With the Continuing Education Fund (CEF) now covering driving courses offered by driving schools, more people are considering getting their driver's license. After all, Hong Kong's road tests are famously stringent, with only about a 20% pass rate for both automatic and manual transmissions. The Transport Department's (TD) driving test guidelines recommend a minimum of 30 hours of driving training for beginners. Assuming each lesson is 45 minutes long, that means at least 40 sessions are needed to meet the requirements, and the tuition for 40 sessions can be quite significant. So, should you opt for a private instructor or a driving school? Some believe that the driving school's test routes are easier to pass, but is that really true? Today, we at Kwiksure will compare private instructors and driving schools for you.
All money sums in this article are in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) unless otherwise stated.
Before starting your driving lessons, you first need to decide whether you want to learn to drive a private car or a van. Undoubtedly, private cars are easier for beginners. But if you have a light goods vehicle license, you can still drive a private car, but you cannot drive a light goods vehicle with a private car license. Moreover, if you plan to make a living from driving, a light goods vehicle will be a more mainstream choice.
As for the transmission, automatic transmission (AT) is certainly easier than manual transmission (MT). MTs require good hand-and-leg coordination, making them more challenging. After obtaining your MT license, you can drive AT vehicles as well, but you cannot operate an MT vehicle if you have an AT license.
Currently, the most common combinations are MT light goods vehicles and AT private cars. It’s easier to find driving school courses and private instructors for those combinations, and the fees are lower.
| License type | 1 | 1A | 2 | 2A |
| Private car (manual) | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Private car (automatic) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Light goods vehicle (manual) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Light goods vehicle (automatic) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Difficulty | ＊＊＊＊ | ＊＊ | ＊＊＊＊＊ | ＊＊＊ |
| Driving school | Private instructor | |
| Budget | Higher (can apply for CEF reimbursement) | Lower (but cannot apply for CEF reimbursement) |
| Learning style | Systematic training | Varies depending on the instructor |
| Personality | Prefer structured learning, step-by-step approach | Enjoy spontaneity, want to try different instructors |
| Fee mode | Package-based | Pay as you learn (usually requires payment for 5-10 sessions upfront) |
| Driving school | Private instructor | |
| Budget | Higher (can apply for CEF reimbursement) | Lower (but cannot apply for CEF reimbursement) |
| Learning style | Systematic training | Varies depending on the instructor |
| Personality | Prefer structured learning, step-by-step approach | Enjoy spontaneity, want to try different instructors |
| Fee mode | Package-based | Pay as you learn (usually requires payment for 5-10 sessions upfront) |
Kwiksure has over 20 years of experience in the car insurance industry, comparing quotes from over 60 insurers in Hong Kong. Use our online quotation tool now to get a free car insurance quote!
The above information is for reference only. Kwiksure takes no responsibility for the accuracy and timeliness of the information. For the coverage, mode of compensation, benefit limit and premium levels of any specific insurance plan, please refer to the relevant policy terms.
Eric is a content creator for Kwiksure, responsible for writing articles on various topics such as cars, travel, domestic helpers, etc., striving to provide readers with detailed and practical information.
With over 20 years of experience in the media industry and driving, Eric has worked for several newspapers, magazines, and online media outlets. Apart from his passion for writing, he also enjoys the pleasure that driving brings. On average, he drives over 40,000 kilometers per year.
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