AIBU to feel I have left it too late to drive?

I agree with all the other posters. I learned in the UK and passed my test at 18 but then barely drove for about 12 years.
I now live in another country (so driving on the other side of the road) and was really nervous at first (still am sometimes!) Stick with it and keep practising.
At one point I thought I might have developed a driving phobia, so bought an online course to get over it, but I think it was just a lack of practice.
Also, I read recently that driving anxiety can be a perimenopause symptom, so it's a good idea to get back into it now!

If you haven't yet, swap to an automatic. I learnt to drive abroad and this made adjusting here so much easier. I have seen this with lots of friends as well. You can just purely concentrate on traffic and driving.

Not at all i thought you was going to say you where 70

It's just practice OP.

Continue with your lessons, build confidence and don't rush yourself

You may have a licence already but you haven't driven for so long you're rusty. Start from the beginning as if you're a new driver.

My.grama learnt to drive in her 60s! She was scared at first and was never totally confident as a driver but she was happy to shuttle around her main places with a small car and it have her a lot of independence.

I would do the pass plus course which is specifically for confidence post passing your driving test.

Never. It takes 140 hours to get used to ca car new or old. You will be fine and think of all the amazing places you can visit and see.

Not too late at all - I passed my test at 18 then never drove again (combination of fear and living in a city with great public transport for 20 years). Then I moved to a more rural area and my new job really necessitated driving. So at age 43, after having never driven for 25 years, I took refresher lessons with a lovely, patient instructor, then she began sitting with me in my own car for the lessons (she popped a portable L plate sign on the top and back/front of my car for each lesson) and my confidence just grew and grew! Because I had to go back to square one, I asked her to make sure she felt I was ‘test ready’ (even though I didn’t need to take the test) before we finished our lessons. I also studied the theory test side of things again and did a few online practice ones until I got 100%! 3 years later, I absolutely love driving and it has truly transformed my life. Hang in there!!

My dear mum god rest her soul passed at age 60!

I passed my test last year at the age of 42. I had no interest in driving and I'm still not the biggest fan of it but it does open up so much freedom. It sounds like you have lost confidence rather than being unable to do it so keep going with the lessons and hour by hour you will improve and your confidence will grow.

I learnt to drive in my mid 40s.

You were snarky to that one poster saying to get your license. But the principle is the same. You need to take more lessons to build your confidence.

I am the same, passed age 17, now mid 40s and have barely driven since. In fact, I have not driven at all since one refresher lesson about 15 years ago. I know I need to re-learn to make my life easier as I get older but it's a scary thought!

OP, you need to practise lots of driving at seven or 8 am on a Sunday morning. If other cars are the issue, then you need to drive on roads when there are few cars around but still daylight.

For What it’s worth I don’t like driving. I have been driving since I was 17 and I just do it because I have to. It was useful when the kids were young and it is useful for short drives like to my parents and the tube station. Luckily in London, I don’t have to drive much. I’m just mentioning that because you don’t have to love it, you just have to have enough confidence to do the minimum journeys that you need to.

Please forgive the question, but are you sure that your current driving licence is valid in the UK? FWIW I only passed in my 30s - you can do it if you can just get enough practice!

It’s never too late. But I’ve never understood this U.K. attitude that you have, say, 20 hours of lessons and then you are safe and comfortable to drive. When I was learning, my parents spent many many hours with me practicing in all sorts of conditions - at night, in the rain, in traffic, on motorways, etc. The fact you don’t feel comfortable after a few lessons does’t seem remotely surprising to me. You aren’t too old to learn, you just need lots more practice.

I passed my test in my 30s, you can do it OP!
I was so nervous at first and my parking wasn’t great but it gets better with practice. If you want to drive then keep at the lessons and your confidence will grow

Husband just learned and passed at 48 recently op!

You've got to keep practicing, there's no way around it. The more you drive the easier it will get.

I was a very nervous driver, partly as I have poor spacial awareness. Switching to an automatic with rear cameras, front and rear sensors etc has made a huge difference to my confidence - I feel much more in control, largely as I can actually see what is around the car. Is that an option for you?

You just have to keep going, push yourself to drive as much as you can. I took 60 hours of lessons and 3
fails before I passed at 35 and it was only really about a year or two later that I really felt comfortable driving. I still get nervous now 12 years on but I have to drive so I do. You just have to keep at it. Challenge yourself to busier places.

Similarly, I had a few lessons here and there as a 20 something and a 30 something but never could afford to continue. At 40 I was fed up with being the one who had to rely on husband and by that time, eldest daughter, and decided it was now or never. I finally passed aged 41, 11 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Of course it's not too late

I am in a similar situation to you (and age). I haven't driven since university really apart from some refresher lessons. Sometimes I regret not driving. I've thought about getting lessons and a small car next year.

You just have to keep at it.

It took me a few years after passing to feel 100% confident driving and parking everywhere. You don’t really “learn” to drive until after your test tbh, the test is just the bare minimum to stop you crashing.