they would fail their test if they retook it today.
Recently, a learner driver failed their driving test for stopping at a red light due to little known road law that could catch anyone out.
In contrast, another failed for not stopping at a green light.