Hong Kong’s Consumer Council has criticized driving schools across the city for failing to provide the Transport Department‘s mandated 30 hours of practical driving training in their basic courses, leading to unexpected costs for students.
The council announced Monday that a review of 32 courses offered by 11 driving schools revealed all fell short of the 30-hour requirement. Practice hours ranged from a low of 10 to a high of 27 hours and 45 minutes.
This shortfall forces students to purchase additional lessons, inflating the overall cost. The council stated, “If the practical training hours included in a package cannot give learners sufficient confidence for the road test, they frequently enough need to purchase additional lessons to gain more experience, which may lead to budget overruns.”
A survey of 324 learners found that over 30 percent required more than 30 hours of training to pass their road test. The Consumer Council’s cost analysis, simulating completion of the full 30 hours, showed total fees could differ by more than HK$10,000 (US$1,286.47) between schools. The findings highlight a lack of clarity in pricing and training standards within Hong Kong’s driving school industry.