10 Benefits of Taking Driving Lessons

Getting your licence is a rite of passage that offers a sense of freedom and independence. But the road to passing your test may feel like it’s full of twists and turns. While some learners opt to have a family member or friend teach them to drive, engaging the expertise of a licensed driving instructor provides multiple benefits. 

We summarise the top 10 benefits of a driving instructor below: 

1. Learn From A Professional, Licensed Instructor 
2. Practice In A Vehicle Designed For Learners  
3. Develop Safe Driving Habits
4. Gain Confidence With Defensive Driving Skills and Hazard Perception 
5. Learn At Your Own Pace
6. Potential Insurance Discounts 
7. Bonus Log Book Hours 
8. Prepare Properly To Ace Your Test
9. Practice In Different Conditions 
10. Lower Stress With An Objective, Accredited Instructor 

1. Learn From A Professional, Licensed Instructor 

One of the most obvious benefits of hiring a professional driving instructor is that you learn the necessary skills, techniques and tips to drive safely from a licensed, qualified instructor. 

With a driving instructor, you can rest assured that all instructors have met the strict standards set by the government authority, and you can easily browse instructors to find one that suits you.  

2. Practice In A Vehicle Designed For Learners  

Hiring a driving instructor not only gives students access to modern vehicles that are insured and pass regular inspections for roadworthiness, but it also means learners can practice driving in dual-control vehicles that are particularly equipped for teaching purposes. This reduces the possibility of accidents and can provide hands-on guidance when required. This will be huge for your first driving lesson.

3. Develop Safe Driving Habits

Driving lessons will teach you the foundations of driving, from how to operate your vehicle and how to follow traffic laws to how to react to different driving experiences. During your time with a qualified instructor, you’ll develop lifelong driving habits that will make you a safer driver. 

4. Gain Confidence With Defensive Driving Skills and Hazard Perception 

Another part of staying safe is learning how to anticipate hazards and dangerous situations. A driving instructor will help you recognise the visual cues or traffic behaviours of an emerging hazard, giving you more time to plan a response. They can also help provide on-the-spot feedback to correct any mistakes and build your understanding.

Taking driving lessons also helps develop knowledge of defensive driving techniques and teaches learner drivers emergency maneuvers that will keep them and other drivers on the road safe. They’ll teach you the importance of signalling early to minimise the risk of accidents further down the track. 

5. Learn At Your Own Pace

One of the most advantageous benefits of a driving instructor is getting to learn at your own pace. On average, you’ll spend around 10-15 hours with a parent or friend for every hour you spend with a driving instructor. This means you can space out your driving lessons and put into practice new skills in a more relaxed setting to gain confidence. At the end of the day, you control your pace. 

6. Potential Insurance Discounts 

An often unknown benefit of a driving instructor is that insurance companies may offer discounts to individuals who have completed a driving course with a qualified instructor. 

This is because insurance companies generally perceive trained drivers to pose lower risks, as they are less likely to be involved in accidents and therefore, less likely to make a claim. 

This could result in lower premiums which would help offset the costs of driving lessons in the long term. 

7. Bonus Log Book Hours 

In New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT, a one-hour lesson with a driving instructor will count for 3 hours in your logbook. This is commonly referred to as the 3-for-1 driving lesson scheme.  

However, there are some nuances to this rule, such as driving at night (which only translates to one hour in your logbook) and some states (such as NSW) capping this at 10 hours of lessons. Either way, driving lessons are a great way to practice driving safely and under the guidance of a licenced individual. 

8. Prepare Properly To Ace Your Test

Having a professional driving instructor should give you peace of mind that you’re not only learning safe driving practices, but that you will be prepared sufficiently for your driving test. 

Having had experience with hundreds, if not thousands of student drivers sitting the same driving test, qualified instructors are uniquely placed to guide you through what you need to know for the assessment. Plus, they're able to provide updates on your progress and offer pointers on what to focus on when you're not with them.

During this process, you’ll practice manoeuvres common in the test like 3-point turns and reverse parallel parks, as well as learn how to read street signs and react to certain hazards safely. 

9. Practice In Different Conditions 

Driving lessons mean getting to practice new skills in different environments, cars and conditions. You’ll learn to navigate heavy traffic and highways, in sunny weather and rain, during the day or night - providing you with exposure to the full breadth of driving conditions, and plenty of opportunities for improvement. 

10. Lower Stress With An Objective, Accredited Instructor 

While learning to drive with family members or friends is beneficial, an objective, accredited instructor plays an important role in rounding out your education. Qualified instructors will have patience, the most up-to-date knowledge regarding road rules, and experience with the most effective teaching methods to support your learning experience. Investing in learning good driving habits and building a strong foundation from a certified third-party individual with years of experience up their sleeve will have major payoffs in the long run. 

Reap The Rewards of Driving Lessons Today! 

Passing your driving test is a massive milestone. Feel empowered to get there faster with the support of a professional driving instructor who will instil safe driving habits and ensure your safety beyond the test.

At EzLicence, you can choose from over 1,000 verified instructors and we make it easy to schedule or reschedule lessons with our 24/7 portal. Access peer reviews and verify working with children checks before you commit. Book your driving lessons now.