Looking for that perfect, unique Christmas present to wow your child or grandchild this December? Giving them an early taste of what it’s like to drive a car – a rite of passage for many – could be just the ticket. For young car enthusiasts, this not only presents an exciting and budget-friendly opportunity but could also boost their driving knowledge and safety in the future.
Now, we’ve all been there: having your first driving lesson at 17 is often daunting – you’re in charge of a fast-moving tin can that is capable of causing serious harm. With statistics revealing that one in five new drivers will have an accident within their first six months, it’s wise to gain as much experience as possible before passing your test and hitting the road solo.
Which is where Young Driver steps in. To put it simply, it’s a driving school for children aged between 4 and 17, where they can learn how to control a car and understand road rules in a safe, dual-controlled vehicle under the guidance of a qualified instructor.
While lessons start from £25, the company has recently launched a 20%-off voucher code YDXMAS20, perfect for booking Christmas experience gifts. This code is valid for booking until December 25.
The driving school offers lessons on private property right across the country, including dozens of locations up and down the UK. The full list of venues is available here.
Young Driver claims that fewer than one in 25 of their students have an accident in their first six months after passing, which can give any prospective students and worrisome parents peace of mind. This suggests that this additional experience before taking formal lessons at 17 can significantly contribute to creating safer drivers.
It’s important to note that children cannot pass their driving tests through these lessons and will need to wait until they’re 17 and have a provisional licence to book a test. The experiences had at Young Driver offer kids a chance to learn the ropes and practice behind the wheel safely. During lessons, children will learn how to steer, brake, change gear, and perform manoeuvres, all while experiencing the thrill of driving a car before the usual minimum age, reports Birmingham Live.
For an added touch of luxury, children aged 10-17 can drive a Porsche 911 Carrera 4, a Mercedes-Benz SL 500, or a Bentley Continental Flying Spur. For kids between the ages of four and ten, a ‘funky little fully-electric Firefly sports cars’ is available for them to have fun in too.
Over at TrustPilot, Young Driver is receiving high praise with an impressive 4.7 out of 5-star rating based on over 6,000 reviews.
A thrilled parent posted a glowing five-star review which read: “Amazing experience for my son’s birthday present,” and elaborated saying, “He turned 13, he’s autistic and cars are his passion. His instructor made him feel at ease, kept calm with a friendly approach and kept the lesson fun. We had an hour lesson and as soon as he got out the car he wanted to go again. Will definitely re-book.”
Another content customer said: “The team at North Weald airfield were nothing short of fantastic.”
The continued: “This was my son’s sixth driving lesson but only the second at North Weald, and both times they were fab. My son is autistic and car mad so when we arrived on Sunday and he saw a Porsche he was beside himself. Although we hadn’t booked the Porsche, Karen and the team jiggled things around so Jamie could drive it. Absolutely made his day. Many thanks to the team for making his day so good.”
Echoing the positive results of these lessons, another added: “These lessons are a fantastic way of introducing young people to driving. My 10-year-old son loves all things to do with driving and loved his experience. The instructors are great too. Would highly recommend.”
While the initiative received praise, not all reviews were positive. A customer mentioned an issue with bookings: “We booked an hours lesson and the school put it down as two half hours so he had two instructors on the day. The second instructor was almost ten minutes late. However my son did enjoy the lessons, but each instructor teaches differently so he got conflicting information.”
For those eager to have their children learn driving before 17, Young Driver is a great place to look. Once you reach 17 and have got that all important provisional licence, RED driving school is a reliable choice starting at £33 per hour, and The AA also offers driving lessons.