How much do driving lessons cost in Australia?

Whether you’re a novice driver or a parent guiding a teen, we’ve got the information you need to make the right choices on your journey to becoming a confident and responsible driver. 

Driving lessons are a vital step towards gaining independence on the road, but understanding the costs involved is equally crucial. 

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To help you get behind the wheel with confidence, we’ve uncovered the average price of driving lessons in Australia and looked at which factors influence the cost. 

The average price of progress

If you or a loved one is about to get behind the wheel for the first time, it pays to make sure you’re informed about the road rules. 

Safety on the road is a shared responsibility, and learning to drive is no different than going to school. There are no short cuts, and progress can be slow for some, and fast for others. 

But amid a cost of living crisis, tracking down driving lessons near you can make lessons more affordable or put them out of reach for some.  

At the cheaper end of the scale, you can expect to pay around $50 for a one-hour lesson with an independent driving instructor. Well-known driving schools usually charge between $60 and $120 per a one-hour lesson. 

We found 60-minute lessons for $75 with VIP Driving School in Melbourne and 50-minute lessons for $88 with RACT in Launceston. Expect to pay around $800 for a block of 10 lessons.

However, some driving schools do offer discounts for university students, so ask what’s available when shopping around for the best deal near you.

Factors affecting the price tag

There are lots of reasons that the prices of lessons differ. For starters, you can expect to pay more in swanky neighbourhoods or city areas compared to regional areas. 

For that reason, you might want to explore available lessons a few suburbs away from you to see if it’s worth trekking across town to save a few bucks on your lessons. 

Whether you’re wanting automatic or manual driving lessons can also impact the fee charged by the driving school given that manual lessons are a more technical lesson. 

While the details won’t be made public, the type of insurance cover held by the teacher may also impact the fees they charge. The type of car you’re learning in could impact the price.  

Getting the best value 

Let’s face it, you’re not going to be a pro behind the wheel after one lesson, so look out for bulk packages. 

One-off lessons for an hour here or there will cost more than if you sign up for a block of 10 lessons, which usually attract a discount of between five to 10 per cent. Also check if there’s a cancellation fee involved, and bear in mind that missing lessons could mean you need to fork out more on lessons.

Find a good driving school and sign up for a package to save money, and reserve a regular lesson with an experienced instructor to make sure you’re getting the benefit of consistent lessons. 

This also means that the driver will be able to structure each lesson to your learning needs, so that you get consistently better at each lesson as your approach your driver’s test. 

Bear in mind that the cheapest lessons won’t necessarily provide the best value for money. 

Other factors to bear in mind include the teaching style, pass rate of their students, how many lessons they recommend are required, and the type of car the lesson will be given in. 

But like all things in life, you get what you pay for. You’re going to want to avoid the old cranky teacher and find someone willing to put in the hard yards to help you learn what it takes to be safe behind the wheel. 

And remember, don’t feel pressured to book lessons in with the first instructor you speak to! 

Like most things in life, it’s worth shopping around for the best deal. 

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