'The cost of running a car is alarming': Why young people are postponing learning to drive.

Soaring fuel prices put young drivers in a difficult position.

By Annabel Sinclair

You’ve just turned 17 and the excitement of learning to drive kicks in. Your soon-to-be secured driver’s licence is your golden ticket to adulthood and freedom. Whether it’s finding a job, socialising with friends, or exploring new places, driving is a lifelong skill that can open infinite opportunities for young people.

But with petrol and diesel prices hitting an all-time high, are fewer teenagers willing to pay for driving lessons?

As Covid-19 restrictions ease and millions of drivers return to the road, the average price of unleaded petrol has skyrocketed from 121.3 p/litre in March 2020 to 149.2 p/litre in March 2022, and some expect this to continue to rise. What does this mean for young drivers, though? It means that not only has their annual fuel bill stealthily surged from £745 to £818, but the average cost of running their vehicle has risen by £163.

Whilst the data is distressing, it can be difficult to grasp the enormity of the impact that rising fuel prices will have on youngsters who are already struggling financially. Alex Hasty, director at Compare the Market, expressed: “Young people will be concerned the cost of driving has risen so dramatically. Fuel costs have jumped significantly over the last six months, meaning that even if people save the money to buy a car, it will be a significant challenge to afford the ongoing running costs.”

Is this enough to deter teenagers from learning to drive? According to the Department for Transport (DfT), only a third of 17 to 20-year-olds have a driving licence, down from nearly half in the early 1990s.

Layla Berman, 18, a first-year student at the University of Sheffield, has decided to put the brakes on driving lessons as fuel prices continue to rise. “Although driving would give me the independence to go out when I want, managing the cost of filling up a car with petrol on a regular basis would be difficult,” says Layla. “As a student, I have a lot of other expenses and learning to drive isn’t a top priority. If the cost of running a car was cheaper, I would take driving lessons into consideration.” For the time being, Layla will ditch the car and rely on public transportation to get around.

What is fuelling this recent rise in the cost of petrol? Western leaders’ vow to cut off their oil supply from Russia after President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Covid-19 overwhelming supply chains, and an increase in the wholesale price of crude oil are all factors contributing to high prices at the petrol pump.

Alec Gies, 66, a driving instructor from Northwest London, is worried about the effect this may have on young people’s desire to drive. “Driving is a life skill and a necessity for some. The costs of operating a vehicle, however, may influence teens not to learn to drive as walking, cycling or public transport may be more viable,” he says. “I’m having to fill up my car three times a week, and as petrol prices are rising every month, I may have to start increasing my prices.” Alec’s main concern is that this will reduce the number of people contacting him for driving lessons.

To make matters worse, the expense of running a car does not stop at fuel prices, which account for just 37% of the total fee. Not only is insurance responsible for an eye-watering 52% of a 17-24-year-old’s running costs, but vehicle tax adds an additional £180 onto their annual car bill.

So, as your 17^th birthday finally comes around and the disappointment of not being able to afford sky-high prices at the petrol station kicks in, the exhilarating thought of getting behind the wheel and cruising around your hometown is towed away. Maybe next year…