To ask how long it took you to learn to drive?

[Butterflykissess]

I need to learn to drive. I think its my only option as getting out is too difficult without driving. How long did it take you to learn to drive?

Stopped and started between age of 17 and 26. So 9 long years! Each stint lasted about 3 months and then a couple years of no learning in between
Best instructor was a Bill Plant one, passed 2nd time. Total lessons i had with him was about 15.

There are great apps available to help with the theory test. I found them a godsend.

Look around, find a good price (Bill Plant were very reasonable and are available nationwide) and get started.

Good luck!

I think that anyone who passed in 20 hours either had quite a lot of practice with others outside that time, or more likely passed some time ago - the test has got significantly harder (sadly I know this from experience as just barely failed 10 years ago but was young and out of cash and never went back, then recently had to resit to get my licence!)

If you have more limited time to practice (quite likely if you have DCs etc) or were never that confident it will likely take you longer than this. It can be worth booking 2 hours with a recommended instructor or 2 and seeing what they say, and taking your pick.

114 hours. I'm not a natural and it was the hardest thing I ever did. Did it though

ASAP = boot camp, the problem is they give you very little driving experience but they do get you a nice speedy pass.

5 and a half months, 2 lessons a week, passed first time.

I'll be honest- it took me years but I didn't really stick with it. I passed my theory first time but it expired so passed it again first time! I passed my practical on the 4th go! But I was quite panicky.

6m?; I passed 1-2 weeks after my 16th birthday & I don't think we could get learner's permit any earlier than 15.5 yo... my mother was determined to make me pass as early as possible.

First time passed.. in a stick shift :) Bare minimum of lessons legally required with the instructor who was a racist old guy (and only had an automatic for giving lessons).

More than a year, more than 50 lessons. It was London, which I don't think helped.

5 months. My mum taught me. (But that was nearly 50 years ago!)

Hope it doesnt take a year. it needs to be soon really. doesnt help that my local test centre has the lowest pass rate in the country

17 lessons about 30 years ago.

No theory test. Parallel parking has only just been introduced to the test.

A lot less busy on the roads. I was 21. Passed first time.

Neither of my children drive. 22 and 19. DS commutes to London and DD is still at Uni so no point driving.

Not long, maybe 25 hours but that probably more due to not getting an test slot at the right time so I did more to get me to the test slot if that makes sense!

Oh and i passed first time with 4 minors, 1 of which was arguable because the examiner said 1 thing but id been taught differently but nothing major

A year of pretty much continuous lessons.
Passed 8 months ago, and loving it. Go and do it OP!

But 4 years on still can't park to save my life 😂😂

18 months. 60 lessons and 2 tests. No practice inbetween. Not a natural driver but now I am I am a good driver and very safe. You can do it

I started taking lessons when I was 17/18, but stopped when I went to university. I took up lessons again when I graduated, but stopped again when I went to work in London. I eventually restarted lessons and passed my test when I needed to for work.

So for me, it took about 8 years and countless lessons. But I did pass first time.

Some people seem to need only half a dozen lessons, others take years. I think it's mainly a confidence thing.

25 hours of lessons, started in October 2013 and passed May 2014, had them quite spread out as I was doing A-Levels too so it took a while. Passed theory and test first time too which was SO unexpected let me tell you everyone in my family takes about 8 times.

22 years.

About five years, as many tests and god knows how many lessons. I finally found the right instructor after trying three. He was quiet whereas the other three used to chat and distract me all the time. He’d chat at the beginning and after the end of the lesson but during it would say nothing other than to give instructions and directions. As my confidence grew he’d be quiet for longer and longer periods!

3 months. 3 hours of lessons a week, driving practically every day with my parents and two tests.

Go to a different test centre if yours has a terrible pass rate. I failed at the one I’d been practicing for, got a cancellation a week later reasonably nearby but I’d never driven to the place in question and I passed!

It took about a year and a half if having two 1.5 hour lessons a week. That said I was in my thirties super nervous and have no spatial awareness so I'm like an upper bound :)

18 years (on and off) and counting. Stopped lessons when heavily pregnant. At this rate DS will be driving before me!

15 lessons
30+ years ago passed first time
DC took about 9 months with 1 lesson a week and intensive practice with me the month before their tests - both passed first time

I bought an automatic Golf and husband took me out plus driving instructor. First was a bullying lady, then got a lovely man. The important thing is to feel happy with the instructor. My first reduced me to tears. Nowadays are there simulators to help with the practice? There are online theory practice sites. Good luck!