Adelaide tops nation for learner driver’s licence costs, as lessons hit $113 each

Adelaide has become the most expensive city in the country by far for people to get on the road, and it’s the eastern suburbs that are feeling the greatest pinch.

Adelaide is the priciest city in the country by far to get behind the wheel, with the average cost of a driving lesson sitting at $113.30, analysis shows.

Additionally, statistics show electric cars may be far more expensive to own for new drivers who are more prone to copping insurance claims, as opposed to non-electric cars.

The soaring cost of driving lessons in Adelaide has led the average price of an hour lesson to sit 34 per cent higher than the next costliest – Canberra at $84.32.

Eastern suburbs and Adelaide Hills residents are facing the highest cost impost to learn how to drive, with average prices in Stonyfell up to $186, and $152 in Mt Barker and Bridgewater.

The cheapest suburbs in Adelaide for lessons are around the western and northern suburbs, where Taperoo is the most affordable at $96.

A shrinking pool of driving instructors and looming changes to regulations have been identified as the main drivers behind the soaring prices.

Xanthia Marie, 27, has spent 11 years on her learner’s permit and faced her fair share of roadblocks while trying to get her P-plates.

Her work in the mental health sector involves late-night shifts, which she says makes driving a necessity.

Learner driver Xanthia Marie, 27, on mission to earn her P-plates amid rising lesson costs and dodgy instructors. Picture: Matt Loxton

“It is okay so far to get to work via public transport, but getting home at night is a challenge because I work quite late at night,” she said.

“I feel like I have to bother people around me to actually get me home because I don’t feel quite safe taking Ubers at midnight.”

Ms Marie had previously taken two failed Vehicle on Road Tests (VORT) in a bid to obtain her Ps, but traumatic experiences with difficult instructors nearly made her swear off driving altogether.

While her past tests were covered by her employer, she’s now taking the financial hit of having to fork out for lessons herself.

“I don’t think it’s affordable for someone that’s on a minimum wage,” she said.

“I’m nowhere near minimum, I’m double minimum wage and I still can’t actually justify the price.”

Ms Marie is determined to go for her P-plates again soon, but admits lessons will have to be sporadic while she saves up money.

She hopes that access to Wheels in Motion – a volunteer driver mentor program with discounted lessons – can extend beyond the age limit of 25.

“It would be nice for that program to be available to maybe people that were up to 30, because not everyone actually has the ability to get their life sorted when they’re young,” she said.

“A lot of that can be due to society, economics, cost of living, mental health and even school.”

Ms Marie said the prices of driving lessons are not justifiable learner drivers. Picture: Matt Loxton

The learner driving tests costs across the country were analysed by driving school EzLicence.

EzLicence head of marketing Amanda Butler said Adelaide’s high prices were reflective of market realities.

She said low instructor availability and high demand during peak lesson times were some factors affecting the pricing of lessons.

“We’re seeing signs of a tightening instructor market in Adelaide, particularly when it comes to automatic driving lessons and female instructors,” she said.

“With fewer instructors available, lesson slots become more limited, which can drive up prices.

“This shortage also makes it harder for learners to book consistently, potentially slowing their progress and increasing the overall cost of learning to drive.”

The state government has also announced an overhaul of laws to stamp out corruption, inappropriate behaviour and protect both learners and instructors on the road.

The CBT & A, which allowed learner drivers to pass the test with an instructor, will now require them to take the test with a government examiner instead.

Additionally, mandatory cameras and GPS in training vehicles will be introduced.

EzLicence driving instructor Arthur Hrelescu said the added costs of installing cameras and GPS may have to be on-passed.

“It’s going to be even more expensive now because with the new changes that are going to come in, we’re going to be charged even more,” Mr Hrelescu said.

“I don’t know how the price is going to go down because they’re going to charge us, the talk is somewhere between $5000 and $10,000, to get a camera installed.”

Furthermore, with new drivers are more susceptible to incurring insurance claims — with the cost of driving an electric car potentially higher than those with hybrid cars.

Despite the price gaps between electric and non-electric cars slowly bridging, the insurance costs may not necessarily be.

A Drive analysis has compared the estimated insurance cost contrasts between electric and hybrid cars for a 12-month policy.

The estimated insurance difference between a Tesla Model Y Long Range — electric model estimated at $2552 — and a Toyota RAV4 Cruiser — a hybrid model estimated at $1782 — came up to $770 price difference.

This was a near half-price variance, coming up to 43.2 per cent more in costs for electric vehicles.

Similarly, two Mercedes-Benz vehicles — the EQA 250 and the GLA 250 — are nearly similar in manufacturer retail prices.

However, insurance costs soar to more than 60 per cent, with a $1613 difference in estimated insurance costs.

Electric vehicles typically vary in insurance costs due to their complex systems and parts, supply limitations and a labour shortage in maintenance and repair.