To learn to drive at 39!?!

[Lolly34h]

Booked a driving lesson for meant week I've recently turned 39 I have 2 jobs and finally have the money to learn to drive am I too old?

Go for it, it’s a great skill to have.

My mum was 47 and learnt with 4 kids bouncing along in the back seat & not a seat belt in sight (‘twas the 70s). She said it was life changing.

Go for it - and well done for taking the plunge.

My Mum learned to drive at 40 and carried on until she was 80. So she had 40 years of car ownership and the freedom that gave her. Well worth doing at only 39!

Oh my Gosh no!!! Not too late @Lolly34h !!! I know quite a number of women who were around 40-45+ when they passed their driving test. An aunt of mine AND an aunt of DH's (were and 43-47.) My (female) cousin passed at 37,and my neighbour passed at 50 in 2019. (I know several female colleagues who passed in their 40s and 50s too.)

It is a little bit harder to learn (and pass,) when you're a wee bit older, as when you're younger (under 30/particular under 25,) you're less scared, more of a risk taker, and a quicker learner. The older you get, the longer it takes to pass. (Same with learning many other things. It gets a bit harder, the older you get.)

But all the women I have mentioned passed within 3-4 tests. Except my auntie who took SEVEN attempts. Then again, I took FIVE and I passed in my mid 20s. So it is largely dependent on the person ... Good luck!

My colleague is learning to drive and she's in her mid 60s!

You go for it!!

I learnt last year at 44 and I love the difference its made to my life. Please do it.

My mum learnt when she was about 52. Good luck!

I'm 57 and I still haven't learned to drive!

DH took his test at 39. No you’re not too old!

My husband was also 39. He passed first time in 12 weeks. Gggrrrrrr

I passed 6 months ago, at the age if 41, and it was my first attempt at the test.
You can do it

I have a somewhat off-topic question from an American. I have often seen people on MN referring to saving up for driving lessons. How expensive are they in the UK? We paid for them for our kids while they were in high school a few years ago and the whole package was about $500 each (about 380 GBP).

TIA.

Absolutely not! A lady I work with passed her test earlier this year at the age of 47. She can’t stop smiling! I am thrilled for her because it really will make her life much easier. Do it op - you will never look back.

Good for you, go for it. It will change your life. Youll have so much independance its a grear feeling when you pass

I passed at 41 last year.Bestb
thing ever,only took me a year

@MissConductUS

I have a somewhat off-topic question from an American. I have often seen people on MN referring to saving up for driving lessons. How expensive are they in the UK? We paid for them for our kids while they were in high school a few years ago and the whole package was about $500 each (about 380 GBP).

TIA.

Here's an estimate from one of the motoring organisations.

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/learning-to-drive/how-much-does-it-cost-to-learn-to-drive/

I assume it varies between states in the US, and perhaps also has changed over time but when I had to do a driving test in Pennsylvania about 30 years ago it was unbelievably trivial compared to the U.K. - it wasn't on actual roads for a start off, I don't think the course was big enough to get above 20mph!

How expensive are they in the UK?

Very - £25-35/hour depending on where you are in the country.

Do it, OP. I'm well into my 30s and have my test next week!

My parents were both in their 50s when they learned to drive and passed their tests - after both of my older DBs had done so. They didn't have a car before that.

Here's an estimate from one of the motoring organisations.

Thanks, this was helpful. About 1300 GBP on average.

It does vary by state here. I'm in New York and the requirements have gotten much harder in the last 20 years or so, as well they should. It was way too easy when I got my license.

Definitely not too old but you've chosen a bloody bad time, it's never been more expensive to drive!!

My lovely neighbour passed her test a couple of years ago….just shy of her 62nd birthday. You are not too old at all!

I learnt at around the same age, passed first time and never looked back. I am not sure why I put it off for so long, a mix of finances and maybe fear having tried in my 20s and having an awful instructor who made me feel crap. Anyway, circumstances changed and I had a car on the drive and without a driver. Find an instructor who is right for you. I passed with 15 hours of intensive lessons so obviously wanker instructor had installed some capacity to drive . However new instructor was a dream. He always let me know how I was getting on, made me tackle dual carriage ways etc after my assessment lesson (obvs had experience although over 10 years ago) and from day one I tackled things to be learnt from as difficult as I would be expected during a test rather than starting easy and then having to relearn. The driving school I found him from only had level 4 and 5 instructors and amazing reviews. He was lovely and put me at ease. You can do it but do not be scared of changing instructor if it is not working. You will be paying a lot of money and make sure the lessons suit you rather than the instructor. Instructor one only would schedule 90 mins as it suited him but not me at the time. Number 2 planned out lessons so they built up in a way that got me to my test. Good luck!

I only learned in my late 40s because I'd lived in London for years and didn't need to drive. Moved back to the sticks and did need to. Had 3 months of lessons and passed just before my 48th birthday. So glad I did it, since then DH has died so I'm the family driver and I have a different job which I could not get to without a car. Good luck, you're young compared to me!