How long did it take you to learn to drive?

[Namechange8471]

So lockdown has given me a kick up the arse, I will learn to drive!

Wish I did it years ago, I’m now 30 and feeling nervous.

My lessons begin July, I’ve had a few hours previously but feel as though I’m starting again 😩.

How long did it take you? I’ve got no one to practice with, just paid lessons unfortunately.

I’m also unsure how many hours to do, one a week? Four?

Thanks in advance 👌

One week. I had an intensive course and passed on the last day age 17 and 5 days.

Due to multiple house moves I took a few lessons in multiple different locations but never got around to the test itself as I kept moving before I could book it. Finally did a week's intensive course of I think about four hours a day and passed first time. I took to it very easily and was never a nervous driver at all, even when I took my very first lesson at 17. I wouldn't have done more than maybe 30 hours of lessons in total and wouldn't have needed that many had I done them consistently.

My mother in law failed 7 tests and passed the 8th (or it might even have been that she failed 8 and passed the 9th, the number 8 is definitely in there somewhere) and never drove again after passing.

3 months

3 months to pass the test. 5 years of driving regularly and over long distances to become a confident driver.

About a year. Around 50 lessons, 3 instructors, 3 tests. I didn’t enjoy it much. I was 18 when I passed.

I needed my licence (and an international one) in order to be an au pair in the USA. Passed in a stick, but drove automatics once I was there, which were much easier for me.

I’m not sure I would have bothered without that particular incentive; my confidence is rubbish. I haven’t driven in a long time.

I once heard that you should expect to need approximately one lesson for every year of your age. From the answers here, it sounds, with exceptions of course, like a reasonable rule of thumb.

Three weeks. Got my PSV and HGV C+E , motorbike license too. Our family business was road haulage and I've worked/driven in many many countries. Three kids put paid to that. Although my dad has a Routemaster bus that I've driven on a few film and TV productions but mostly just horse boxes these days.

A year till I felt able to, although according to my instructor I could have tried the exam earlier but I didn't feel sure enough myself to be able to drive alone. I didn't just do lessons to pass a test, I did them to learn how to drive safely alone. I did a 2 hour lesson a week. I was 38 and found that learning a new skill costs me more time than when I was younger. I easily passed the first time and am happy that I can drive now.

I've been learning since May 2019, having given up on manual lessons before and started again in an automatic. I find the auto so much easier but I still really struggle - I've failed two tests and my third was booked in for April but was cancelled due to Covid. I'm not sure when it will be rescheduled for.

Concentration is my downfall. I really don't feel safe on the road because my concentration is so shit and I panic and make ridiculous mistakes.

Thank you for all your replies. Think it’s a 2 hour lesson a week for me!

For those of you who did intensive driving courses, how did you find it?

I come into money September and was contemplating looking into it.

3 months when I was 17. I think I had about 7 one hour lessons in a manual but practiced in my parent's automatic in between. I passed first time, not sure how though as I stalled it!

Around 6months. 1 weekly lesson.

Late 20s, two hour lesson every week for about a year. Passed second time.

I think a better teacher might have got me through it quicker. And more frequent lessons would have helped (but I could only have what I could afford). On the other hand I also think I learned to be a reasonably good driver and wasn't just "taught to the test".

One year and five tests. Around 80 hours I think.

Go for it, learning to drive is one of the best things you can do for yourself, my Mum was in her 40's and took 9 tests before she passed, she's a great driver now. I took 2 tests to pass and reckon I had a year's worth of lessons once per week whilst I was at college. Good luck

3 months and 2 tests.
Passed my HGV in a week and just the one test though.

2 months, that was with either double lessons or 2 lessons per week, didn’t do any driving outside of lessons, passed first time! Back in 1999 though, instructor was quite the maverick, used to smoke on my lessons and also once got out in traffic to have a go at another driver

I did an auto course. People slated me at the time but i think the future is automatic anyway, and with the anxiety i suffered at the time it was a little easier for me. I had a 2 hour lesson a week for 3 months then passed 1st time! Only thing i'd say is my driving instructor told me i wasn't ready when i knew i was (he was a bit of a money grabber and told me he had bills to pay) so i questioned it and got my test moved 6 weeks earlier!

Go for it, i regret not doing it sooner at 27 but i'm sooo glad i've done it now!

I did an intense course over one week, which consisted of 5 hours of driving per day (25 lessons). I started on a Monday and took my driving test the following week and passed first time. I have never been so frightened in all my life and it took a lot longer for me to feel confident.

It took me about 4 years on and off. I took 3 tests and passed at 29 years old. I was taking 1 lesson a week, and if I could do it again, I would probably have taken 2 lessons a week.

Some people just "get it" and are way quicker than others, but for me it just took forever to work it all out. I think it's really helpful to get a driving instructor that you get along with too. My first one was an absolute cow and used to shout at me and sigh and get really frustrated every time I did something wrong, which definitely didn't help. Next instructor was so chilled out and would laugh and joke and didn't care if I made mistakes. I think that helped a lot.

Definitely go for it, it's the best thing I've ever done in my life (apart from my kids).

Around 18 months and over 100 lessons and 4 tests! I was really nervous and am still not very confident if I'm driving a route I don't know but it's one of the best things I ever did. The ultimate freedom of being able to jump in the car and drive myself wherever I want if I chose to is fantastic.

@bevelino how much did it cost to have the intensive course?

An hour lesson once a week for 18 weeks, then a practice lesson before the test, and the test itself. So 19 hours in all.

If you have time, and can afford it, definitely try to do more than one lesson per week. If you aren't able to do any other practising, it will be a long time between sessions.

I liked the 1.5hour lessons, as you could go further, and cover more each session.

I tried 3 times, first at 17. Cant remember how many lessons i had, maybe 10/20 but couldn't afford anymore. Then at end of uni I tired again but again money and moving home stopped that.

Then about a year later my grandad paid for I think 25 lessons plus I had access to a car so towards the end I was able to practice - my mum would drive my car to pick me up from work about 15 miles away and I drove home.

I would guess that last time I took 9months or so and 3 tests.