Driving lesson cost variations exposed

The cost of a one-hour driving lesson varies significantly depending on what part of the country you live in, a new survey shows.

The National Consumer Agency survey shows that it can cost up to €20 more for a lesson in Dublin than in the rest of the country.

According to the study, lesson prices can range from €25 a lesson in Galway City, Tralee, Limerick City and Waterford City, to a high of €45 for Dublin.

The average price paid for a one-hour lesson is €33, although the agency said further savings can be made when buying multiple lessons as a package.

The survey looked at the price of a one-hour lesson and the cost for a bundled purchase of five, ten or twelve lessons. Prices were obtained from 130 Road Safety Authority (RSA) approved driving instructors in 12 areas nationwide.

In seven of the 12 areas surveyed, the variation between the highest and lowest quotes was €10 or more, reaching as high as €16 in the Churchtown/Dundrum area of Dublin.

The survey was carried out last week following the introduction of the Essential Driving Training (EDT) scheme, which compels learner drivers to complete at least 12 hours of tuition with an approved instructor before they can sit their driving test.

The survey shows that on average discounts of 10 per cent are available when purchasing multiple lessons. Some instructors offered discounts of up to 25 per cent.

The national average cost to complete the 12 EDT modules was €365, although not all instructors were currently geared up to offer such a programme.

"Our experience in conducting the survey was that a number of instructors were not yet in a position to provide full information on the requirements of the EDT programme and did not have a price for the 12 modules," said National Consumer Agency chief executive Ann Fitzgerald.

"Now that the EDT requirement is officially in force, we urge all those involved in the industry to provide consumers with clear information and attractive offers."