To give up on driving if I fail this time.....

[Robstersgirl]

I have my cough 5th driving test on Tuesday. I failed the last 2 with no minors and one minor. I know I can drive. I can't pass a test. I've (half) decided that this will be my final test. The money I've spent on lessons and tests means I have nothing left to buy a car with. The irony. Should I give up knowing that failing 5 times means I am probably not cut out for driving? AIBU to give up? I'm 37 so no spring chicken. I've changed to auto and have one failed auto test.
P.S Just had the crappest drive ever with my brother in a manual which I kept stalling in and messed up reverse around corner 20 billion times and made him angry, he says I'm 2 years of lessons away from being test ready.

Good luck and don't give up

Don't give up--I had five turns at it. Think about why you wanted to learn in the first place.

I would reschedule if you still feel nervous. Give yourself more time to practise. What was the major you failed on for the last test? Is there anything that you keep doing wrong, eg parking?

Please don't give up! I failed 6 times, passed on the 7th. It was the hardest thing I've ever done but also the best thing.

You've said yourself that you can drive, so if you can drive then you can pass your test. Deep breaths and keep repeating a positive mantra to yourself: "I can and will pass", "I am a good driver" etc.

If I can do it you can, I promise! And it will be so worth it.

And don't go driving with your brother again! Don't get in the car with anyone who doesn't believe in you. The key is believing in yourself and that will just set you back.

I have my second test tomorrow. I'm not particularly confident as my nerves were horrific first time and I don't think it'll be much better.

However even if it takes me twenty times to do it, I will pass one day.

Don't give up, you've put so much of your time and mental energy into it. Good luck for Tuesday.

Keep going, my husband passed his on 8th attempt and had 15 minors so he almost didn't get it. He was a good driver but had terrible nerves and he took some Kalms which helped him.

No, stick with it! if you fail again and it gets you down, maybe take a break for a bit before you give it another go, but don’t give up altogether. It took me 10 years, 4 driving instructors and 7 tests but I eventually passed. Like you, I didn’t think it was ever going to happen and I was really frustrated that I just couldn’t seem to achieve something that so many other people could. I don’t think there was any tip or secret that led to me eventually passing, just perseverance - it finally paid off.

Good luck for Tuesday! (You too for tomorrow, TheSecret!)

I know loads of people who passed on sixth or more attempts - they usually were safer drivers at first because they'd had so much practise between tests. I passed on my first and seriously can't park to save my life (my instructor gave me a formula to use which only works on his car and I could still only get it right about 20% of the time, by luck one of those times was the test).

Try Beta Blockers for nerves prescribed by a doctor but perfect for this situation.

By the way just so the passed first time comment doesn't come across as a boast I should mention there were 15 years and 6 instructors between my first lesson and passing so definitely nothing to be smug about!

Passed on my 9th! I told myself if it took more than 10 I'd quit but I almost failed my 9th on a reverse park!

My friend passed on her 11th!...we had the Sam instructor until I changed mine at fail No.8!

Now I've been driving 9 years with no points and just bought a new car. Don't give up!

I passed on my 7th attempt - also in my thirties. I have been driving for 10 years now with no issues.xx

Passed on my sixth attempt thanks to beta blockers and changing to an automatic. That was 30 years ago and I know that I'm a bloody good driver. Never had an accident that was my fault, and never had any points on my license. Keep going - you can do it !

Please don't give up! I passed after about 14 years of lessons on and off, 5 instructors, 4 theory tests, etc. I still have no idea how I passed first time, and I almost cancelled, but was too late. It is THE best thing i have done for myself and DS.

Hope you pass this time. It would be such a shame to give up after you've spent so much time, effort and money on learning. I recently passed my test at the age of 35 and really wish I'd learnt earlier.

I used rescue remedy and chewed gum to keep the nerves away a but. Good luck for Tuesday.

My mum took 7 attempts to pass. She eventually passed in a different city to help her focus away from the nerves. She also happened to have a really nasty virus so again, didn't focus on the nerves.

You will get there in the end and it will change your life.

Don't give up. I took 6.
There's a lot more of us than you realise!

Don't get in the car with your brother. His shouting and negative attitude won't be helping. Good luck and don't give up.

It took me 5 attempts and that was in the early 1970s when the test was much easier! When I finally passed, I couldn't take it in, I was so surprised.

I had a change of instructor and for some reason, the new one made me feel much more relaxed and confident.

I passed on my 6th attempt. I hated the pressure of the tests but I'm actually a good driver! Do not give up, you can absolutely do it!!

Don't you dare give up op!

I passed on my 7th test. I changed instructed on the 5th, had my 6th with a new guy, and passed on my 7th.

Keep going, you'll do it!

Btw, I actually class myself as an excellent driver now, but I have been driving for over 20 years now.

Keep going, its well worth it. Just try and stay calm, easier said than done but just take a minute to breathe before you do anything, take your time too

7th attempt here. Gave up for ten years after my 5th fail, then took some more lessons, failed the first test, and so nearly gave up again, but I didn't, and sailed through my nest test with just 2 minors. Keep going.

Your brother sounds really unhelpful. My last driving practice before my (successful) test was dire. I think I went through the list of majors. I actually drove over the edge of the kerb going round a corner which I'don't never done before. My driving instructor, who was great, said I was just getting all the faults out of my system. Drive with someone who encourages you. It sounds as though you can drive and it is just a case of exam nerves.

I will go against the grain and say if you want to give up then give up. Driving is not compulsory. For me it didn't revolutionise my life or anything.

I passed on my 5th test when i was 37 (when heavily pregnant with ds2), after 18 years of on and off learning and eventually turning to an automatic. Perhaps it was that it had taken me so long that i had built it up to be more than it was. But nothing really changed for me afterwards. I still prefer to walk and take public transport if possible.

Anyway, if you don't want to give up then some tips that got me thru (Every test i failed on no minors and one major) with no minors are: Do intensive lessons on the days before your test (i was doing 4hrs a day for 2 weeks. Stay away from the manual if you are doing automatic. On the day don't over practice before the test (i did the worst manoeuvres ever just before my test and i felt awful). Eat a banana just before the test (they have calming properties). And this is the main one - narrate everything you are doing. So say out loud 'i am now going to turn right, so looking in the mirror, signalling, position myself in the road, look for cars, all clear, starting to turn the wheel...etc'. You do feel like a loon, but it really works. It focusses your mind and lets the examiner know you know the process. Sounds and feels weird at first but it really worked for me.

Oh and did i mention i passed with NO minors!!! ;)

Good luck