To ask if anyone on here taken refresher/confidence boosting driving lessons?

[hthytgjhg]

I've had my driving license for around 7 years now, but have barely driven due to lack of confidence. I've enquired with a local driving school about taking some refresher lessons, and have my first lesson in a couple of days.

I'm really nervous, and not sure if they are going to help or if they'll just be a waste of money - I guess I'll have to just try and find out!

Has anyone taken refresher driving lessons to boost confidence/reduce nerves and did they benefit you?

I did, was just nice to get back into the swing of things without being brought up on every misdemeanour but someone there to press the brake if needed!

I got two one-hour one-off slots from a local instructor.

By the end of lesson two I was off and away and didn't need anymore.

Yes it's perfectly normal to do this and more than that it's the right thing to do if you've not driven for a while. The worst they can do is say they don't think you're capable of driving at the moment, they can't take your licence away or anything.

The way I look at it is, either you mess up and they use their dual controls to prevent an incident, or you don't. Either way it's not a disaster.

I think it’s definitely worth doing. I’d also recommend shopping around and trying out a few different instructors rather than sticking with the first one you find, in my experience finding an instructor you trust and gel with yields better results than one you might be slightly intimidated by because you feel more comfortable and so learn better.

(I know you aren’t ‘learning’ to drive as such, but still building your confidence with driving and getting experience is still a form of learning)

Yes, well worth it.

Yes, I got a refresher lesson to learn how to parallel park. It really improved my confidence. Would definitely recommend.

I had two after a major car accident in which I was injured.
Definitely helped

I was the same as you, and actually won some driving lessons from the AA so used them to refresh roundabouts, parking and motorways. It was life changing and the instructor was brilliant 🤩

I hated the first 2 instructors I had. I passed my test over 40 years ago. Then in 1988, coming home from work 10 at night 2 miles from home,was rammed off the road by a drunk hit and run. The car overturned 3 times, luckily over some metal spike railings! Car on its side in a field, couldn't get out,it was frosty. I would have probably died of hypothermia, luckily a couple of other drivers saw, got me out. For a week, I couldn't even cross a road. The insurance took 8 months to sort out, the car was on finance,(ex) H had lost his job,we still had to pay the finance. I never wanted to drive again, frankly. I signed up for The Advanced Driving test. Had brilliant,very casual instructor, often a couple in the back as well. They were lovely. I passed, with a police examiner, and also did the High Performance motorway driving course.

I had refresher lessons years ago - I’d passed my test, but then hardly driven for about 8 years.

It was one of the best things I ever did. I still remember the instructor with affection and gratitude. She picked up on my lack of confidence straight away, said that I handled the car fine, I just needed to feel that I had as much right to be on the road as all the other drivers. I also had a refresher on motorway driving with her which was very helpful.

Absolutely was worth it. I think I had 3 or 4 lessons in all.

I intend to do this soon. I haven't driven for years and feel like I don't know how anymore. I wasn't a good driver in the first place.

I had some additional lessons after my test to practise motorway driving. I took refresher lessons to practise on an automatic years after passing my test, as I needed to drive someone else’s car for a few months. Both were very beneficial and I think you are being very sensible.