Professional Driving Lessons Tuition Fees – Not Cheap But Very Practical

Driving lessons and the cost of obtaining a driving license have recently become significantly more expensive.

At the present moment, acquiring a driving permit for B1 or B2 vehicles is quite costly. A recent survey by Tri thức – Znews revealed that in the Ho Chi Minh City area, the tuition fees for the aforementioned licenses range between 22 million and 24 million VND.

At one renowned driving school in HCMC, the tuition fee for a B1 license is 31.8 million VND, rising to 32.8 million VND if the student opts for a B2 license.

However, for many, the high tuition fees are a secondary concern, as the value gained throughout the training process far outweighs the monetary cost.

Increased Fees, Increased Value

According to a survey conducted by Tri thức – Znews at the beginning of February 2023, the highest tuition fee for a B2 license in Ho Chi Minh City was 25-27 million VND. Consequently, the highest cost that a student may incur to obtain a B-class driver’s license in this region has increased by more than 5 million VND in just one year.

Mr. Dinh Hai (28 years old, HCMC) shared that he had just recently completed his B2 driving test. He enrolled in a driving school in District 4 (HCMC) for an all-inclusive fee of over 22 million VND.

“Initially, I was hesitant about spending such a substantial amount of money on driving lessons and the license itself. However, as I progressed through the course, I realized that it was a worthwhile investment,” said Mr. Dinh Hai.

According to Mr. Hai, the relatively high tuition fee allowed for ample time to hone his driving skills, both on the training ground and on the road. He believes that the practical experience he gained under the guidance of his driving instructor was well worth the money spent.

“Thanks to the regulation requiring us to practice in a vehicle equipped with DAT devices, I was able to drive on a variety of roads, including urban areas and highways. Night driving was also an experience that I found beneficial,” said Mr. Hai.

Obtaining a driving license at present requires significant time, effort, and financial resources. Photo: Hoang Ha.

According to Circular 04 issued by the Ministry of Transport in 2022, B2 and B1 manual transmission driving license candidates must complete 810 km of road practice in a vehicle equipped with DAT devices, in addition to 290 km of driving practice on a driving range. For automatic transmission B1 licenses, candidates must complete 710 km of road practice and 290 km on a driving range, for a total of 1,000 km.

From the perspective of a driving instructor, Mr. Hoang Tuan said that the hundreds of kilometers of practice with students also provide an opportunity for him to impart additional knowledge about driving skills and experience in handling difficult situations.

“Ample practice time is advantageous for both the instructor and the student. With more practice, students are more likely to encounter challenging situations while driving on the road. For me, those are excellent opportunities for students to practice and gain experience,” said Mr. Hoang Tuan.

The practice sessions in the simulation cabin were also well-received by students and instructors alike. According to Mr. Hoang Tuan, the four hours spent in the simulation cabin allowed students to familiarize themselves with the controls in the cockpit and experience driving conditions that may be less common on the road, such as fog or slippery roads.

High, but Worthwhile Cost

Mr. Hoang Tuan also acknowledged that the tuition fees for driving lessons, which now exceed 20 million VND, have created a certain level of pressure on instructors, motivating them to work harder and guide students in accordance with the principle of “real learning, real exams.”

“Since students have paid a significant amount to enroll, instructors like myself feel a responsibility to guide them diligently, striving to impart as much knowledge and guidance as possible in order to produce capable drivers on the road,” said Mr. Hoang Tuan.

Many students believe that the cost of driving lessons is justified. Photo: H.T.

From the students’ perspective, Ms. Hoang Anh (28 years old, HCMC) believes that the high tuition fees will motivate her to focus and be genuinely committed to the process of learning and obtaining her driving license.

“Having paid over 20 million VND for this course, it would be a shame to fail the exam. That’s why I’ve resolved to give it my all and do whatever it takes to succeed in both the lessons and the driving test,” said Ms. Hoang Anh after enrolling in a B1 driving license course.

Agreeing with this view, Mr. Dinh Hai believes that obtaining a driving license is neither inexpensive nor straightforward, requiring more time and effort from learners than in the past. However, after successfully completing the course and passing the driving test, the driving license obtained will be more than just a “certificate of passing.”

“In my case, thanks to the extended training period, I was able to experience a variety of traffic conditions and receive guidance from my instructor on how to handle difficult situations. As a result, after obtaining my license, I don’t feel intimidated behind the wheel and am always ready to drive whenever the opportunity arises,” said Mr. Dinh Hai enthusiastically.

Overall, while the high cost of driving lessons may be a significant burden for students initially, the training they receive is commensurate with the money spent, providing them with the opportunity to hone their driving skills, boost their confidence, and ensure the quality of the training program.

In addition, many driving schools offer students the option to pay their tuition fees in installments, which can help to ease the financial burden. Typically, driving schools will require a payment of 6-7 million VND upon registration, with the remaining balance being paid in two installments as per their own regulations.