Would you let your child learn to drive in a van?

[wondabar]

DD17 wants to learn to drive and would prefer to learn to drive manual. She would do some lessons with an instructor but in order to practise driving a manual car, her only option would be to go out with DH in his van. I only have an automatic car. Would you let your child practise in a van? I feel uncomfortable in the fact that there are no back windows. It is a Citroen Berlingo panelled van. However, DH thinks it will be fine her practising in it. How would you feel?

I wouldn’t recommend it, as a learner they need to get use to checking their surrounding through windows and rear view mirror, not sure a van is suited to this

I think you will find insurance difficult. My son is learning to drive and when he passes his test he wants a van as he is a musician in a band but despite my dad owning several vans we can't yet get him insured.

It's fine
I learned in a very long pick up that the rear view was useless on. It means you use your side mirrors more (and properly)

Good on her for wanting to learn how to drive a manual. I live in a country with low manual car users in the cities (I live in one) I drive a manual and my cop friends call it an excellent anti theft system 😀

I learnt to drive in a van, together with a car and an instructor just as you’re proposing for your daughter. It was a few years ago now, but it was absolutely fine! If anything it makes you learn to use you side mirrors more effectively!!

I think practice in a van after a few sessions in a car with an instructor would be ok. Just have them go to quiet roads.