Learning to drive in your 40s - just passed!

[Odoreida]

Just that really. Anyone who is struggling to learn to drive later in life, I've just passed after many years of learning and I am here to help you through it!

I had a phobia which was cured by hypnotherapy and various setbacks including a bereavement the day before my last test and then of course lockdown. I'm feeling really proud of myself for getting through it all.

Congratulations!

And condolences for your loss.

Well done you! ♥️

Oh this gives me hope! I'm 47 and am planning to start soon, I'm beyond terrified. Tried twice before, the first time we had a road rage incident which ended in the instructors car being damaged (not by me) and the second time the instructor was a sleaze and it totally put me off. Can you tell me a bit more about what the hypnotherapy was like/how it helped please OP? It's not something I'd considered but I'm open to anything that might help! Massive congratulations to you, bet it feels like a massive achievement and you should be really proud of yourself

Congratulations! This gives me hope, I’m mid 30s and have to bite the bullet and do it soon, but I’m scared.

Congratulations

Congratulations - and sorry for your loss. Another person in their 40s who has to learn soon and is terrified!

Congratulations - I know how hard this is. I passed in my 50's

Congratulations! I passed recently in my early 30s and I was bricking it every lesson. Well done!

Is anyone else considering learning in an automatic in the hope it will be easier? I know it will limit my choices car-wise but cutting out mastering gears seems quite appealing to me

I’d strongly recommend doing it automatic KitKatfortwo. My sister (34) passed after switching to automatic, she really struggled with the gears.

Well done!

Well done you!

Congratulations!

This is what I need to hear. I’m 36 and taking lessons for the third time. Never got anywhere near test standard. However I feel more confident now and my instructor this time is lovely and very relaxed

Well done op! How do you feel about driving solo now? I've just passed aged 37 but I'm terrified of driving without an instructor beside me!

Hello @KitKatfortwo . As others have said I really recommend automatic - that's what got me through. I first learnt to drive a manual car many years ago (while still in the grip of my phobia, every lesson was terrifying). Learning automatic was a relief! Many more cars will be automatic soon and it's really no hardship to not drive a manual car - and it is sooooo much easier to learn.

I have always heard that hypnotherapy was good for certain phobias. I'm very much not into alternative therapies but a friend used someone and recommended her - she's called Hazel Gale. It was expensive but really worth it, I felt 'cured' afterwards and noticed the difference in my driving.

@llamapolice I've been practicing a lot without an instructor, but with my husband and son in the car, but it will feel different alone I know. As soon as I sort out the insurance (tomorrow morning, I only passed today) I'm going to go for a gentle local spin and make myself do it every day.