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Original poster

DD wants to learn to drive but going away for uni

53 replies

chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:02

DD is 17 at the minute and is worried about learning to drive with backlogs.
She also wants to move away for uni so while at uni, she will not be able to run a car (she knows it will be expensive and some unis have limited car spaces while at uni) therefore she may forget how to drive by the time she finishes uni if she learns to drive now.
She may learn after uni at 21 but then she will be looking for a graduate job and practice time would be limited.
What does everyone reccomend?

OP posts:
userisi2 · 30/12/2021 14:04

You don't forget how to drive. It's much easier to do when young, do it now with less commitments, get it out the way. She will re-familiarise herself when she can run a car.

AmIgoinghomeforXmas · 30/12/2021 14:06

I learned at Uni, practiced during breaks at home and got a car when I had my first job after graduating.

purpledagger · 30/12/2021 14:18

I've thought about this and I'm going to encourage my children to get their licences as soon as they can, even if they don't use them for a few years.

I think it's much easier to do when younger, before having full time work/financial commitments. Even if they don't use their licence, at least they have it.

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17 years old Driving & parking
RandomDent · 30/12/2021 14:22

I had lessons and passed my test at Uni.

peboh · 30/12/2021 14:27

You don't forget how to drive a car. If she's eager to learn, I would encourage it now.

aftonwater · 30/12/2021 14:27

My dc learnt to drive before going to uni. DD had a gap year and drove a lot then but both she and ds also drove every time they came home, even if just for a weekend. I think driving is a life skill (albeit a very expensive one!) and it's worth learning sooner rather than later.

Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:30

@userisi2

You don't forget how to drive. It's much easier to do when young, do it now with less commitments, get it out the way. She will re-familiarise herself when she can run a car.
Thank you :) I agree it would be easier when younger
OP posts:
BendingSpoons · 30/12/2021 14:30

If you can afford it, learn whilst at school. It's much easier to refresh later on e.g. doing some driving with a parent. Even better if you can get in some practise e.g. being insured on a parent's car in the holidays.

Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:32

@AmIgoinghomeforXmas

I learned at Uni, practiced during breaks at home and got a car when I had my first job after graduating.
Thank you - what kind of degree did you do? DD wants to do Bsc Occupational Therapy which requires her to do 1000 hours of placements within her 3 years
OP posts:
ashorterday · 30/12/2021 14:33

I think it's better to get it done. My DS passed his test then went to uni - but in year 3 needed a car for his industrial placement. Bought a car and spent a couple of months over the summer driving me everywhere in it to get some practice in, and all was fine.

Shebangshebong · 30/12/2021 14:33

Learn now and get it out of the way.

Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:33

@purpledagger

I've thought about this and I'm going to encourage my children to get their licences as soon as they can, even if they don't use them for a few years.

I think it's much easier to do when younger, before having full time work/financial commitments. Even if they don't use their licence, at least they have it.

I agree - DD may learn while at uni but doing OT course that requires placements and shift work She does not have a part time job and we are not in the financial position to buy her lessons
OP posts:
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 30/12/2021 14:35

I learned to drive when I was 17. Went to Uni at 18. Didn't get a car until after I'd finished Uni and got my first job. I definitely didn't forget how to drive. Your DD will be fine to do it now and get a car later... don't think it's a good idea for students at Uni to have a car anyway...

Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:35

@peboh

You don't forget how to drive a car. If she's eager to learn, I would encourage it now.
She is not very eager to learn She was 17 in June so has waited to learn She also does not have the money for lots of lessons and we do not either :)
OP posts:
copernicium · 30/12/2021 14:36

She might value being able to drive then, if she has placements. Depending on the uni, they can be a distance, rural or out of hours.

hellsbells99 · 30/12/2021 14:40

She may not need lots of lessons if you are willing to insure her in your car and take her out driving. DD had 4/5 lessons and then we started to take her out. She then had some more lessons after she had practised with us. Some jobs will require you to have a driving licence and I am sure it would be very handy as an OT particularly if working in the community. DD1’s job required a licence and DD2 would not be able to get to her job if she didn’t drive.

Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:40

@ashorterday

I think it's better to get it done. My DS passed his test then went to uni - but in year 3 needed a car for his industrial placement. Bought a car and spent a couple of months over the summer driving me everywhere in it to get some practice in, and all was fine.
I agree with getting it done as soon as possible. DD is quite nervous about driving and with the backlogs this year lots of people and instructors are waiting for driving tests :( I do not think she will pass now before uni with backlogs for tests and instructors Do you think she should still start and move away for uni and have to get a new instructor or wait until she is at uni to start learning?
OP posts:
userisi2 · 30/12/2021 14:40

I think I would just press that it's an important life skill and she'll be doing her future self a huge favour getting it done now. I know not everyone drives, and if she really doesn't want to drive them fine, but if she thinks she will want to drive in future it would be so much easier overall to do now.

Icecreamsprinkles · 30/12/2021 14:42

My DD is doing a degree with placements. I thank my lucky stars she learned to drive and has access to a car before she started as getting to placements would have been such a pain (and might have involved me ferrying her around!) . She will almost certainly need this skill for her profession so I would get her to learn now

Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:43

@copernicium

She might value being able to drive then, if she has placements. Depending on the uni, they can be a distance, rural or out of hours.
I think she should but with backlogs and moving away from home for uni it may not viable. Do you think she should start learning with the current climate with backlogs and then having to find a new instructor when she is at uni somewhere else in the country?
OP posts:
Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:44

@hellsbells99

She may not need lots of lessons if you are willing to insure her in your car and take her out driving. DD had 4/5 lessons and then we started to take her out. She then had some more lessons after she had practised with us. Some jobs will require you to have a driving licence and I am sure it would be very handy as an OT particularly if working in the community. DD1’s job required a licence and DD2 would not be able to get to her job if she didn’t drive.
I agree - but with backlogs with covid she may not be able to get an instructor and then possibly moving away for uni where she may still need lessons :( I would take her out and insure her if I had the money but I do not at the minute :(
OP posts:
Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:46

@userisi2

I think I would just press that it's an important life skill and she'll be doing her future self a huge favour getting it done now. I know not everyone drives, and if she really doesn't want to drive them fine, but if she thinks she will want to drive in future it would be so much easier overall to do now.
I agree - learning now would be better for her. Do you think she should start learning and then move away for uni?
OP posts:
Original poster
chloe3215 · 30/12/2021 14:47

@Icecreamsprinkles

My DD is doing a degree with placements. I thank my lucky stars she learned to drive and has access to a car before she started as getting to placements would have been such a pain (and might have involved me ferrying her around!) . She will almost certainly need this skill for her profession so I would get her to learn now
I would get her to learn now but with backlogs and covid it may be a stuggle finding an instructor to take her on :( Do you think she should wait due to covid and backlogs or start learning now and then move away for uni and get a new instructor?
OP posts:
Kyliealwayshadthebestdisco · 30/12/2021 14:48

Tell her to do it now!! I made the decision not to for pretty much the exact same reasons at her age and now I am in my forties and for various complex reasons still haven’t managed to learn. I deeply regret not doing it as a teenager!

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 30/12/2021 14:50

How will she get to uni placements if she can't Drive? I think this is her biggest issue.

I couldnt drive until I was 30, I managed with public transport and when I was at uni I reserved big heavy things like duvets at argos and picked them up when I got there. Between years the uni halls were happy to store my big things with the international students bits but you'd have to check. Ofcourse you might be driving her to and fro so less of an issue.

Either way, if she hasn't already apply for a provisional as its good for ID, buy or borrow Theory books from the library

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