New research, carried out by FirstCar, has found that 33% of young drivers take between 7-12 months to learn to drive – with 30% taking between 3-6 months.
FirstCar has been publishing award-winning road safety education publications for almost two decades and each year, more than 1.85 million new drivers come into contact with the FirstCar brand.
Its 2025 insights report also shows that 13% of young drivers take less than three months to learn to drive; while 15% take between 1-2 years. Some 9% take more than two years.
When it comes to purchasing insurance, 30% of respondents said affordability was the most important factor, perhaps unsurprising given 75% said they would be the main funder of the policy.
Other factors included level of cover (20%), customer reviews (13%), additional benefits (11%) and brand reputation (9%).
Some 42% respondents said they did/will consider a black box/telematics product; while a similar percentage (40%) didn’t.
James Evans, founder of FirstCar, said: “Around one million learner drivers take to our roads each year, with most progressing to pass their driving test – a key milestone in life. While learning to drive is relatively short, many key decisions are made during this time.
“Those who wish to efficiently market their products and services to this conveyor belt of new drivers must understand a young driver’s buying behaviour.
“We’re publishing this report to share the knowledge gained from our most recent research to help you shape your marketing strategies to better engage with today’s new driver.”
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