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 DH learned when he was over 50 and passed first time. We had been living in fairly central London so he didn't need to until we moved to Ireland. I suggested to him that he learn in an automatic car because that's what we had, but it was quite hard to get an instructor with an automatic car back then (about a decade ago) so he has a manual license, but has only ever driven an automatic since then as our cars are electric. My DC both recently learned in automatic cars, DS tried learning in a manual first but it stressed him out, so he swapped to automatic and he passed first time. DD never even bothered to try manual.

I am also in this boat and considering learning to drive at 39. I know nothing about the process or what to do first and when i started to research it last month I felt totally overwhelmed and it put me off. Can anyone offer first steps?

Not THAT late in the grand scheme of things but later than most people I knew but I passed the week after my 30th birthday. I was a VERY anxious driver and starter learning in an automatic eventually which I found MUCH easier than manual. It was such and amazing and freeing thing when I finally did learn and made life (especially with children) a lot easier!

I’m in my fifties OP and still haven’t learnt . I think I need to and DH nags me about it.

Me! Passed third attempt at 41

My grandma learnt at 62 after my grandad died and she didn't want to lose her independence. She learnt automatic rather than manual, took her time learning but passed her test first time. Was always a cautious driver and would never drive in the rain but never had an accident.

Find a recommended instructor, apply for provisional licence then book theory test ASAP.

Do it, it's the perfect age or at least will never get more perfect. Gives you plenty of time (decades) of driving experience before you become elderly and might need to trust your reaction times less.

I passed at 18 and only got a car at early 40s.

I'm just about to do an Advanced Driving course - I really recommend it for nervous drivers! It may possibly lower insurance premiums, I can't remember. My relative in their 70s is doing it too.

Passed first time at the age of 50.

I too was terrified and found the learning process quite long and difficult (compared to all the fearless 17-year olds who seem to have 5 lessons and pass the test!). But I just hung in there and all of a sudden it clicked and I really love driving now. It has been so liberating and way more fun than I could have imagined!

Me at 43, passed theory and driving first time, manual (but I now only drive automatic on my licence)

I did an intensive course, doing an hour-long lesson 2 or 3 times a week for 2 months. Had never driven before.

I think first steps are to research driving instructors and try to find one you think you might gel with - you'll be spending a lot of time in a car with them and once you get more confident about driving around, you'll be chatting about lots of things other than driving, so it's good if there are no obvious personality clashes and also that you respond well to the way they teach. I wanted someone who had a lot of experience with nervous drivers and because I was so old (!), I didn't want to be taught by someone really young and run the risk of feeling ancient.

WOW! Thanks for the amazing response! It seems there are a lot more of us than I imagined!

I’ve got my provisional license so I really have little to no excuse now..

I think I will try learning automatic as that’s what our car is anyway and it’ll remove the gearstick anxiety😬

I did. Passed in April at the grand age of 44. Did automatic after trying manual lessons various times in the past and not being able to do it. Have anxiety and most likely adhd. Automatic was sooo much easier. More time to concentrate on the road, as less to think about in the car.

I was 50 when I passed first time - you can do it !

Me too it’s amazing isn’t it 😊

I passed at what felt like the ancient age of 29. I’m now 45 and I’ve never taken to it. I haven’t driven at all for 10 years. I want to pick it back up but I feel so knackered and brain foggy since kids that I don’t feel like I can. I am considering getting an automatic car as I think that will help.

I’m learning now at 42. Same as you, I live in a city and have never needed to drive but that may change in the next few years. It’s going so much better than I
thought it would! Automatic was the way to go for me, so much easier. I’m ready for my test should I ever get one, and will be buying my first car at the age of 43!

I learnt and passed first time at 44. Best thing i ever did. I started to learn at 25, was incredibly nervous then was involved in a serious rta. I spent years too afraid to try again and my partner drove. I genuinely thought I didnt need to do it...but I was wrong, its changed my life. I highly recommend. Im glad I waited until I was older though.

Me!! 43 with driving anxiety. I really want to learn but I live in a very very busy part of London and the delivery bikes give me anxiety. It’s all a bit overwhelming.
I still want to learn one day