Learners, half stupid, get minor car damages (8)

I believe the answer is:

students

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'learners' is the definition.
(student is a kind of learner)

'half stupid get minor car damages' is the wordplay.
'half' means to take half the letters.
'get' says to put letters next to each other.
'minor car damages' becomes 'dents' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'stupid' with half the letters taken is 'stu'.
'stu'+'dents'='STUDENTS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for students that I've seen before include "Pupils or apprentices" , "Sent dust to those who learn" , "Eg, undergraduates" , "Learners as at school" , "Pupils, learners" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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