Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How old were you when you learnt to drive

114 replies

newtimesagain · 25/12/2023 22:09

Im 37 and never drove in my life i know its not to late.
But im so nervous as i no nothing about driving not even started a car.
I want to learn in an automatic only.

What age were you?
Did it take you years or months?

I want to drive so i can buy a bambi camper van (my dream)and piss off when i want.

OP posts:
thaisweetchill · 25/12/2023 23:23

17, passed in a manual after 5 months. I also had a car so was able to practice outside of lessons.

PollyannaWhittier · 25/12/2023 23:31

22-23, I started learning in October and passed the following December on the second attempt. Manual. I think I had about 40 lessons, but didn't do a huge amount of driving in between as my mum is an incredibly nervous passenger and had every excuse under the sun why I couldn't drive whenever I asked to.

KissTheRains · 25/12/2023 23:33

34

I drove for a while. Realised I despised driving, gave it up.

OrganicCamomileTea · 25/12/2023 23:35

I learned to drive when I was 27. It took me about 6 months.

LuluBlakey1 · 25/12/2023 23:37

18 but I didn't have a car until I was 23. I went off to uni then lived in London and then came back to the north-east and my dad bought me a car when I started work.

Deadringer · 25/12/2023 23:39

40s, my mum was in her 60s. Both very nervous in the beginning, both passed our tests first time.

GodspeedJune · 25/12/2023 23:40

Started learning and passed test at 17. Don’t rule out learning in a manual, automatics can be quite boring and monotonous.

Icantbedoingwithit · 25/12/2023 23:42

Forty but leaving it so late actually hindered me.

DidIMakeaMistake · 25/12/2023 23:44

17 , failed twice, two instructors , about 40 lessons!!

LuluLemony · 25/12/2023 23:52

I'm 34 and I'm learning now. Have a test booked for February. I'm so excited to finally be able to drive!

Memoro · 25/12/2023 23:53

LuluLemony · 25/12/2023 23:52

I'm 34 and I'm learning now. Have a test booked for February. I'm so excited to finally be able to drive!

Good luck! 🚗

evenbarnyardanimals · 25/12/2023 23:55

23
3rd attempt

lapsedbookworm · 25/12/2023 23:56

32, and I was desperately nervous and not a remotely natural driver. I had a very understanding instructor and took my time. I didn't have a car to practice in but was lucky that work let me take an extended lunch break so I could do a long lesson at lunchtimes.
I am so glad I did it, I am disabled now and my car gives me my independence

Tangled123 · 26/12/2023 00:02

I started learning at the same time as my younger brother just before my 21st birthday. I didn’t really care about driving at the time and was very nervous about it. He passed first time within a few months, but I changed instructors to one in my university city. I spent the whole year doing lessons but still failed my first test just before moving home. I changed instructors again, and it took me another few months to build up confidence in the new car and new routes in my home city. I eventually passed third time a few months after my 22nd birthday.

lavagal · 26/12/2023 00:04

29, could t afford it before- it opens up your life! Stick with it

MintJulia · 26/12/2023 00:10

Motorbike, 16, car 20.

Bike was cheaper to run and more practical for central London. I learned to drive as required for work. As soon as I moved out of London, I switched to a car.

WesselCups · 26/12/2023 00:10

I was 17. I booked a week long intensive driving course of lessons and passed my test first time at the end a week later.

Mamiamamia · 26/12/2023 00:15

15! (From a country where you are able to start lesson and get learners license on your 15th birthday). Then didn’t drive again for another 24 years.

RosesAndHellebores · 26/12/2023 00:15

Not many months after I was 17. Ruralish upbringing and grandparents farmed so lots of.practice on private land.

DH was brought up in a City, then came to London. His father was late to driving and his mother never did. He passed at about 33.

I made him learn as a condition of starting a family. He really struggled and it took about two years and about 150 lessons. He is not very practical and not very spatially aware.

He's alright at it now.

TrishTrix · 26/12/2023 00:17

17 - took me a while to learn as I was at boarding school so couldn't practice. Only passed at the end of the summer holidays after basically driving my Mum around all summer.

Depending on where you live it can be an essential skill or barely necessary. But it's always a useful thing to be able to do.

tadpolelove · 26/12/2023 00:20

38

Framilode · 26/12/2023 00:22

\my daughter has just passed her test first time. She is 57. Nobody can be more nervous than she was, but she has persevered and done it.

Aroundthewaygirl · 26/12/2023 00:22

I was 16. Took me about three or four months to learn and about 18 months to be really comfortable.

mondaytosunday · 26/12/2023 00:29
Maddy70 · 26/12/2023 00:30

Started a course of lessons on my 17th birthday