How many driving lessons do you need to feel ready for the test?

Compulsory lessons are a requirement, not a universal threshold for readiness. Assess independence, control and your ability to drive in different situations.

The requirement and your readiness are two different questions

The number of compulsory hours and the number you need to be ready are not the same thing. For a category B licence, the MIT page consulted lists at least six hours of certified practice. A 2025 decree provides for eight hours, but the new arrangement depends on activation of the platform and the date your learner’s permit was issued. The minimum number is a legal condition; on its own, it does not certify that a candidate is ready to drive independently or take the test.

Readiness varies with previous experience, how often you practise, how quickly you learn and the difficulties you encounter. An instructor can help you assess specific skills: do you look before moving? Do you keep a suitable distance and speed? Can you handle right of way, parking, turns and traffic without constant prompts? If a manoeuvre works only on a familiar road, you need practice in different situations. Do not use the number of lessons a friend took as a measure of your own readiness.

Ask for feedback you can observe

After each lesson, ask for feedback on one or two skills instead of simply asking, “Am I ready?” The instructor can explain whether you need to improve vehicle control, planning, reading road signs or managing stress. Ask to practise without assistance in conditions similar to a test, and note when the instructor has to intervene. If interventions are frequent or prompted by unexpected situations, schedule more targeted lessons before the test.

You can take additional lessons even after completing the certified minimum. When asking for a quote, find out the price of each extra session and its objective, and avoid packages without a clear reason. If your instructor considers your practice sufficient, ask which skills they observed and which situations you should continue to handle carefully. The law sets requirements for the test and driving practice; assessing your readiness requires real-world observation and cannot be replaced by a quiz or a standard number.

Signs you are ready

• You can start, stop and manoeuvre without constant corrections.
• You observe and signal appropriately for the situation.
• You apply right-of-way rules and speed limits on unfamiliar routes too.
• You can maintain a safety margin when traffic changes.

Do you want to get your driving licence? Study and practise with Quiz Patente Ufficiale: exam questions, topic-by-topic explanations and review of your mistakes.