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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I should learn to drive all over again?

23 replies

Lizzie523 · 08/09/2020 22:42

I was not a natural driver, it took a lot of lessons for me to get the hang of it and become more confident. By some fluke I passed my test first time aged 22 (even my instructor was shocked 😂).

Anyway since then I've been living abroad in one of Europe's biggest cities with an amazing metro system and I havent driven since the day I passed.

Having move back to UK aged 28 think it is time to get back in the driver's seat. But I'm scared! And I seriously don't remember a thing. I contacted a school who suggested 2 refresher lessons to start. But if this much time has passed, am I not better off starting from scratch? Obviously the cost wouldnt be great but I feel I should do it the right way.

Anyone been through this, keen to hear about it!

OP posts:
Sycamoretrees · 08/09/2020 22:47

Do you have a trusted friend who could come out with you if you go some where quiet to practice and see how quickly it comes back to you?

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 08/09/2020 23:25

No need to be scared OP but some refresher lessons (either with an instructor or just with a trusted friend as pp said) would be a very good idea to gauge where you are with it. Do as many as you need to feel confidant.

Healththrowaway199 · 08/09/2020 23:26

If you haven’t driven in 6 years, and haven’t driven at all since you passed your test, you definitely should get refresher lessons first. You don’t have that much driving experience so you’ll certainly be a bit rusty which could impact your confidence driving

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 08/09/2020 23:29

So people don't think I would need to go through sitting the test all over again?

I can think of a friend that would usually be good for this but she is super busy with moving house and also isnt going out much since the pandemic.

I suppose maybe I can just get some refresher lessons first and take it from.there. forgot how expensive they were!

OP posts:
pinkstripeycat · 08/09/2020 23:30

I have just given 3 hrs of refresher lessons to a lady who hasnt driven since she passed her test 5yrs ago. She was travelling and didn’t need a car. This was all she needed to get her confidence back. You may feel you need a few more. Once you get in the drivers seat it will all come back to you

june2007 · 08/09/2020 23:30

It might be worth doing some refresher lessons with an instructor doubt you need to rellearn but refresher course can only help.

pinkstripeycat · 08/09/2020 23:31

By the way, you can’t take the test again as you are a qualified driver. Unless of course you have been disqualified

Healththrowaway199 · 08/09/2020 23:34

You can’t take the test again but you could ask a driving instructor to run a mock test, if you really wanted to relive the test experience and see how you do. It’s not necessary though.

This might sound silly but I’d highly recommend watching yt videos on steering or watch mock driving tests and see if you can spot their mistakes etc. It isn’t the same as practical experience but could still be useful

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 09/09/2020 00:12

Oh I didnt realise you couldnt do it again if you'd passed. Blush makes sense.

Can I ask @pinkstripeycat was it 3 hours all at once? I have been offered 2 hour refresher block. To me that feels like a lot for first time out again but maybe not.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lizzie523 · 09/09/2020 00:13

@Healththrowaway199 that's a good idea, I'll do that before I go out. I always look for hazards automatically when I'm in the passenger seat anyway. Something I never did before learning.

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 09/09/2020 00:26

I passed my tenant at 18 but never drove after that as I couldn't afford a car then I
went travelling.
Long story short, I was in a position to buy a car when I was 34 so I learned all over again, except there was no test to pass!
It was brilliant, my instructor was fantastic, took me to all the places I'd want to go to and taught me what I asked, we're still good friends 8 years on.
I can't recommend it enough.

IHaveBrilloHair · 09/09/2020 00:28

tenant=test typo!

janetmendoza · 09/09/2020 00:37

DS passed on the 4th attempt two years ago. He had had a LOT of lessons. He hadn't driven since then until recently and was utterly terrifying. I took him out and was amazed at how rubbish he was. It was like he had never driven before. We have now done about 12 hours practise (mainly in the middle of the night!). He is now kind of okay but not great. He has now successfully negotiated some short (2 or 3 mile) journeys on his own. Please don't under estimate how much help you might need. It may not just 'come back to you'!

BarbaraofSeville · 09/09/2020 00:49

You don't need to take a test again, there's nothing to stop you from getting back in a car and driving wherever you like, except you clearly feel some sense of personal responsibility and you have completely forgotten how to drive. But legally, you have a valid driving licence so don't need to take a test.

Many people in your situation will just muddle along or maybe have a short session with a friend or relative at best.

The two lessons will be to just see how you are driving and the instructor will go from there. Experience will tell them that's enough for many people in your situation and if not, it will help them gauge how many extra lessons you need.

You will also be able to tell whether you are likely to get on with that instructor and if you do need more lessons, whether they space in their schedule when you do too.

seayork2020 · 09/09/2020 00:50

I have not driven in over 20 years and am thinking of having refresher lessons mind you we don't have a car

EBearhug · 09/09/2020 00:51

I passed at 19, but moved away from home and couldn't afford to run a car for 7 years. I took a refresher lesson and a motorway lesson before driving. I'd have taken more refreshers, if I felt I had needed them. I am glad I didn't have to take a test again, though.

MrsKoala · 09/09/2020 00:51

Depends on the type of person you are. I have a bath water memory, I use information while I need it then it drains away. I need to run the whole bath again before I can use it again. It means I have to learn the same things multiple times. Like excel, databases, driving etc.

If I don’t use a skill for a matter of weeks I’ve almost forgotten. When I learned to drive it took me 18 years. Despite getting up to test standard 4 times (and failing thru silly nervous mistakes) I would then not learn again till I’d saved for a couple of years and have to start literally from scratch- instructors were usually bemused I couldn’t even turn the wheel properly and kept asking what pedal did what!

So. If you are like that then I’d suggest a refresher lesson and the instructor will quickly be able to tell if it’s going to take more and you can then just book more after that if necessary. Good luck.

seayork2020 · 09/09/2020 00:52

@IHaveBrilloHair

I passed my tenant at 18 but never drove after that as I couldn't afford a car then I went travelling. Long story short, I was in a position to buy a car when I was 34 so I learned all over again, except there was no test to pass! It was brilliant, my instructor was fantastic, took me to all the places I'd want to go to and taught me what I asked, we're still good friends 8 years on. I can't recommend it enough.
I love your post! - I was the same went travelling, we had a car when DS was little but have not had one for nearly 10 years now
Osirus · 09/09/2020 01:40

I would just book 5 refresher lessons. If you need more, just book more. It’s a good idea anyway as driving rules change from time to time.

I’m impressed that you would voluntarily take the test again. It was the most terrifying thing I’ve done Grin

ForrestTrump · 09/09/2020 01:54

I used to be a professional driver, mainly driving trucks around the city centre. I was terrified my first day on the job as it only took four days to get my HGV license and I then jumped straight from a small 14t puddle jumper to a 32t beast! The driving lessons did not prepare me for hellishly tight reverses in the city centre with angry commuters watching and impatiently beeping at me.

Practice is the only way IMO, and then gradually easing forwards. Practice a familiar route at night until you're comfortable, then try it in the day, then maybe in busier traffic. Try not to panic (although it's difficult) and if you really feel overwhelmed pull over and put your hazards on for a moment - people will just think you're having car problems.

ForrestTrump · 09/09/2020 01:57

I also failed my first test. 😂

Company assessment the other day gave me excellent feedback but I totally panicked in my first test and stalled at the lights!

Lhdale · 13/02/2023 15:36

I just had my first refresher lesson after not having driven a manual car since I passed 13 years ago. Driving instructor at the end said ‘yeh you’re quite rusty’. I found the whole thing terrifying and now seriously doubting I can do it. Ten years of nightmares where I can’t control the car hasn’t helped either. Has anyone as scared of driving as me gotten the hang of it? And what helped you the most?

therarebear · 13/02/2023 16:15

My husband passed his test when he was 18 and then didn't drive again until he was 35! He didn't do his test again but did get LOADS of lessons.

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