Over 100 hours of driving lessons, do I cut my losses of persevere?

[Fantastictwistsand]

I started learning over a year ago. It's costing me over £200 a month. I'm not test ready yet.

I'm really torn between not giving up and wasting the money I've spent and not just throwing more money down the drain when it's possible that I just will never be able to drive.

Every time I think about it all I just want to cry.

I needed well over 100 lessons to pass, including 2 failed tests and having to resit the theory, although with the theory it was because the original test was only valid for 2 years.
I went through 3 instructors. The first was lovely, really put me at ease, but I think I was so in awe of the amazing level of control he had over the car that I just couldn't see myself ever being as good as him, I was a nervous wreck! I stopped using him after at least 80 lessons when I moved out of home. The second was useless, couldn't even call me by my proper name and never gave me any proper instruction. I dropped him after a few lessons. The third was equally as lovely as the first, but I think I must have matured a bit as I did feel that I was in control. I also had some extra practice in a friend's car, so that helped too. What really made the difference for me though was trying to get a job where I would need a driving licence. That really helped to focus my mind - before that I was just bimbling along!

Is your problem confidence, co-ordination, observation, spatial awareness or something else?

In the same boat. I passed my theory in 2015, have taken well over 50 lessons and 4 failed practicals. I now have to retake my theory which is coming up in 2 weeks.

Have you done mock tests before? That may help

What do you think is the biggest thing holding you back?

I had soooo many driving lessons. I can't remember the amount but I was learning for over a year.
It finally clicked just as I was about to give up. I found myself approaching a roundabout and being able to read when I could go, didn't have to wait for the instructor to tell me to go. Once I'd done that I was so proud of myself I was on a mission to get it all right.

You definitely need to figure out what is holding you back and find a way to get past it.

Passed my test on the 6th attemp! I think the examiner felt sorry for me as I was there every 2 weeks
Get a better instructor and book a different test centre

My instructor is great. It's me. No spatial awareness is probably the biggest issue. Second biggest issue is hesitation. I'm thinking about maybe having automatic lessons instead.

I've been doing two hour lessons once a week for the last year, so I feel your pain.

I'm nowhere near test ready, but I just got a new instructor (number 4!) and after one lesson with him I was weeping for the £££ that I had basically burned with instructors that never bloody taught me anything.

Could your instructor be the problem?

Can you pinpoint why you're not test ready? Have you always stuck with the same instructor? You might find someone else just 'clicks' for you? Have you thought about trying an automatic? I needed quite a few lessons to feel confident, but I think I'm a good driver now, and will drive anywhere on any road.

You sound just like me op.

I'm learning in an auto now and I'm still far from being an able and confident driver, but I am finally making progress.

My first instructor would sit at the side of the road and talk about his holiday for twenty minutes so I do feel a lot of time was wasted with him. However I've come on in leaps and bounds with the one I have now but it still feels so far away.

I'm so relieved that I'm not the only one. It seems everyone I know passed in 20 hours.

My mum had 4x instructors get out the car and refuse to teach her anymore. But she has been driving for many years now.

My cousin passed on his 11th test.

My brother passed on his 8th test.

One day it's will happen for you and it will be the best thing that you have achieved with regards having more freedom.

I am the only driver out of all my girlfriends because they gave up too quick years ago and have now had to start the whole process again. Almost like beginners getting in the car again for the 1st time.

Keep going because I bet you are nearly there.

Well I'll let you all know how tonight's lesson goes. We are trying the local city, to see if how hellish that is make the test area seem better

I'm really grateful for all the replies. It's so nice to know I probably can actually do this.

I passed my 11th time at 31 years old after learning at 17 and giving up many times due to nerves, moving house and costs. Don't give up, its such a useful skill.

I had 250 over two years before I took the test, and then 50 more afterwards, because I still didn't feel like a proper driver. (I did at least pass first time ... but then, you would expect to after 250 lessons, wouldn't you?)

So I would stay stick with it. Good luck! I'm sure you will get there.

I found that switching to automatic did the trick. I passed my test on my fourth attempt. That was 4 years ago.

Automatic lessons gave me the confidence I needed. I found it so much easier to focus on the road rather than controls. Would highly recommend for anyone who has tried manual and isn't sure how they are progressing.

Ive had well over 100 lessons and 2 instructors (first one was a pervy cunt who was using me as a cashcow) 2nd is brilliant and has brought me on so much in terms of my driving. I have spent a bloody fortune and also bought a car to spur me on somewhat. I will persevere til i pass my test. I want to pass so i can take my ds to lots of different places and not have to rely on public transport nor have to use it when its winter and freezing cold and pouring with rain, id be able to open my door and jump in the car

I also passed on my 11th attempt. It was horrendous but long-term it probably made me a better driver. I've never become complacent about driving and still notice when I start slipping into bad habits. I know I don't have lightning reflexes to get myself out of trouble and rely on the basics - keep the speed down, stay alert, keep the required distances.

On instructors - most important is find one that fits your personality. Two of mine never really gave me explanations, the third gave me very long and detailed ones. That worked for me because even though I didn't always understand them it reassured me that driving was a rational process and not some mysterious "trick" that I couldn't learn. Other people would probably have been driven mad by those long explanations!

Best of luck!!

You can do it! I was very hesitant too but it was lack of confidence, we all learn at different paces, dont compare yourself to others, believe in yourself.

I read a lovely quote a while back when I felt my dd wasn't improving in her swimming, it said

"When your child is learning to ride a bike, when she starts to pedal and a hill is up ahead, when you know she would never make it up the hill on her first attempt, would you tell her this?, or would encourage her to try? and be there for her when she tries again, and again, and praise her when one day she reaches the top, just like she'd imagined she would"

So it went okay but I did get put the car and cry half way through the lesson . The dual carriageway was fine and even did okay on the spiral roundabout. Just when I was in the the city centre and trying to navigate junction after junction it all went to pot. I also indicated too early at one point so another driver thought it was safe to pull out.

This thread has made me feel so much better. I've had around 70 lessons started 2 years ago.. 2 failed tests and another coming up. It's just not clicking with me the way I'd expected and hoped

I passed 3 rd time after many many lessons. Booked my test in an unfamiliar town which worked for me.

Keep going, you'll do it.

Can you get anyone to take you out to practice?

I'm in pretty much the same situation OP.

My theory runs out in Jan 18, I've been learning on & off for the last 18 months+. Failed 4 tests so far. Just silly errors which makes it so frustrating. Two instructors. I feel like yourself, do I give up & waste all the money spent so far or persevere?

I use to get a lot of practice on our car, but OH turned into a jerk & made it impossible for me to drive with him, he began to put me off and actually made my driving worse!! After grabbing the wheel, hand gestures in my face to turn left /right, every second nit picking, when we'd get home he'd say, 'well done, excellent driving!' I felt like running him over! I refuse to drive with him! So I do t get any practice now. When I told him how I felt he went on one, saying 'I'm trying to teach you, you need to listen, blah blah blah' fuckwit. My instructor teaches me & he never once has had to grab the wheel! Ok rant over!

Anyway, I just don't know if I can take another fail. I want my licence but just don't know if I'm up to it. My instructor says I am, in fact he's probably wondering why I haven't booked another test yet. Money's another factor. It ain't cheap!

Sorry I haven't helped much have I? You're not on your own OP.

Maybe some people just should not be driving. If you need 250 leasons to pass the test, are you safe?

I had LOADS of lessons. I think i was learning for 2 years. Could not pass my test, had about 6 or 7 fails.

In the end i went to automatic. Had a month or twos worth of lessons in an auto, and then passed.