Intensive Driving Course (Requirements, Cost, Duration)
An intensive driving course, also known as a crash course, is specifically designed for individuals who want to pass their driving test soon. According to the DVSA (Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency), learner drivers must take almost 47 lessons before passing their practical test. An intensive driving course helps you learn these lessons in shorter but more intense periods.
It mainly involves one-to-one interaction with an experienced instructor to cover a more extended series of driving lessons, which can be tailored to focus on those areas with which you are least comfortable.
You can either take training from any local instructor or a residential instructor, for which you will have to move away from your home to attend the training centre. Different driving schools offer intensive courses throughout the UK, varying based on cost, effectiveness, and length. Some driving schools provide you with an assessment for determining the level of instruction you require and can suggest a suitable course schedule.
Requirements
Before taking the intensive driving course, you should meet these requirements:
17 years age
A provisional driving license from the UK
Learner driver insurance (if you are using your vehicle)
Duration
An intensive driving course may range between 2 days to 2 weeks, requiring lessons for 2 to 5 hours per day. A 2-day course with 10 hours of driving is suitable for those individuals who have already taken some lessons.
Cost
An intensive driving course is relatively cheaper than a conventional driving course, and the cost for courses with different durations can be £200, £1,000, and £2,000 for a 1-day, 1-week, and 2-week intensive driving course, respectively.
Types of Intensive Driving Courses
Based on the number of days and driving hours per day, there are different types of intensive driving courses, which include:
Two days (6 to 8 hours per day)
Three days (4 to 6 hours per day)
Four days (3 to 6 hours per day)
Five days (3 to 5 hours per day)
Six days (3 to 5 hours per day)
Seven days (3 to 5 hours per day)
Eight days (3 to 5 hours per day)
Ten days (3 to 5 hours per day)
You can select any of these intensive courses depending on your previous driving experience, knowledge, skills, and availability. If you are a beginner, you will have to struggle and spend more hours learning driving lessons.
Advantages of Intensive Driving Course
Taking an intensive driving course offers you the following advantages:
It allows you to drive on the road as soon as possible.
It does not require months or years to learn to drive.
It allows you to pass your test in a shorter time.
It helps pass your practical driving test and theory test as well.
It involves a specific number of lessons, which makes it cost-effective.
It allows the instructor and the learner to focus more on training and learning within a fixed schedule.
Disadvantages of Intensive Driving Course
Constraining a conventional driving course to cover it in a shorter time can result in some disadvantages, such as:
If you fail the test the first time, you may become unmotivated and feel like you have wasted your money.
It may not provide sufficient on-road experience, leading to a lesser understanding of road safety rules.
It does not allow you to drive in variable weather conditions because the weather might stay mostly the same over a week or two.
It involves long learning sessions per day, which can affect your concentration level; therefore, it is only suitable for some learners.