Majority of adults without licence can't afford driving lessons'

"Seven in 10 British adults who do not hold a full driving licence believe learning to drive is currently unaffordable, a new survey has found. This figure climbs to 76 per cent among 18 to 29-year-olds without a licence, who say lessons are financially out of reach."

"The poll, conducted for car insurer Prima, revealed that the cost of driving lessons was the biggest deterrent for 38 per cent of respondents. A further 32 per cent were put off by the price of buying a car, while 15 per cent cited the cost of car insurance as the main barrier to learning."

"For a growing number of people, driving is no longer a symbol of freedom – it's a financial stretch too far. Between lessons, buying a car and insuring it, the upfront and ongoing costs are pricing many people out before they even start."

A survey of 1,134 British adults reveals that 70 percent of those without a full driving licence consider learning to drive financially unaffordable. Among 18 to 29-year-olds without a licence, this figure rises to 76 percent. The cost of driving lessons represents the biggest deterrent for 38 percent of respondents, followed by car purchase costs at 32 percent and insurance expenses at 15 percent. Nearly half of surveyed individuals indicated they would consider learning to drive if costs decreased significantly. Prima's UK country manager notes that driving has shifted from representing freedom to becoming a financial burden, with combined expenses for lessons, vehicle purchase, and insurance pricing many people out of driving entirely.

Read at www.independent.co.uk