Driving after a long break

[MistySkiesAfterRain]

I'm interested in experiences of people who have not driven for ages then drove again, especially if you did not have much driving experience.

I finally (after 11 months and writing to my MP- see my posts) got my driving license back.

Not driven since 1999, when I passed my test, drove for a week, but was insured on my parents car and it was too big really.

It feels a wierd situation of, rather than having the enthusiasm of not knowing what I don't know, I have the mild nervousness of knowing what I don't know. For example I know the first thing is getting the brake and clutch combination right but can't remember how. I also feel terrified when I think of the highway code. I mean the book is massive and I couldn't tell you what is in it.

I was planning to read it and see if there is anything helpful on You Tube about returning to driving.

Oh and obviously have refresher lessons, but I feel nervous about these, they feel like a test and probably should after not driving for so long! Will six lessons actually cut it if I have so little experience?

I had around ten lessons after a 15yr break, and only ever driving once on my own.

Do as many lessons as it takes, OP. A good driving instructor will not mind the custom.

I did, not quite such a long break, but I didn't drive for 5 years - because I didn't need to, and then got stranded somewhere abroad and hired a care and drove 500 miles. To be honest that was fine, needs must and the country was sparsely populated. Then didn't drive again until again ended up hiring a car in France. That was harder but it did mean it didn't feel so weird driving on the wrong side of the road. in all honesty brake clutch was easy. road sense took a few more miles. Refresher lessons might help with confidence, but going back to driving was easier than going back to riding a bike after years. It might be the needs must and I was a bit nervous, but not for long. I was also much more sensible than when I first passed, didn't drive when tired, made sure I knew where I was going etc. Parking took a bit longer to come back but now I can parallel park better than most.

I passed at 17 but didn’t drive until 22 when I had to. I had a couple of refresher lessons. What helped me was my little car and my insurance. It was mine so if I bumped it it was my issue. I hated driving parents car when I passed, your own is totally different. Plus needing to drive - I had to do it for job.

I drove about three times after passing my test, then nothing for nearly a decade. I had about 6 refresher lessons, which for me were more about road craft than the actual driving, ahead of a three week trip where I was going to need to drive. They were really good, the instructor went over everything, made sure I was happy, and never made me feel stupid! I now drive about once a year (we don't generally need a car) and am much more confident about it.

The instructors will be fine, just make sure you pick someone you feel comfortable with!

@mammajustkilledagnat

Do as many lessons as it takes, OP. A good driving instructor will not mind the custom.

Ha ha very true.

This is all really encouraging, both in terms of givng me an idea what to budget and expect. Thank you!

God I'm going to have to learn parallel parking again. Maybe I will just never parallel park.