Passing your driving test used to be considered a rite of passage. Not necessarily bang on 17, but once you were earning, or needed to drive for work, certainly.

Nowadays though, people often delay learning to drive – whether that’s for ecological concerns, financial restraints or university city living.

This is quite sad – and not just for us driving instructors. Not learning to drive means missing out on so much. Learning to drive and passing your driving test brings an unrivalled sense of freedom and a genuine independence. Driving can even improve career prospects and develop a young person’s street smarts, responsibility, and maturity. Learning to drive brings so much more than simply being able to drive.

An Invaluable Life Skill

As recently as 2017, only one-third of young people aged 17-20 held a driving licence, while two-thirds of those aged 21-29 were qualified drivers. Twenty years previously, those percentages were far higher – just under half of 17 to 20-year-olds, and nearly three-quarters of 21 to 29-year-olds. The cost of driving lessons is often a reason for delaying learning to drive. However, the high price of young driver insurance must make many youngsters wonder if it’s worth bothering. Like most things worth having, driving lessons are not cheap.  But don’t underestimate it. Driving is an invaluable life skill and thus is well worth the initial cost. Likewise, young driver insurance. Yes, it’s expensive. Very expensive. But learn well, and drive safe, and it will come down year on year.

Never Too Old

Does that mean, then, that you can be too old to learn? No, not at all. Older drivers may be more nervous and less confident. This may mean that the learning to drive process will take longer but it also tends to make you a more careful driver. Insurance costs may still be on the high side, but not as high as your twenty-year- old counterparts, plus your careful, cautious driving could bring the renewal price down year on year.

Driving Brings Benefits

Learning to drive has far-reaching benefits beyond those we’ve already mentioned. Others include (but are not limited to):

  • Avoiding public transport: Yes, public transport has its place. If you’re travelling into a busy city centre or enjoying a night out on the beer, it’s undeniably the best option. But driving yourself offers the ability to go where you want, when you want, with whoever you want and transporting everything you want! If you’re a family group or a bunch of friends, taking your own car is often cheaper than public transport, too.
  • Independence: Relying on public transport or other people to drive you means fitting in around other people’s timetables. Waiting around for lifts or connections can be frustrating and not everyone – or every form of transport – is reliable or even guaranteed.
  • Career Prospects: Have you noticed how many job vacancy ads state ‘must have full, clean driving license’? The competitive job market means every skill or qualification is valuable – even if not essential, the ability to drive is often preferred and could give you an advantage over other candidates.
  • Convenient Form of ID: If you’re under 25 – or at least, lucky enough to look it – you’re going to need to carry official ID when visiting pubs, bars and clubs. A driving license is handier to carry than a passport – and costs less to replace if you misplace it after a long night.
  • Sing as you Drive: Have you ever realised you’re accidentally singing out loud when you have your ear-pods in on the train? Mortifying, isn’t it? Sing what you like, as loud as you like when you drive yourself. There’s nothing quite like singing loud and proud to make a long journey less boring and to lift your spirits.
  • Take What You Want: When relying on lifts or public transport, you’re limited to how much stuff you can carry. Either that, or you’re lugging a case around with you and lifting it into too-small luggage racks. Conversely, when you travel under your own steam, in your own vehicle, you can take what you like. Dogs, kids, sound system or clothes for every possible weather? Not a problem!

When is Best to Learn to Drive?

In the UK, most people can start their beginner driving lessons on their seventeenth birthday. Driving lessons make a great birthday present. Some people are raring to go and will have their provisional license in place and their first driving lesson booked ready for their birthday. Others will delay learning to drive until they feel they can afford the lessons.

The trouble is, there’s always something else to spend money on as you get older – and once you have student debt, a mortgage or a family, spare cash could be a thing of the past. When you’re young, probably still living with parents, your disposable income is likely to be much higher than later in life. Even if you know you can’t afford a car or insurance straight away, once you’ve passed your driving test, you’ve passed – it’s a skill for life. Do it now and it’s there when you need it.  You’ll be very glad you did.

The Best Time is Now

Here at i-drivesafe we would absolutely advise embarking on your beginner driving lessons as soon as you are able. As you get older, less confident and more cautious, the harder it is to learn to drive and to pass your driving test. The confidence of youth isn’t just recklessness – it really does help you to learn from your mistakes. And with our driver coaching, you’re able to do so in a safe and controlled situation.

How old were you when you started your beginner driving lessons? Did you pass your driving test first time? Or are you an older driver who delayed learning to drive for whatever reason? Let us know what you think – we’d love to hear from you.

Ultimately the best time to learn to drive is as soon as you can, whenever that happens to be. And with our unique driver coaching approach to beginner driving lessons, i-drivesafe will equip you to be a safer driver – for life.