How long did it take you to drive??

[charlottexox]

Basically, I posted on here about a week or 2 ago and my recent driving instructor telling me it would take me about 2 years to pass, which came to a conclusion after 10 lessons
As you can gather, it's put me off trying again and made me feel really bad about myself.
So I'm wondering if anyone did actually take that long??
I'll be leaning in an automatic car due to having mild cerybal palsy.
I am so determined to drive as I have a nearly 2 year old and due my 2nd DD in October. We live in a village so I find it very, very isolating most days even when the buses run. Although buses here are only once every hour
I've left a few voicemails for some other automatic driving instructors but none of them have gotten back to me yet!

Seven years (on and off) and three tests. I learned in an automatic (Aspergers, couldn't get to grips with a manual even after 30 lessons!).

It took me 6 months (failed first test, passed second time).

I was in my mid-30s, petrified of driving and was absolutely shocking for the first 10 lessons at least. I had a LOT of lessons, so it was pricey. I think I probably had close to 40 hours tuition. And it was automatic, too .

I'm dyspraxic, so that didn't help. But I DID IT! Been driving for a few years now, am confident and its been life changing. I'm sure it won't take you two years if you really want it (I was SO sick of traipsing on the bus and in the rain with two small children and REALLY wanted it).

Good luck

I had 25 compulsory driving and theory lessons, each, but passed both tests first time.

How many lessons do you have per week? If you can afford it, try to have as many as you can because if you leave too long between lessons it will take you longer to get used to driving.

I took my test over 30 years ago, so there was no theory test and, more significantly, no test of lateral parking skills. I had about 20 lessons over 5 months and passed on the first attempt. But I reckon it would have been a different story if parking had been included in the test back then! I'm still pretty hopeless at it!

6 months' practice with my parents, failed, 2 lessons and passed. That was a while ago when it was easier. Any chance to just drive will help enormously.

I was 17 in the July (a long time ago) and passed in the December

It took me on and off, ten whole years to finally get my license. I had my first lesson at 17, but went to London for uni so didn't want / need to drive, so I did have a long break. But even so... ten fucking years!

I did my theory test 3 times because I let it lapse. Got 100% each time so definitely not too thick to pass it. (It was easiest the first time, then they introduced the hazard awareness bit, which was a little more difficult).

Two months.

Several years off and on. Passed on the fifth go. I used to think I just wasn’t very good but now I think I just had the wrong kind of instructors. The first three were chatters. They distracted me so much that I couldn’t concentrate. The fourth one was a taciturn chap. Other than at the beginning and end of the lesson he hardly spoke other than to give instruction or directions. He helped my confidence no end because I knew if he wasn’t saying anything I wasn’t doing anything wrong. If I’d had him first I probably would have passed first time.

It took me two years and five driving tests

I was a beginner when I started and had no access to parents cars or anything. I had an hour every week or so after work, which wasn't ideal as I was tired but it was the only time I could fit it in!

If you have the time and money I recommend having a couple of lessons a week, or a longer lesson.

Four months and 14 lessons.

Something like 40 hours if i remember correctly. In my defence i didn't have a car to practice in inbetween lessons. I did pass first time though

Began on monday morning, passed wednesday afternoon

Drive lots, Get in at 9am drive for 2 hours have a break, repeat. Stop at midnight

I really don't get this once a week insanity, you wont build muscle memory

Turned 17 at the end of April and had passed by mid August, only had about 15hrs paid lessons but lots of practice in my own car

Mine was 6 months but I think it would be more beneficial to ask how many hours/ lessons people had as someone might only have a lesson once a month and take 2 years, or might have 5 hours a week.

Mine was 43 hours in total but I also practiced in my own car. This might be an idea for you to build confidence?

Took 10 months, mostly because I had no confidence at all and had to wait 2 months to retake the theory which I missed due to glandular fever

My first driving instructor told me it was going to take me a long time, likely 18 months after we had done 4 lessons.
When my course of 10 ran out, I swapped to someone else. He was the most patient, lovely man, built me up in such a way that I didn't realise what he was doing and after 8 months told me we'd been doing mock tests for 3 lessons and I'd passed so I should book myself in.

Some people struggle more than others (DH passed within 2 months with barely any lessons, Dsis had lessons and practices with Dad several times a week and took a year). Having a good instructor makes all the difference

Took exactly a year to date, I've just passed on the 2nd may... 3 different instructors and 4 driving tests.
Had an hour weekly lessons with a 2month break over Christmas.

New driving instructor booked for 7th June, wish me luck ladies!!

Good luck!

7 years

@stopfuckingshoutingatme aw, can I ask why it took you so long? Did you take breaks inbetween? Or just didn't click for you?

Well, technically it took me 16 years, as I started learning at 17 and didn’t pass till I was 33!

That was in three bursts though. First time, my driving instructor retired while I was still learning and I never bothered to get another one. I tried again when I was mid twenties, did some lessons, then an intensive course and then a test, which I failed. Then did a few more lessons and another test, which I also failed. I couldn’t afford to try again at that stage, so I stopped.

Then I started lessons in November 2016 and passed my test the following June. It was my first attempt that time around. I think the reason I finally passed was a combination of a great instructor, a bit more maturity and road awareness, plus a lovely examiner who I didn’t feel nervous with.

I hope it goes well for you op! I was expecting dc2 when I passed too.

Car test 2.5 weeks, bike test (full) 2 days.

About 9 months, a couple months break, so 7 months of actual driving (5 months with an hour a week, nearly 2 months with 1.5hrs, and a week which had 3hrs of driving lessons). So in total about 35 hrs of driving lessons. I didn't go out driving much outside of driving lessons as both parents worked long hours, so could have passed with less if I drove outside of lessons more.

My daughter turned 17 in Jan and started lessons on the 16th and passed 1st time on Monday. Had 18 lessons and then time out with me - took 4 months.