Anyone learned to drive ‘later in life?’

[NCmuvva]

I’m in my 40’s and have never driven..🫠
A combination of reasons.. I lived in the centre of a big city for many years and never needed a car - public transport great, near airport etc.. Just didn’t need a car.

The past decade, have had kids and moved to the ‘burbs and DH drives and we jointly pay for a car. It’s just that I can’t actually drive it!

I’d like to learn, but being honest - I am absolutely crapping it, as have quite literally never driven a car once and feel a bit too old to learn👵🏻👵🏻👵🏻

Would love to hear from anyone who has learnt to drive ‘later in life’ - I need some positive stories and reassurance I can do this!

My sister passed her test at 43 . Loves driving and says it’s the best thing she’s ever done

My partner has just started learning and he’s in his 50s. Never needed to before living in the centre of Glasgow, but we live more rurally now. Go for it, driving is a freedom like no other.

I learnt in my 30s. Initially it turned out I was surprisingly shit at it (I was surprised due to lots of experience of road cycling and understanding the highway code pretty well) but when I changed to an instructor whose style suited me it was absolulely fine and I passed my test with no faults on the second attempt. You probably know more about it than you think due to having lots of experience of being a passenger, taking public transport, and generally having more common sense and likely better fine motor skills than a teenager.

I only learnt when my son suddenly became disabled and going to all his appointments on public transport was a nightmare and I knew it would be so much better for all of us with a Motability car.

I was 34 and passed first time. You can do it!

Yes, at 38.
(It helped that I learned to ride a motorbike at 35 though.)

I passed my test at 38, it is indeed life changing, I really wished I’d done it sooner.

Tried at 19. Failed three tests between the ages of 20 and 21 and gave up for 14 years. Started again at 35 and found it a hundred times easier. Just more intuitive, my confidence and concentration were better.

Passed "first" time then. As in first time after a gap of 14 years although actually 4th time. 11 years later still love doing it even on the boring popping to town to go to the supermarket through all the roadworks trips.

I tried a few times in younger years and couldn't get it, I tried my 'last ditch attempt' at 43 and passed on the first (this time around!) and had the same instructor as I had had in my late 20's and he said I was just a different driver, more confidence but not overly so and better at reading situations and reacting accordingly.
I think age and maturity helped a lot and I've been driving just over 2 years now.
I managed before, always employed, single parent and never scrounged for lifts but it certainly has made my life much easier.
Can you sit in the car with DH to start with (not drive anywhere) and familiarise yourself with pedals, controls, turning the engine off, gears etc before you have your first lesson?
Good luck!

I was late 30s before I passed after driving on and off. Honestly if I can finally do it anyone can! My DA passed at 50!

I don't like driving but I love the freedom it gives me. You can do it!

Yep, I passed this year at 33. Moved from a city with busses every ten minutes to a village with 1 bus a week.

Instructor definitely makes a difference! I swapped after about 10 lessons with the first one to a new one. She honestly felt like a friend and we still message sometimes. I am AUDHD and learn differently and she was just amazing. Passed first time with her.

She spoke to my instructor first and explained a was ND and very anxious so he was aware and he was very friendly and calming.

Life is so much easier, I can react to anything, I can drive and clear my mind. I feel more in control of my life, I feel like a grown up as I can rely on myself. I drove from Suffolk to Devon 4 months after passing my test. The freedom is just amazing, I wish I had learned years ago. Ill definitely be making my children learn to drive.

I learned at 38 and passed first time. It was a bit of an ordeal - I had an instructor who I didn't gel with and found the whole experience really intense and intimidating. It was absolutely worth it though. Im so glad that I can drive when I need to. Especially when it's cold and rainy and I'm in my nice warm car with the radio on, instead of freezing at the bus stop!

Go for it, you'll be so glad you did 👍

My parents successfully learned when they were about 50 - they didn’t buy a car until my DBs were 17.

My husband passed first time aged 49, after convincing himself throughout his life he wasn't suited to driving. Go for it, you'll wish you'd done it sooner!

I was a single parent with three children under 10 when I learned to drive at 42.
Had walked absolutely everywhere up until that point, lugging children and shopping and everything else, in a country where everyone drove everywhere.
I was so terrified I felt ill before first lesson, absolute dread in the pit of my stomach. I learned to drive an automatic on busy roads and passed the test first time.
My life is transformed, although part of me misses all the walking! Driving has given me complete independence, which was what I wanted and needed. Go for it, push through the fear, its worth it, at any age.

I passed in October aged 44. Started lessons a year previous.

It was moving out of a big city that did it. Just couldn't get places conveniently and felt I was relying on DH too much.

Go for it!

I learnt in my 20s and drive loads but then my (now ex) husband was very abusive and destroyed my confidence and I stopped for about 15 years. When my children were at school I knew driving would be helpful so I had a series of refresher lessons which was brilliant. I still didn't love it, but it was a huge step for me in rebuilding the person I used to be.

I searched for 'female driving instructor who gives lessons in an automatic car' and it found me a lovely lady who was so great.

I hope you find someone who can help you

I know lots of people who’ve learnt to drive in their 40s. Do it! You won’t know yourself. Try an automatic for ease xx

My mum passed her test first time aged 64!

She learned in an automatic, because she struggled with gears.

My DGM was 60 when she learnt to drive. Don't let age put you off - go for it!

I just passed in my mid 40s, did automatic lessons, much, much easier. Loving it so far! A close friend and family member also learned in their 40s and they are brilliant and super confident too. Go for it, life is too short

I learnt when I was 57/58 and passed my driving test at first attempt at 59. I didn't want to learn before then, it was just my time to learn at the age I wanted to.
I totally loved my driving lessons. If you really want it...you will achieve it.

My mum passed her test at 44. Absolutely changed her life not having to rely on my dad and gave her so much more independence. She’s 86 now and still driving.

Love driving passed at 38 friend whose v highly strung 40’s u can do it beta blocker helped stop shaking and nerves amazing

Not a car but I am planning to learn to ride a motorbike next year at the age of 52.

Passed first time in automatic after my husband died at great age of 56. Haven't driven since really as I live in very good public transport area and initially often forgot I had a car in the garage!