According to research by the Co-operative Insurance, the average cost of getting onto the road for the first time is £4,459 which includes the cost of driving lessons, road tax, driving tests and insurance, plus the expense of buying a first car.
The average 18-year old owns a Vauxhall Corsa worth £1,450 and will have to pay more than £2,000 per year for insurance.
In addition, 20 driving lessons mean an outlay of £480, two driving tests mean paying £62 for each, while £111 goes on a provisional licence, theory test and road tax.
"Our research shows that although today's young drivers own their first car from an earlier age than their parent's generation, the cost of actually getting on the road is huge,” said Grant Mitchell, head of motor insurance at the firm.
"Unfortunately, the biggest challenge is the cost of car insurance which has risen at a disproportionate rate for young drivers because they are involved in more accidents on the roads," he added.