Learner drivers face staggering costs of €10,000 to drive on Irish roads

Thousands of people around the country are currently in the process of learning to drive and getting their licence, but at what cost?

Ross Smith, a driving instructor, broke down the cost many people are faced with on Newstalk this week.

"It's a pretty big issue," he said, "learning to drive is an incredibly expensive process."

Ross explained that while on paper learning to drive may seem somewhat achievable, "when you get into the depths of it, it ends up costing an absolute fortune."

Ross told Newstalk that to start off you need €100 just to obtain a learner permit, with about €18 for the theory test study app, around €30 for an eye test and €45 for the actual learner permit itself. 

This doesn't include the €45 needed to pay to sit your theory test.

"When you get into the average cost of a 12-hour EDT package is about €550 or so...so your talking €700 or so to complete the whole process just to meet minimum requirements to sit a driving test," Ross added.

For those that don't own their own car, or have a full licence driver to practice with, the process becomes even more expensive.

An average second-hand first-time car on the market today costs anywhere between €2,000 to €8,000 depending on your personal budget, car model and how old the car is. 

Car insurance for a new driver typically costs around €2,000 as well, adding further strain on a person looking to take to the roads for the first time.

"The EDT service isn't actually set up at all for someone who doesn't have a car at home....a lot of people don't have €2,000 to whack out for insurance to practice in between lessons," Ross said.

"I'm yet to meet a learner who can pass the test after 12 hours," Ross continued, "they've got the worry of 'how do I practice in-between?' 'Am I going to have to pay for insurance..or more lessons?'"

Ross estimated that it would typically take about 30 lessons on average to be "reasonably confident" to pass a driving test.

This would amount to around €1,500 on driving lessons in total.

Robyn, a person who sat her driving test, told Newstalk "the total I paid for driving lessons with just the one person...which was about €660 for lessons and pre-tests."

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This was not including the driving lesson vouchers Robyn was gifted, which paid for six lessons.

Robyn also needed to pay for two provisional licences, due to time on the waiting list for a driving test, an eye test, a theory test, insurance on the car, and tax as well.

"I would say in total I paid the guts of €1,600 or €1,700," Robyn told Newstalk for her process in learning to drive in her mother's car.

Ross said that for those who don't have their own car for the test, the average cost of using the driving instructors car would be €150.

A driving test also costs €85, and passing the first time is not easy.

In total, for a learner driver who has to buy their own car, they would face a cost of around €8,000 to €10,000, including a typical second-hand car, tax and insurance, driving lessons, a driving test, a learner permit and a full licence.