Teen saves $1.3K on driving lessons by watching YouTube tips — and passes first time
Ollie Bird, 17, ditched professional lessons after taking one which cost him $54 and started surfing the web for cheaper alternatives.
He started watching YouTube tutorials posted by driving instructors and put the lessons into practice using a computer driving simulator.
5 Ollie Bird practices driving on a simulator in his home.
Courtesy of Oliver Bird / SWNS
After clocking up 30 hours of lessons which his original instructor had suggested he needed, he took his test on June 6 and was stunned when he passed first time.
Ollie, from Scotby village in Cumbria, England ditched his L-plates just three weeks after his 17th birthday.
'I was hearing horror stories from my friends about all the money people were spending on driving lessons — I didn't want to be getting into all of that,' he said.
'The instructor estimated that I would need 25-30 hours of tuition, if not more if I failed the first time round. That's at least $1,600 which is a lot of money.
'I do a lot of things my own way, so I told my mum and dad that I wanted to research on YouTube instead of cramming in lessons.
'When examiner said I passed, I was shocked I also felt very lucky.'
5 Ollie Bird sits in the driver's seat of his car after passing his driver's test.
Courtesy of Oliver Bird / SWNS
5 Ollie Bird races in an F1 video game on the simulator he used to learn how to drive.
Courtesy of Oliver Bird / SWNS
Ollie, who is a keen go kart rider, also aced his driving theory test the day after his birthday on May 16.
In the two weeks before his test Ollie watched 30 hours of dedicated driving instructor YouTubers who he said 'taught him the ins and out of how to drive'.
He also used his racing simulator computer game to practice steering, gears and braking.
The teen added: 'I've took part in go-kart racing for a couple of months last year and I also have my simulator — they both helped.
5 Ollie, who is a keen go kart rider, also aced his driving theory test the day after his birthday on May 16.
Courtesy of Oliver Bird / SWNS
'YouTube, along with all of the indirect driving experience, were definitely useful in my eventual success.'
Ollie also went driving with his parents near his home to become familiar with road signs and perfecting parking and reversing.
He said: 'The main thing that I learned from driving with my parents was not the theory of it and the strategy of driving well.
5 He also used his racing simulator computer game to practice steering, gears and braking.
Courtesy of Oliver Bird / SWNS
'It was more of the gears, the car control, clutch control and handling an actual car and being on an actual road which became more natural.
'I wasn't going to go into it and just stress out and mess up — I had nothing to lose.
'The actual test was really enjoyable, me and the examiner had really good conversations about school and random stuff, it was quite relaxed.
'When the instructor ended the test and I found out I had passed I was shocked more than anything.
'It was also really satisfying as a couple of people including my parents as they didn't think I was going to.
'I felt very lucky after hearing how hard to process can be from friends and family. I'm super chuffed I passed and in the way I did was just great.'
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