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Many people choose to get the train when travelling long distances rather than driving, largely due to the fact that it’s often quicker and less stressful than dealing with congestion. However, a significant number of train travellers will use their car to get to the station, and the cost of parking for the day can sometimes be shockingly high. We wanted to find out just how much it costs to park at train stations across the UK and just where comes out as the cheapest and most expensive. Our research looks at the daily parking rate at the UK’s busiest train stations* and found that there is a huge variation in pricing. *Only stations with their own car park were included in the research. Depending on where you are travelling from, the cost of parking for just one day could be as high as £40, however, we also found that some stations offer completely free parking for rail passengers!  

Top 10 Most Expensive Station Car Parks in the UK  (outside of London)

The research found that the most expensive parking, outside London, is at Reading Station, with costs of £25 per day. It’s bad news for motorists in Glasgow too, as Glasgow Central charges just £1 less for the day.

Top 10 Most Expensive Station Car Parks in London

  Those parking in London will find themselves forking out a staggering amount for parking, in fact, it could cost up to £40 – the day rate at St.Pancras/King’s Cross. The cheapest station car parking in London is as steep as £7. The London travellers willing to hop on another train or tube could save extra pennies by parking further out of London’s centre.

The Price of Station Parking in the UK – Ranked (outside of London)

 Outside of London, some stations offer free parking for rail users, namely Selly Oak and Kirkby (Merseyside).  On the other hand, other stations such as Benfleet in Essex and Paisley Gilmour cost £2.40 and £3 respectively for the whole day. From Berkshire (Reading Station) to Essex (Benfleet Station), there are less than 100 miles, however, the daily parking costs rise by £22.60.

The Price of Station Parking in London – Ranked

Not everywhere in London charges the earth for train station parking, with Norwood Junction costing a mere £4 per day, and Forest Hill and Hayes & Harlington charging a reasonable £5. Croydon and Camden are less than 14 miles apart, however, there is a £36 difference between the two stations daily rates. London travellers could save money by parking the 14 miles further away and hopping on an extra train or tube.   If you’re trying to decide on how to get from A to B, it might be worth taking a look at our car sharing insurance or car rental options.  

Methodology

We used Office of Rail and Road statistics data on the busiest train stations in the UK as the source for our list of stations to use. We took the top 100 stations outside of London that had their own car parks, and the top 30 in London with their own car parks.   We then took the daily rate for parking from the National Rail page for each station where available. In some cases the prices were not available on the National Rail site, so prices were taken from the car parking operator website instead. Please see the full list of sources below.

Sources

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/ https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ https://www.apcoa.co.uk https://stpancras.com https://www.parkme.com/ https://www.sabaparking.co.uk https://www.ncp.co.uk/ https://www.networkrail.co.uk/ https://www.scotrail.co.uk https://www.southernrailway.com https://www.gwr.com https://www.q-park.co.uk/ https://www.northernrailway.co.uk https://www.greateranglia.co.uk http://www.stevenage.gov.uk      

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1. The Toughest Locations to Pass Your Test
2. Is it Getting Tougher to Pass Your Driving Test?

2.1 Do Learner Drivers Find the Practical Driving Test Difficult?

2.2 Test Failures and Reasons

3. How Many Learner Pass The Test First Time?
4. Provisional License v Full License
5. At What Age do People Pass Their Test?
6. How Much Does it Cost to Learn to Drive

In the UK, learning to drive is often on many of our to-do lists and is a huge milestone for young adults. With commuting, socialising and of course, independence, being huge priorities for many young people, the need to get behind the wheel has never been more prominent. But what does the learner driver landscape look like in 2019? How has it changed over time and what is the true cost of swapping your green license to pink? The team at Veygo have gone behind-the-scenes, delving into data and surveying 2,000 British drivers to reveal every angle of learning to drive in 2019.

1. The Toughest Locations to Pass Your Test

Tests can be nerve-racking, no matter what, but sometimes where you live can put you in a much trickier position. Is shedding those L-plates in busy cities harder? Perhaps passing your test in the countryside is a little less stressful?

We analysed pass rates from every test centre in the UK to see whether you are more, or less, likely to be passing with flying colours.

It turns out that the toughest place to pass your test in 2019 would be Birmingham. In fact, the two lowest pass rates are both in the city of Birmingham. The easiest place to pass is much further north, in Scotland, Inveraray. Passing your test in Scotland must be a lot easier, because the six highest pass rates have all originated there. The pass rates are higher in rural areas and lower in busy cities, but there could be other contributing factors.

Learners that want to give themselves the best chance of passing may want to journey to another test centre in the UK – it is permitted. While it may mean you would have to use your own car and get someone to drive you there first, it could mean a higher chance of a first-time pass!

2. Is It Getting Tougher To Pass Your Driving Test?

The driving test in the UK today consists of two parts – the theory and the practical. We may all be aware of the structure and what we have to go through to get our license in 2019, but today’s learner drivers will have a very different experience to that which their parents did. In 2017, the driving test was even modified to include sat nav testing.

As driving conditions change and technology advances, the test has been adapted to modern drivers, but does this mean it’s getting tougher, or easier?

The number of passes has seen a recent dip, but so have the failures. When you combine the two and look at the overall pass rate, there seems to be a constant balance. In fact, the pass rate has only fluctuated between 44-47% between 2007 and 2019.

It seems that men have the advantage when it comes to the practical driving test. With a higher pass rate overall and fewer failures altogether, the numbers show that ever since 2007, men seem to find passing the practical side of the exam much easier. However, when it comes to the theoretical side, women have a higher pass rate.

Do Learner Drivers Find The Practical Driving Test Difficult?

2.2. Test Failures and Reasons

Sometimes, it just doesn’t go our way, and a pass won’t be on the cards. You’re not alone and the reasons for failure are all very similar. Some people don’t even make it to the test itself due to cancellations. So, just what are the main reasons for cancellation and failure?

Top 10 Reasons for Failure Overall

1. Junctions (observation)
2. Mirrors (change direction)
3. Control (steering)
4. Junctions (turning right)
5. Move off (safely)
6. Positioning (normal driving)
7. Move off (control)
8. Response to signals (traffic lights)
9. Reverse park (control)
10. Response to signals (Traffic Signs)

Reasons for Cancelling Test

Each year, thousands of tests are cancelled, with the four main reasons being leave ( annual leave (i.e., holidays) and special leave (e.g., bereavement, compassionate leave, emergencies), disputes (industrial action and strikes), acts of nature (poor weather conditions and bad light) and medical absences (sickness and medical appointments). Since 2010, just over 637,000 tests have been cancelled altogether with the most recent common reason for cancellation being medical-related.

The number of tests passed with 0 faults has seen an increase over the years. Since 2007-2008, the number has risen from only 3,329 to a huge 17,950 in 2016-2017.

Do Learner Drivers Feel Pressured?

Ever felt bullied by another driver on the road? Learning to drive inevitably comes with pressure, but sometimes other factors come into play too. We may know what the main reasons for cancelled tests are, but just how pressured do learner drivers feel, especially by other road users?

We surveyed 2,000 British drivers, asking them if they ever felt (or feel) pressured on the road as a learner due to other drivers. This can be everything from tailgating to honking or a sense of road rage.

It turns out that overall, a huge 82% of people feel or have previously felt pressured by other drivers. That’s 8 in 10 learners that feel pressure from others when on the road. Women also feel more pressured by other drivers than men do.

3. How Many Learners Pass The First Time?

Many people taking the practical driving test don’t pass the first time. Some don’t pass the second time and some go on to take the tests over five or six times. Everyone is different, with some people perhaps needing a little longer, or even a practice run. There’s no shame in that! Are you in the majority?

Many people taking the practical driving test seem to pass the first time. In fact, the average first time pass rate is 42.4%. However, the second attempt pass rate is 41%, which shows just how little difference there is. People taking their test for the 6th (or more) time have an average pass rate of 33%.

4. Provisional License v Full License

Anyone can apply for a provisional driving license once they reach a certain age. But, who turns that little green card into a fully-certified pink UK driving license? Who are the people behind the wheel in the UK – is it more men or women? Younger drivers or older drivers? We’ve looked at the population of the UK (aged 15 and over) and compared the figures to see just what the UK driving landscape looks like.

5. At What Age Do People Pass Their Test?

We looked into pass rates over attempts and the ages of 1st-time passers, 2nd-time passers and so on to see what the prime age is to get that license first time!

Perhaps as expected, the age group with the highest first-time pass rate is between 16-25, with a 46.6% pass rate. Not far behind, however, is the 26-35 age group and then more surprisingly, in third place, aged 61 or above. The worst first-time pass rate is those aged 45-60.

What Should The Age Of Learning To Drive Be?

We asked 2000 drivers and learners what they think the age of learning to drive should be. Should it stay the same, be raised or lowered?

The majority of people believe that the age of learning to drive should be increased slightly to 18, however, 42% of people think that it’s fine just the way it is. There is still a small percentage of people who would like it to be lowered to 16.

Should We Be Required To Retake Our Driving Tests At Any Stage?

Questions are constantly raised over whether we should retake the test/s at some point to refresh our memories and update ourselves on road rules. We turned to our 2,000 survey-takers to find out what the everyday road-user thinks. Should we retake our driving test every 10 years, 20 years, when we reach retirement, or simply not at all?

It so happens that the majority of people don’t think that we should retake our tests at any point. However, 1 in 5 Brits still think that drivers should retake their test every 10 years. 20% also think drivers should retake every 20 years. 1 in 2 Brits are completely against driving test retakes for older drivers.

6. How Much Does it Cost To Learn To Drive?

Anyone who has passed their test or is currently learning to drive will understand that the costs can rack up. Even if you have never driven before, you may be aware of the constant fluctuation of fuel prices, the battle with insurance costs and much more. Even before you pass your test, the lessons can add up.

The first person to ever pass their test (Mr Beere, 1935) may have paid a grand total of 37.5p to take his test, but today is a very different picture. So just what is the average cost of learning to drive in 2019?

Passing your test is an amazing feeling, but once you’ve achieved this and bought your first run-around, the most daunting financial factor can be the insurance. As a young and new driver, these costs are known to be quite steep. So just how does age matter for insurance policies and claims?

How Does The UK Finance Learning To Drive?

We asked our survey-takers how they financed their journey to P-plates. We are all aware of the costs attached and it can be a stressful ordeal, but just how do the British learner drivers finance every step?

While around 66% of learner drivers saved up the dosh themselves and paid with their own hard-earned cash, 3 in 10 Brits’ parents have paid for their driving lessons. Females tend to pay themselves whereas young male drivers are more likely to ask parents for financial help.

How Much Do Parents Spend On Their Children Learning To Drive Every Year?

30% of learner drivers depend on their parents to finance their journey to p plates. When you take this cost and add in our survey results, we discovered that collectively, every year, UK parents spend an average of £119,841,249 on their children learning to drive.

First Cars

As a new driver, your first car is commonly not a brand-new, expensive or ‘flashy’ purchase, but no matter how rusty or old the vehicle was, it will always be a memorable one. We took the survey answers of 2,000 drivers to find out just who bought their first car.

Turns out the majority of people proudly bought their first car themselves, however, 23% of new drivers still rely on their parents to get them their first set of wheels. When it comes to a gender comparison, it also seems that parents are more likely to buy their sons their first car than their daughters. Or is it perhaps that males are more likely to rely on their parents to buy their cars rather than females?

How Much Do UK Parents Spend on Their Kids First Car Every Year?

The average parent in the UK spends between £3,492 and £5,274 on their child’s first car. This is an average of around £4,233. The North West is the biggest spenders on their kids first set of wheels, whereas the South West are much more reserved, spending almost £2,000 less.

From our recent survey, we revealed that 23% of UK parents buy their kids their first car. Taking the amount of yearly passes and these costs, we can also reveal that collectively, UK parents spend an average of £324,358,209 on their kids first cars. That’s just under £325million that, overall, the UK spends on their children’s first set of wheels.

When you combine this with financing your kid/s through the process of learning to drive, that’s some serious cash! In fact, it adds up to a whopping average of £5,432 per parent/s. As a nation, combined, that’s a shocking £ 444,199,457.78 that the UK spends on putting their children through lessons/tests and buying first cars. The bank of mum and dad better get saving!

7. Conclusion

There’s no questioning that learning to drive today is very different from the past. With an increase in technology and apps, different forms of financing and payment, new cars and an increase in eco-conscious drivers, the entire landscape is shifting. Give it another ten years and perhaps we won’t recognise the process of learning to drive at all.

Methodology & Sources

The main data was taken from the ‘research and statistics’ section of the Driving and Motorcycle section on gov.uk.
https://www.gov.uk/transport/driving-and-motorcycle-tests

Toughest Locations To Pass

The locations and pass rates refer to specific test centres in the UK. The data is originally sourced from the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency).
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/car-driving-test-data-by-test-centre

Is It Getting Tougher To Pass?

This was worked out by mapping the pass rates, the number of tests conducted, the passes and failures from 2007 to 2019.

Theory vs Practical

Using a monthly table, from 2007 to 2018, two pass rates of theory and practical tests were mapped against each other to discover which one is more ‘difficult’. The same data was then used to map against age and gender to see who has a higher pass rate.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/car-driving-test-data-by-test-centre

Test Failures/Cancellations

Statistical data originally from the DVSA which shows the top main reasons people fail and/or cancel the practical driving test. The number of tests which were passed with 0 faults was also mapped via this data.

Please note (reasons for cancelling test):

• Leave: annual leave (i.e., holidays) and special leave (e.g., bereavement, compassionate leave, emergencies)
• Disputes: industrial action and strikes
• Acts of Nature: poor weather conditions and bad light
• Medical Absences: sickness and medical appointments

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/driving-test-failure-reasons-data
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/636873/dvsa1207.pdf

Age of Passing Test

Practical car test pass rates by number of attempts, age and gender: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/driving-test-statistics-drt
The pass rates were mapped against age to discover the average pass rates for each age and each passing time.

Provisional and Full UK License Holders

Using the UK population (aged 15 years and older) and the number of license holders (UK & provisional) we were able to calculate the percentage of the population and which gender group holds the most amount of each license. This was also used against age group statistics to reveal which age holds the most UK provisionals and full licenses.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland

https://data.gov.uk/dataset/d0be1ed2-9907-4ec4-b552-c048f6aec16a/gb-driving-licence-data

Cost of Learning to Drive

Using the recommended hours of lessons (by the DVSA) of 45 hours, the costs of a provisional license, theory test, practical test and driving lessons were added up to give an average cost. The average insurance premium bs claim against age was taken from The Association of British Insurers and a list discovered on the below links.

http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/money/insurance/is-age-the-biggest-factor-in-determining-your-car-insurance-costs-11363992148053
https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/motor-insurance/age-and-motor-insurance/

How Much Do Parents Spend On Their Kids Learning To Drive Every Year?

Taking the total cost of learning to drive and the percentage of parents who have paid for their kids lessons,(using the survey results)  we worked out how much in total UK parents spend on their kids learning to drive. This is based on the number of passes 2018-19 of 17-30 year olds.

How Much Do UK Parents Spend on Their Kids First Car Every Year?

Using the below survey from Go Compare and taking an average of the region spends and the survey results, we worked out how much in total UK parents spend on their kids first cars, every year. This is based on the number of passes 2018-19 of 17-30 year olds.

https://press.gocompare.com/news/new-drivers-spend-over-gbp-5-000-on-their-first-car

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It’s vital to note that no two people that have ASD will experience it in the same way, and that everyone will have varying behaviours, traits, characteristics and needs. So, we can’t promise that everything in this article will apply to you, and we can’t generalise information to such a diverse population. However, this basic information may aid your knowledge of driving with ASD, and maybe even help you get started.

If you want more information on learning to drive with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, check out our articles below:

• Learning to drive with an with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Taking the theory test with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Taking the practical test with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

How do I buy a car?

If you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), then you’re eligible to join the Motability scheme. This means that your higher rate will be paid directly to Motability, and you can lease or purchase a vehicle through the scheme. You will also be eligible for free road tax with this scheme.

NOTE: You only have to notify the DVLA of your ASD if it affects your ability to drive safely. If you don’t disclose this information, you could be fined up to £1,000 and be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident.

Safe driving involves:

• Visuospatial perception
• Hearing
• Attention and concentration
• Memory
• Judgement
• Adaptive strategies
• Reaction time
• Sensation
• Control and coordination
• And more

If driving with ASD could be hindered by any of the above, you must tell the DVLA – more information on this can be found here. You may also be able to get your vehicle adapted to suit your needs through Motability’s service. So, if any of the above elements of safe driving would make driving with ASD difficult, your car could be adjusted to solve this.

How do I get a blue badge?

The Blue Badge scheme is designed to give individuals who have disabilities various parking concessions and privileges. This includes being able to park in disabled bays, on some single and double yellow lines, and fewer restrictions on parking time limits. The scheme is currently available throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. However a few London boroughs only partially recognise the scheme, so check with your local council when you apply.

The badges are issued by local authorities/councils (or by TransportNI if you live in Northern Ireland). Your local council will decide on the entitlement of a Blue Badge, and will also be the organisation to contact if you have any queries.

You can apply for a Blue Badge from the appropriate links below:

• England and Wales
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland

You can find out more about the scheme here.

How do I get insurance?

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 makes it illegal for insurers to refuse cover to anyone with ASD on the grounds of a disability. Also, they can only ask for more money if the extra charge is based on factual or statistical data, or there are other factors which mean that a disability puts someone at a higher risk (Equality Act 2010).

You can look for an affordable insurance policy through a price comparison site like Confused.com, or you can go directly to specialist providers that offer cover specifically for drivers that have a disability.

Some insurers may want to speak to you to learn more about your ASD. This is so that they can understand your requirements and any vehicle modifications – not to charge you more.

Here are some important things you may want to ask an insurer when searching for the best policy:

• Do they offer further discounts on a policy if you hold a Blue Badge?
• If you have an accident, will they provide a replacement vehicle suitable for your needs?
• Can a personal assistant or carer be added to your policy as an additional driver?

If you decide not to get your own vehicle, you can also get insurance on someone else’s car, such as a friend’s or family member’s.

What if I have an accident?

One thing that may help if your ASD involves ritualised behaviour, is keeping a clear step-by-step guide of what to do in the event of an accident in your car. You may want to use the instructions we’ve provided below, or you could rewrite them in a way that suits your understanding best.

You may want to speak to your driving instructor so that they can tell you what is classed an accident, and when the actions below would be appropriate. Friends or family members may also be able to advise you on what to expect.

If you have an accident:

1. Stop your car and switch off the engine.
2. Put on your hazard lights.
3. If you’re able to leave your car, be careful when exiting and be aware of other traffic.
4. Try and stay calm, and use whatever anxiety-reducing methods work best for you.
5. Call 999 immediately if you need support, if anyone’s injured, if the collision scene is dangerous, or if someone involved leaves the scene without exchanging their details required by law.
   NOTE: You may also want to call someone that you know and trust to offer you support e.g. a friend/parent/carer.
6. If you have a mobile phone, take pictures of the accident scene. Remember to note street names, vehicle locations, collision points and any damage. You may also want to write this information down, so keep a notebook and pen in your car.
7. If anyone else is involved in the accident, ask them for their name, address, vehicle registration number, car model, car make, and car colour. You’ll also have to ask any passengers for their contact details (i.e. name, address, telephone number).
8. You must then exchange your details with the other driver(s) – this is a legal requirement. You must provide your name, address, telephone number, and insurance details – you may want to write down your policy number in your step-by-step guide.
9. If the other car involved is parked and its driver isn’t there, you must leave a note with your details on the car – perhaps under the windscreen wiper.
10. You must call your insurance company to notify them of the accident.
11. You should not continue to drive, so either a member of the emergency services or a friend/family member/carer that you’ve called will be able to take you somewhere safe.

If you have an anxiety attack it is vital that you’re safe. You may have a coping method that helps your anxiety, but if you don’t and your attacks are more severe, move away from traffic to somewhere safe. When the emergency services arrive at the scene, they’ll be able to help and support you.

Anything else?

If there’s anything we haven’t covered here, or you simply need more advice, your GP or therapist may be able to help. You can also try looking up an online forum- there are some fantastic online communities for people that have Autism Spectrum Disorders, and some may be able to offer some advice. Some people may have their own experiences to tell you about, or they may know some other great sources of information that they can refer you to.

You may even have a group that you go to, or your own circle of friends that can offer some insight into driving with ASD. If you have any tips that you think we’ve missed here then let us know!

If you don’t have your own car, you can get temporary cover on someone else’s! Veygo’s Car Sharing Insurance lets you get cover for as little as 1 hour, and for as long as 60 days!

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