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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

104 replies

Butterflykissess · 27/07/2018 19:28

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?

OP posts:
lynmilne65 · 28/07/2018 07:05

Am obviously useless 😞

Cahu58 · 27/10/2018 11:41

About 25 lessons and passed first time. Before the theory test was introduced but I wasn't young... hated every minute of learning but once I passed it was the best thing ever. The only advice I can give is to commit to it and you'll do it...

Cahu58 · 27/10/2018 11:43

Soz didn't realise this was an old thread☺️

MrsStrowman · 27/10/2018 12:04

Four days 17 hours of lessons, test on the Friday. People I know who had lessons with family/partners it doesn't tend to go well

Housingcraze · 27/10/2018 12:06

5 times it took to pass test
100 lessons

Sandsnake · 27/10/2018 12:09

Five months - probably around 20 - 25 hours of lessons. Passed theory and practical first try. However, I probably wasn’t an experienced enough driver at that point if I’m honest. I was just very good at performing under pressure.

MuddlingThroughLife · 27/10/2018 12:12

Four months of weekly one hour lessons and a couple of extra thrown in, so around 16 to 20 hours of lessons. Passed first time at 17 way before the theory test came out!

BrokenWing · 27/10/2018 12:18

A couple of years of 1hr/week driving lessons and 3 attempts (in ye olden times before theory tests!) when I was 19-20.

Friends who had parents who took them out a couple of times a week passed much quicker.

DiaryofWimpyMum · 27/10/2018 13:58

It took me a long time, I was so nervous, I failed my test 3 times then my instructor said he would take me out for free as long as I was available at any time. Every Sunday morning for months but I passed 4th time.

Oneinthegrave · 27/10/2018 14:03

4 months with about 40 hour lessons and my dad taking me out

RedneckStumpy · 27/10/2018 14:05

Way too long, something like 60 hours and 4 tests, I felt like a failure and stupid. I failed my motorcycle test twice too!

I had to re take both when I moved to the US, and passed both first time.

Kemer2018 · 27/10/2018 14:08

2 years on and off. I passed on test 3.

I found it incredibly tricky but more anxiety...as always with me.

Kemer2018 · 27/10/2018 14:10

My mum passed in her 40s on test 7.

ManicPixieDream · 27/10/2018 14:14

I passed a couple of weeks ago. I started having lessons in May. I had about 40 lessons and went out 3 times with my husband just before test. Passed first time. I did have lessons years ago but couldn't remember anything. I read something that said on average you need twice as many lessons as your age! That was not true for me, I would have needed the same number again. I recommend more than one lesson a week. Most weeks I had at least two and I had a lesson every night before my test. The real learning has started now that I've actually passed. Good luck. You can do it. Another thing I found helped with nerves / confidence was hypnosis on YouTube.

PrincessHairyMclary · 27/10/2018 14:20

A year I took more lessons than necessary as I would be driving with DD in the car from the start and wanted to experience lots of different weather conditions and didn't have anyone else to take me out.

I would recommend 1.5 hours a lesson twice a week preferably one on a Sunday morning so it's quiet and you don't spend any of your lessons in traffic and the other midweek so you experience busier roads.

HellenaHandbasket · 27/10/2018 14:24

Ten lessons, an hour a week. One test. My sister had circa 50 lessons and 8 tests at around the same time, we are all different

sweatthesmallstuff · 27/10/2018 14:35

About a year , 1 lesson a week plus some additional with mil near test.
It takes as long as it takes I know a lot of learners get frustrated that it takes so long as some people say only took me 10 lessons etc but you need to patient . 10 years I've been driving and it's best thing I ever did .

AriadneCrete · 27/10/2018 14:39

About 9/10 months, after I switched to a new instructor around the 2 month mark. I was 17 and wasn’t really bothered about driving (late birthday and lots of my friends had already passed/ were older). My parents pushed me to learn and I probably would have passed quicker had I been a bit more motivated. I’m grateful that they did as I would have found it harder to learn as an adult.

cadburyegg · 27/10/2018 16:36

9 months with a 2 hour lesson each week which I think adds up to about 70 hours worth of lessons!

I did pass both my theory and practical first time though, and 13 (!) years later I’ve never had an accident (touch wood)!

JadziaSnax · 27/10/2018 20:05

12 lessons, passed first time. It helped that I'd had a bike licence for 2 years do I already had road experience, I just needed to learn how to operate a car.

Sitranced · 27/10/2018 20:07

About 30 lessons when I was 17

MyGastIsFlabbered · 27/10/2018 20:07

I had my first lesson aged 17, last one aged 29. Took me 6 goes to pass my test 😳

chocolatebox1 · 28/10/2018 14:27

About 12 months of going out in the car with my dad 3 times a week. We couldn't get lessons for me, so I learned to drive in quite a big car. I hated it at the time but it probably benefitted me in the long term. Unless you're desperate to get a licence ASAP to be able to get to work etc don't rush too much, it's not just about the licence, being confident and experienced on the road is very important. By the time I passed my third test, I didn't come across many situations which phased me

MaxTeyon · 28/10/2018 14:36

About 4 months and 22 lessons unfortunately due to a 6 week wait for a test.

Shopkinsdoll · 28/10/2018 14:41

20 years off and on. I was a nervous driver

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