Learning to drive later in life in an automatic... any positive stories?

[Hamsternautss]

After not needing to drive and living in London I had about 30 hours worth of manual lessons when I hit 30 years old but still felt extremely out of my depth and found driving very stressful especially on roundabouts and trying to figure out right of way in the not obvious situations.

I stopped lessons when I was very pregnant with my 2nd daughter and just didn't get around to picking it back up again.

Im 35 now and we have moved out to Surrey and I really need lessons to ferry my kids about when they start at Junior School etc. Im due to start lessons in an automatic instead of manual in a few weeks in a hope that it's a bit easier than automatic and I can focus solely on the road itself rather than if I'm gonna fuck up changing gears and stall etc.

Does anyone have any positive stories of driving later on in life? I feel like it's the last chance saloon now. I never imagined I would be an adult with kids and not know how to drive.

My DM learned to drive when I was eight and my DF had to go away for several months. She frankly wasn't great at that kind of thing, and quite anxious with MH issues and she failed a couple of times but she did pass, and drove happily all over the world for forty years thereafter. If she could do it (in a manual) then you probably can.

Automatics are so much easier, you're definitely doing the right thing there.

My mum didn't learn until she was 49. Passed first time. Drove everywhere including abroad. Mid 80s now, switched to an automatic about 15 years ago due to a knee issue, but is still competent and driving daily. She stays clear of motorways, but is happy everywhere else.

My MIL passed her test at 65.

I've driven for a long time ,but an automatic is a game changer. Much , much easier.

35 is not later life!!

I passed at 28. It took me a few goes, I'm not a natural but I'm absolutely fine. You've mastered many practical skills in your life from crawling to cooking Bolognese, and this is just one more thing that most people do learn. Passing first time, or passing young, doesn't necessarily make someone a safer driver than you will be.

It's so much about finding the right teacher if you're nervous. Struggling with one teacher can ruin your confidence - it put me off for years. However there will be someone out there who will work for you, even if it takes a couple more goes to find them.

Switching to auto is a great idea to help your confidence. Auto cars are much less niche than they used to be.

I was 27, I did it in an automatic as well and it was much easier! Not having to struggle with the gears gave my mind a lot more room to focus on actually driving and I passed first time. I’m not a super confident driver now but I drove us to the lakes for our honeymoon and manage fine out and about. I do still need to take a deep breath before merging onto the motorway though!

I passed my test last month in an automatic. I'm 42. I was nervous at first but there's plenty of adult learners. I'm really proud of myself now, it's made such a difference to my confidence, for sone reason I feel more adult 🤣 you can do it!

My parents didn't get a car until my oldest brother had passed his test, and then first DF and then DM learned - in their 50s, in a manual car. They had a lot of lessons but they did fine.

Modern cars in general and automatics in particular are so much easier to drive than they were then. You'll be fine, OP. Automatics are becoming much more common now, especially with the advent of hybrids and electric cars.

I feel like it's the last chance saloon now.
Probably a hatchback....

Passed my test >25 years ago and learned in a manual with no power steering, a choke (!) and 4 gears. Much more difficult driving.

After years driving a manual got an automatic 4 years ago. It’s sooo easy. For a learner there is no worry stalling at lights or slowing down, hill starts are simple, no remembering to change gears and trying to do it smoothly etc. The whole ‘you can only drive an automatic in the future thing’ - well yes as most cars will be automatic in the future.

DO IT! Good luck 🤞

I learned in an automatic as our family cars are all auto so it made sense. Learned at 36 iirc.

My mum passed at 58 in an automatic. I did the same at 25.

Go for it!

Driving an automatic is a piece of piss! You'll pass in no time, mark my words.

I learned in a manual in my mid twenties. I now have had 3 automatic cars in a row. Would never go back to manual.

Automatic cars are really good, you'll be fine. Good luck

Passed in an automatic at 31 and 7 months pregnant. Could not cope with the multi-tasking needed for driving a manual. Swapping to an automatic was one of the best decision I've ever made.

It's not too bad, especially if you have experience driving a manual. The biggest thing is mastering your nerves. But you'll be fine least to think about. 😉

I passed in an automatic , I was a really nervous learner driver and although changing gears was ok not having to do so gave me one less thing to think about .
It is frustrating sometimes not being able to drive a manual ( hiring a car, less choice when buying etc) but 99% of the time it makes no difference .
But I think the key thing is your driving instructor, my last driving instructor was lovely, he made me feel so relaxed and comfortable, I had a few that were like Sargent majors and made me feel on edge so the right driving instructor is crucial.

I passed in automatic at age 32 after failing my manual test and 2 automatic tests. I suffer with anxiety so found it very difficult. I still don't love driving but its totally transformed my life with children and I'm so glad I did it.

Thank you so much everyone, your experiences have really boosted me and given me some confidence that I can do it too.

I used to be so positive and fearless pre children but I've been doubting if I'll ever be able to do it and if I'm one of these people who just can't drive.

I had a hill start behind a set of traffic lights on a bridge one time where I got really flustered taking the handbrake off and lifting the clutch up to make the car go and I kept messing it up and missing the lights (it took me a few goes and I was quite deep into lessons then). My instructor shouted at me and was really cross and asked why I made "silly mistakes like that" and it totally put me off. He apologied after but the damage was done and set off a seed of doubt.

I'm gonna get this done everyone, I will post back to this thread when I've passed. Thank you again

I still don't like driving but I'm fine driving my automatic on familiar roads. My DH has an electric car and it's even easier. I have a terrible sense of direction so I'd rather focus on being in the right lane and the cars around me without worrying about shifting gears too.

Hill starts in a manual car is probably one of the trickier manoeuvres. You should find it much easier in a modern automatic.

I’m thinking about doing this and I’m well into my 50’s. Tried unsuccessfully in a manual at various times over the years so going to give an automatic a try.

I passed my test in a manual at 18. I drove a handful of times since then. I had refresher lessons every now and then. Each time I told myself I'd do it this time. It didn't happen. I had driven by myself once for all of about two miles. When I was 32 my father died suddenly and it left my mum, his wife of 37 years, stranded as she doesn't drive. I decided I didn't want to be like that if the unthinkable happened and I started driving my husband's automatic. It's been a year now and I can drive all of the places me and the children want to go to. I only drive locally and haven't been on a motorway yet but what I can do and where I can drive is honestly beyond my wildest dreams. I will never drive a manual again and I'm fine with that. I can only drive an automatic and that's fine for me. Good luck.

I failed loads in a manual car, I just don't 'get' the whole gears and clutch thing it's so stupid. I passed first time in an automatic, they are so easy to drive and there is loads of choice out there.

My mother learned successfully in her 40s - in a manual, not an automatic - and she was your absolutely typical bag-of-nerves worry-guts.

So I’d say that if she could do it….

I was incredibly nervous learner, long track record for being clumpsy, took ages to get used to manual driving, maybe took about 50 hrs of driving lessons on and off before I was deemed ready for driving test. Passed first time at 36.

Now I love my freedom, nerves are now long gone and my husband prefers me being behind the wheel than himself. I was worried I would be one of those people still stuck hating driving and being nervous, but thankfully that didn't materialise for me after obviously nerve-wracking first few weeks of car ownership.

Manual is actually not that bad once one gets used to it, but driving electric automatic is definitely like driving a dodgem because it's not as laggy as fuel car.

Good luck. Hope you'll love it as much as I do :)))