There is a wide range of options available on the market when it comes to driving lessons. Apart from a per-lesson basis, consumers may also opt for courses offered by driving schools. Some driving courses have also been included under the Continuing Education Fund (CEF) scheme. Driving schools generally promote their courses as packages, yet the variations in fees, training hours and arrangements make it difficult for consumers to make informed choices. To assist consumers in understanding the actual expenditure involved in enrolling in driving courses, the Consumer Council collected and consolidated the course details of private car and light goods vehicle packages offered by 11 driving schools in Hong Kong. The survey revealed that the practical training hours included in all basic package courses fell short of the Transport Department’s (TD) recommendation of 30 hours. Learners often need to purchase additional lessons to gain sufficient on-road experience, resulting in a discrepancy between actual learning costs and initial budget. By simulating scenarios to calculate the actual total cost required to meet the TD’s recommended training hours, the Council’s calculations showed that fees ranged from approximately $15,000 to over $25,000 among courses. Some schools did not clearly specify additional expenses such as vehicle rental and agent fees, making direct comparison of course fees difficult. The cost of learning to drive depends on various factors such as the practical training hours included in the course, basic package fees, arrangements for additional lessons and miscellaneous charges. To help consumers better understand the overall cost of learning to drive, the Council recommends the industry to consider establishing a standardised fee disclosure mechanism, offering packages with training hours closer to the TD’s recommendation, and including practical training hours as a key reference in course promotions to enhance transparency and consumer confidence in driving schools.
Between June and October this year, the Council collected information on 32 private car and light goods vehicle package courses offered by 11 driving schools in Hong Kong through online research and on-site enquiries. The consolidated information was sent to the respective schools for verification, and 5 schools responded. In mid-September, the Council also conducted a small-scale opinion survey via the “Oil Price Watch” mobile app to gather public views on local driving schools. A total of 324 responses were received, of which 72 respondents indicated that they had enrolled in relevant local courses in the past 7 years.
Training Hours in Basic Packages Varied Significantly
Lowest of Only 10 Hours Falling Far Short of TD’s Recommendation
Practical training hours are crucial for learners to acquire on-road driving skills and safety awareness. The TD recommends learner drivers to undergo approximately 30 hours of on-road driving training before taking the driving test, to ensure they have mastered basic driving techniques and accumulated sufficient on-road experience. However, the Council’s survey revealed significant differences in the practical training hours included in various basic package courses, all of which fell short of the TD’s recommended hours. The package with the fewest practice hours offered only 10 hours of training. Given that each lesson is 40 minutes and learners must attend 2 lessons per session, they would only have about 7 on-road practice opportunities before taking the road test. On the other hand, the package with the most practical training hours offered a total of 27 hours and 45 minutes, which still did not meet the TD’s recommendation.
If the practical training hours included in a package cannot give learners sufficient confidence for the road test, they often need to purchase additional lessons to gain more experience, which may lead to budget overruns. The Council’s small-scale opinion survey found that over 30% of respondents had received more than 30 hours of driving training before passing the road test. Most respondents considered 25 to 40 hours to be appropriate, which aligns with the TD’s recommendation of 30 hours of on-road training.
Total Cost May Nearly Double the Package Fee if Adding Extra Training to 30 Hours
Apart from 1 driving school, the other 10 surveyed schools offered extra lessons, with fees ranging from $315 to $615 per lesson. Based on the TD’s recommendation of 30 training hours, the Council simulated the total expenditure required for learners to reach this training duration. For automatic transmission private car courses in Kowloon and the New Territories, the lowest total cost was $15,130, while the highest reached $26,638, representing a difference of over $10,000. Total costs for courses on Hong Kong Island also varied significantly, ranging from $15,501 to $26,638. Some driving schools indicated that they had their own training and road test venues, which helped control the learning process and familiarise learners with the test environment, leading to a higher fee.
Vehicle Rental and Licence Application Agent Fees May Incur Surcharges
Non-transparent Package Pricing Makes Comparison Difficult
The actual total cost of a driving course generally includes 3 components: tuition fee, vehicle rental fee and Transport Department fees. Vehicle rental refers to the fee paid by learners to instructors or schools for using a vehicle during lessons or the road test. TD’s fees include the $510 application fee for the driving test and the $548 application fee for the learner’s driving licence. However, most driving schools did not include these additional expenses in the advertised package tuition fee, making it difficult for consumers to grasp the total course cost and compare prices. The Council’s small-scale opinion survey conducted in mid-September via the “Oil Price Watch” app also found that some respondents took issue with the lack of transparency in the price structure.
Among the 11 driving schools, 2 indicated that vehicle rental fees were included in the package, while the remaining 9 required separate payment, ranging from $1,000 to $2,600. Additionally, 3 schools charged agent fees of $30 to $100 for handling applications for the driving test and learner’s driving licence. Taking a package advertised at $4,320 as an example, the actual total expenditure could reach $7,578 after including vehicle rental and TD’s fees, a difference of over $3,200. The Council reminds consumers that when choosing a course, they should not only pay attention to the package fee but also check whether the practical training hours included are sufficient, and clarify arrangements and fees for extra lessons to avoid budget overruns. To further enhance fee transparency, the Council recommends the industry to consider establishing a standardised fee disclosure mechanism and including practical training hours as a key reference in course promotions to help learners clearly understand the overall cost.
1 School Computer-assigned Instructors for Each Lesson
$200 Administrative Fee Charged for Rescheduling
In terms of service, the Council has received 157 complaints related to driving courses since 2022, mainly concerning service quality and contract details. Common issues included poor instructor attitude, verbal abuse, difficulty in rescheduling and unclear refund policies. The current survey found that driving schools had different approaches to assigning instructors. 1 school used a computerised system to assign instructors, meaning learners might not be taught by the same instructor throughout the training process, and there was no option to specify an instructor. The other 10 schools arranged for the same instructor to guide learners throughout, but policies on specifying or changing instructors varied, with some requiring additional fees. For rescheduling, the required notice period ranged from 4 to 48 hours, while some schools charged a $200 administrative fee per rescheduling, or required learners to contact instructors directly to negotiate. Arrangements for rescheduling due to adverse weather or “extreme conditions” also varied. Consumers are advised to review the terms and conditions before selecting a course, and consider their own scheduling flexibility and personal needs before making a decision.
Consumers Should Note the Following Before Enrolling in Driving School Courses:
- Confirm that the selected institution/person is a designated driving school recognised by the TD or a licensed private driving instructor. Also verify that the institution/instructor is qualified to teach the type of vehicle being learned. Information on designated schools and driving instructors is available on the TD’s website;
- When budgeting for driving lessons, ensure that the selected course includes sufficient practical training hours. Consumers may refer to the TD’s recommendation of 30 hours as a benchmark. Note that the overall cost of learning to drive is affected by multiple factors, including the practical training hours included in the course, basic package fees, extra lesson fees and other miscellaneous expenses. Otherwise, the actual expenditure may exceed the original budget;
- Pay special attention to whether miscellaneous fees such as vehicle rental, TD’s fees (e.g. driving test and learner’s driving licence fees) and agent fees are charged separately. Also understand the arrangements and charges for rescheduling or withdrawal from the course. As some driving schools do not clearly list all fee items on their websites, it is advisable to make enquiries proactively to avoid discrepancies between the budget and actual expenditure;
- If planning to apply for the CEF subsidy, ensure that the selected course is a recognised driving certificate course under the fund. Currently, 3 schools offer CEF-subsidised driving certificate courses. Learners must first pay approximately $20,868 to $22,314 in instalments, and apply for the subsidy only after completing the course. Note that vehicle rental, TD’s fees and extra lesson fees are not covered by the subsidy. Applicants must meet attendance and examination performance requirements, and pass the school’s written and driving tests to receive the subsidy reimbursement; and
- Refer to online platforms or word-of-mouth from friends and family to understand the teaching quality, instructor performance and service arrangements of driving schools when choosing a course.
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