News: Cost of driving licence reduced to tempt young drivers onto the road
Driving licence application fee to fall from £50 to £34
LEARNING TO drive is a rite of passage – a ticket to freedom for young drivers and a relief for parents who have spent the past few years taxiing children around.
However, getting a driving licence is an expensive process, with the average young driver spending about £1,000 to pass their driving test and gain a full licence.
Search for your first car on driving.co.uk
In an attempt to ease the financial burden of motoring, the government has announced that it is to cut the online application fee for a provisional licence from £50 to £34 in November. The cost of renewing a licence online will drop from £20 to £14.
The chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said: “Giving savings back to the taxpayer is a key element in this government’s drive for a stronger economy and a fairer society. That’s why we’re slashing the cost of getting a driving licence and giving it straight back to young people and businesses, saving £150m over 10 years.”
Although a reduction in the cost of acquiring a provisional licence will please those keen to crack out the L-plates, it doesn’t address the problem of expensive lessons, the cost of the driving test and expensive insurance imposed on new drivers.
A recent study by the government found that the average new driver requires 47 hours of tuition to be ready for their first test; with lessons costing an average of £24 an hour, the fees quickly add up.
On top of that, learners must factor in at least one theory exam (£25) and the test itself, which can cost as much as £75 and may take a number of attempts to pass.
Read also:
- Young driver courses for children aged 8 and up
- One in three young motorists admits to taking selfies while driving
