LEARNER drivers who can't fork out for the cost of expensive driving lessons won't miss out - at least not for a few years.

The nationwide Keys2Drive program has been extended to 2021, with $16 million of government funding towards giving learner drivers and their parents a one-off free lesson with an accredited driving instructor.

But not all driving instructors are celebrating, according to Warwick driver trainer Andrew Gale.

"I am really supportive of the program,” Mr Gale said.

"But a lot of driving instructors don't like it because we have to take the parents with us and they think the parents will steal all the secrets.”

The attitude points to a competitive streak within the industry, where instructors would rather preserve their business secrets than share they knowledge that could improve road safety.

"For a lot of people in the industry it's all about making money,” Mr Gale said.

Mr Gale said having parents in the lesson was important for getting everyone on the same page.

"Usually it's been a while since the parents have had any formal driving instruction, so often they will pass on bad habits,” Mr Gale said.

The Keys2Drive program makes driving lessons available to economically disadvantaged learners.

"It's about trying to get them to think more like drivers and less like learners,” Mr Gale said.

"When they get on the road by themselves they often have trouble making decisions.”

The Keys2Drive program has been running for about 10 years and university studies have shown that people involved in the program are less likely to have a road accident.