The Cost of Getting on the Road Can Be Prohibitively Expensive
Learning to drive is often seen as a rite of passage - a step toward independence, employment, and expanded opportunities. But for many learners, the cost of getting on the road isn’t just high - it’s out of reach. One of the biggest hidden barriers? Not having access to a car for practice.
The Hidden Cost of Practice
Driving lessons are expensive. In many places, a single one-hour lesson can cost anywhere from €40 to €50. Most learners need between 40 and 50 hours of professional instruction to be test-ready. That alone pushes the cost into the thousands. But learners with access to a family car can supplement those lessons with private practice - getting in valuable, real-world experience without the hourly price tag.
For those without that option, every minute behind the wheel has a price. If you don’t have a parent or friend with a car (and the right insurance), you’re entirely reliant on your instructor. That means slower progress, higher costs, and fewer opportunities to build confidence in a variety of driving conditions.
Inequality on the Road
This issue hits young people from lower-income backgrounds the hardest. Owning a car - or even having a household with a spare car to lend - is a luxury. Without it, learners are stuck in an expensive cycle: needing to practice to improve, but unable to afford the hours required to pass.
Even once the test is passed, the cost barriers don’t stop. Insurance premiums for new drivers are already sky-high. Add in the cost of buying a car and paying for fuel, and the financial burden becomes overwhelming. It’s no wonder that many people delay getting a license for years - or never learn at all.
The Consequences of Inaccessibility
Not being able to drive limits access to jobs, education, and social opportunities - especially in rural or poorly connected areas. Public transport isn’t always a viable alternative, and ride-sharing services are inconsistent and expensive. For those trying to break out of the cycle of poverty or unemployment, not driving can be a serious obstacle.
What Can Be Done?
To make getting on the road more accessible, we need systemic solutions:
- Subsidised driving lessons for low-income learners.
- Community car-sharing programs for supervised practice.
- Reform insurance policies to reduce premiums for learners using approved practice hours.
- Expanded public driving school initiatives that include practice vehicles.
Driving is more than a convenience - it’s a key to opportunity. To build a more equal society, we must recognise that access to affordable, flexible driving practice isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.