How Many Driving Lessons Needed to Pass P Test?

Hi Guys,

I know it will be different to every person
I dont have prior experience in driving
Currently holding a learner but was looking into getting driving lessons from instructors

I am over the age that requires logbook so i dont need to record hours
Thinking of taking ~10 lessons but wasnt sure if it is enough to pass the P Test

I dont have anyone around me with Full license so I would rely on the lessons with instructors to gain experience
How many hours of practice would be sufficient ?

Comments

  • +6

    its very dependent on each individual. kinda need to ask yourself how many hours have you had to drive on Ls?

    are you comfortable with road rules?

    why dont you try out a few lessons and ask the instructur their opinion of your skill? get more if needed get less if gud.

    i know some people who did 120 hours of L and some cough did about an accumulated 30-40 hours on driving (with full license members in vehicle type), took 3 x 1.5 hour testing with instructor (lessons) and passed P test.

    i also know some horror stories where people get passed (for whatever reason) but this person doesnt head check and just change lanes without looking. driving on the road is a co-operative activity so the more lessons —> more confortable you are at driving the better for you and everyone else (especially yourself).

    • +3

      And people shouldn't be afraid to pay for more lessons after they get their license too. Like professional defensive driving lessons. Also lessons on how to drive smoothly if you currency treat driving like rally driving, throwing sudden g-forces in all directions. Not very pleasant for your SO or any other passengers.

  • Don't you need 50 hours of accompanied driving too, or someone willing to sign a thing saying they swear they did those 50 hours with you.

    • +4

      OP says they don't need to log their hours

  • Myself and my partner both only completed 5 or 6 lessons before we took our VORT's.

  • +3

    Good morning,

    I am a driving instructor. I seen people done their test and got licence between 15 to 20 hours, from 0 start.

  • I had 8 lessons and passed the first time.

  • +3

    if you can't practise with anyone, at least 10 lessons. usually it's better to get a lesson, practise what the instructor said you needed to work on with family or a friend, then get another lesson and just keep practising the stuff they tell you you need to work on until you're ready.

    • -3

      I dont have anyone around me with Full license

      • +2

        if you can't practise with anyone, at least 10 lessons.

  • +1

    prices for those lessons are a rort

    • +1

      An instructor provides their time and expertise and also a car (gas). If you consider all that the prices are not that crazy.

  • +3

    How long is a piece of string? Twice as long as half its length.

  • +3

    Needed? Zero.

    Mind you, there are some out there who have their licence who couldn't be helped by a hundred lessons.

    • +1

      F-ing oath brother

  • I think I had 6 and like 20-30 hours driving with a full license person. Also I think some testing locations are easier than others but I just booked where my instructor told me to book.

  • +1

    Go and have 1 lesson and see what the instructor says … if your good or rubbish he'll know.

  • -1

    Thinking of taking ~10 lessons but wasnt sure if it is enough to pass the P Test

    What does your driving instructor say when you ask them if they think you're ready?

    • havent taken my first lesson yet, will ask him after the first one

      • -1

        well that would be a good start, get a few lessons under your belt and see what they say. Everyone is different. Some might need 5 lessons, some might need 50 lessons.

        • +1

          Just taken my first lesson, I think the instructor was quite impressed with my driving, told me I will pick it up fast and most likely will be able to pass P1 quite quick. Bought 9 hour package so might give it a go after

          • -1

            @biontears: Thats great news!!! Hopefully at the end of the 9 hours you'll be ready to go!

  • +1

    You can see the various suggestions of how many you need to pass the test, but I believe the answer to becoming a good, safe driver is that you need as much practice as you can get. The more you drive, the more you learn and driving becomes second nature. Having to do the 120 hours is great for that, so I appreciate that those under the age of 21 must do it but I think those of all ages going for their license should have to do a minimum amount of hours. I've seen some horrendous drivers who didn't have to do the 120 hours but somehow got their license.

    Practice and experience is how you learn and gain confidence as a driver.

  • Depends if you're a quick learner and how observant you are. Watch how others drive and behave, even if you're on the bus or something, and make predictions.

  • honestly, 2.
    Get one immediately before you do any driving.
    Drive around a bunch with you favourite adult.
    Get one more lesson prior to you test with your new found skills so you can refine them for the testing criteria (which can sometimes be counter intuitive to real world driving).

    The people failing the test are, in my opinion, the ones that should never be allowed to drive. Eg speeding in a school zone. Everyone makes mistakes but c'mon man, its your test, if you can't focus and drive like a grandma for 40 mins, how are you ever going to manage in the real world.

  • +1

    Our local council has a driver mentor program for people in the same situation as you. Might be worth checking if your council has the same.

    • That's a great idea. I don't think you can become a safe driver just with lessons. It would be too expensive to get enough experience. Plus you don't have the freedom to just experiment as you have someone judging you (instead of someone you are comfortable with like a parent or friend or spouse).

    • That sounds like the L2P program we have in Victoria, but it's for under 21's only. I am a mentor in the L2P program.

  • +1

    A few lessons will get you to pass a test. Only significant experience will let you learn how to drive.

  • I did 2-3 before I did my test. I was (at the time) confident enough, but having an instructor to identify weak points / formally assess me worked well, and made the actual test less stressful.

    It comes down to your competence and confidence. If you feel you aren't ready, theres nothing wrong with taking more if you don't feel ready - its only to better yourself and help with safety of everyone on the road.

    • Are you really old or did you make up the rest of the logbook hours?

      • Ah yeah I did a reasonable amount of driving with family, largely uh, didn't do the 100 hours. Probably 50 or so, in a range of conditions

  • I had about 6 or so 1.5 lessons with an instructor and approximately 20 hours of supervised driving.

    The key for me was to find an instructor who took me around the usual test routes around a nominated VicRoads office. In effect, the instructor shows you how not to fail the test. In the test I was doing head checks every 30 seconds and was still advised to do more head checks in the final report. Anyway, I passed first time.

  • Don't they have a checklist of things you need to be able to do? Can you do them all? Change lanes? 3 point turn? Reverse park? Kerbside stop?

  • Buy a bundle of ten hours, and after ten hours you will see if you need more or not. If yes, you buy more.

  • -1

    i would say 20 but you could always do 10 and have a crack at the test

  • 10 seems ridiculous. Do you already have a car or access to a car? Then practice yourself in that until you are confident enough to have a lesson or 2 and then do the test.

    • OP said they don't know anyone with full license to take them driving

  • I passed the practical test in one go. Zero driving lessons.

  • depends how good your family or friends are, like how much support they give in training you. I had gotten barely any support, always had to learn stuff hard way myself. Parent had never really given much support may be like 2 hours a month at max. Hence I had to spent like almost 2000-2200 (may be more I cant remember) just of the driving lesson etc all myself being so angry at my parents, as they gave no support really.

    I had failed VORT twice. mainly i think because instructors, and examiners are just trying to make $$ of you, that's all they are about. That's why I dont recommend VORT to anyone, you fail once you lost all of your money (and time in wait too) but with CBTA you have 1 reattempt allowed on same day, hence not lost all of your money.
    Hence I really wish I had taken the CBTA approach from very beginning (hence both instructor and examiner are same, and he will be the one marking you). He'll take you through all the test routes etc himself/herself.
    If you are thinking of taking 10 lessons, I strongly suggest go with a CBTA approved instructor (hence he can access you on the Log book part straight away instead of those muppets who only speak to make $$ from you, but charge you like $10-20 less per hour but take like 8 more lessons than what a CBTA instructor would take to teach you everything).

  • I know it will be different to every person

    How many hours of practice would be sufficient ?

    You've answered your own question!

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