Haven't driven since I passed my test - help!

[Yoyooo]

I really need a confidence boost more than anything please, so please be kind!

I passed my test 6 years ago when I was 8 months pregnant, I haven't driven since now I have a another new born. I really need to drive! It's so much harder with two and we live somewhere with not great public transport.

A friend of my DH was selling a automatic and gave him a good deal, so we spontaneously decided to buy it. It's now in my driveway and is going to have a few things checked over on Monday in the garage but I am now bricking it that on Monday I will be expected to drive this thing! It will be a bit easier being a automatic but it's quite a large engine and my family have laughed at me saying I won't be able to drive it at all, which has affected my confidence.

I have help with my children from my mother in law so I will be able to go out in it childless to get used to it.

Any hand holding or words of encouragement would be so appreciated right now 🥲

You could book a couple.of refresher lessons with an instructor if you want to up your confidence before you start taking it out.

Could you find a quiet road at a quiet time, or a car park out of hours and just drive around to get used to the car? Automatics are so much easier to deal with, but you also need to familiarise yourself with the way that various controls work - wipers, lights, heater, communication etc.

Book some refresher lessons with an instructor. Maybe get them to do the most daunting things like motorway driving, and reverse and parallel parking.

Don’t involve your family at all if they’re undermining your confidence.

Can you find a driving instructor willing to sit with you while you drive around for an hour? They will help with your nerves, plus it’s a good idea anyway as you haven’t driven for a few years after passing your test.

Take a few refresher lessons with an instructor. They are used to doing this and it will boost your confidence to drive.

Definitely book refresher lessons with an instructor. There are plenty of women instructors, if that would make you feel more comfortable.

Others posting the same while I was typing!

Thank you everyone!

I will certainly look to book some refresher lessons. I think going into a large car park out of hours will help too just to get used to it again.

Well ignore your unsupportive family!

Well done for buying the car. Automatics are a dream to drive but book one 'get used to car' lesson if it would make you feel better

POV - you passed your test a lot more recently than most of the drivers on the road...