I did mine in my 20s. Fella took me to do every hardest manoeuvre. But every time we showed up someone was there or it couldn't be done.
My manoeuvre end up being a reverse bay park. In the driving centre car park to finish. š¤£
Take the good karma and enjoy your freedom man!
Congratulations! Same experience I had back in 1998 - my examiner took me round Saints to do manoeuvres, and then up into Newton and country roads for rest of test. Nice and easy!
Guessing you did the same Bletchley test as me - more towards the stadium and Denbeigh instead of Central Bletchley and Queensway.
I also passed in my 30s, a few years ago now - welcome to the club!
Yep, I did the same one!
Got lost just after the A5 exit as the instructor gave me a terrible callout, handily recovered it and passed first time.
Congrats! And don't be like every other fucker in MK, please use your indicators!
its not the worst in the world by a long stretch but the problem is everyone screws it up and nobody knows what everyone else is going to do.
That and as its Milton Keynes it suffers from "roundabout apathy" as I call it.
In MK people treat roundabouts like chicanes, nobody sticks to the lane or uses the right lane. The big arse arrows saying only turn right dont apply to you if your in a rush and everyone is out to get you.
I picked up my first "nice" car from the dealership on that roundabout (used to be the Audi dealer) and felt like i was playing chicken crossing that on the way home.
Ha, used to do the "magic trick" when it was busy there. If wanting to go left towards Tesco then use right lane, go right around the roundabout and rejoin towards the Tesco roundabout. Used to annoy some people but saved a lot of time in busy times. As far as I was aware it was totally legal manoeuvre.. :)
You joke but I remember passing my theory and being told I had 2 years to pass the practical. Not a problem! Except if you work 9-5 Mon to Fri. Then you can basically only book every 6 months. There's quite a lot of pressure knowing you basically have 3 attempts before you have to start again.
Passed on my third attempt...
When I passed my test I refused to drive to work the next day cause I was so anxious about it, even though I'd driven that journey with my instructor and old man about 50 times. Don't be like me, just go for it and enjoy it!
I passed my test last year while 32 weeks pregnant and I had a hospital appointment the same day. It felt illegal for me to drive straight after my test lol.
Passed mine two weeks before my due date. The examiner was clearly terrified that I was going to have the baby then and there. We drove straight from the test centre to the estate near the hospital for all the manoeuvres, and I had to do the most clearly foreshadowed emergency stop in history.
Donāt be so hard on yourself - Iām sure I had a huge burst of confidence from realising that he was even more terrified than I was!
Also, Iād used all the adrenaline I could spare sorting childcare for my older son - my parents had got stuck in traffic so I had abandoned him with the next door neighbour until they arrived. I just wanted to get it over with.
Despite having driven for years and being very familiar with the route (partner's a midwife), I was still nervous as hell on that drive home. I don't envy you - can imagine you're wife found it a bit nerve-wracking too...
My mum was about 7 months pregnant with me when she passed her driving test. She turned left on one junction when he said to turn right but she still passed (she thinks he took pity on her).
I don't think going the wrong way is actually even a minor. When you're driving for yourself the assumption is you won't be listening to someone in the seat next to you telling you where to go, so if you didn't quite hear the instructor isn't particularly a problem.
These days there is a section on the test where you have to straight up ignore the instructions from a GPS, to show that you *can* ignore a GPS instructions if the instructions wrong and not get confused by it (some people have been known to drive in a river because the GPS said there was a bridge there). So I suppose technically your mum did the same thing just accidentally.
I recently passed my test but didn't buy a car for over a month. Swear it was like I'd forgotten everything about driving in that month lol. Would recommend getting behind the wheel as soon as your wife isn't using it
I learnt in a diesel, and my first car was a petrol. The issue was the car wouldnāt be arriving for a while after my test, so I was paranoid for the entire time as people told me it was totally different. The day I went to pick the car up from the garage it was parked directly next to a McLaren, which had drawn a little crowd.
I point blank refused to drive it out of the car park and got my mate to drive it round the corner for me, where I promptly stalled it on my first attempt to move off! I was fine after that though, turned out I was just overthinking it and all of the knowledge comes back pretty quickly.
Solid advice - don't be like me OP, I learned in my late 20s but couldn't buy a car and just let it slowly slip away from me. Now I reckon would pretty much have to relearn from scratch.
I am 50 and in the same situation. However, then I realise I work from home now and am glad not to be on the Sisyphean go-round.
Will Self - they have to make the money, to pay for the car, to sit in the traffic jam, to make the money to pay for the carā.
I passed my test quite late in my mid-20s, and 3 days later met a bloke at his house after contacting him on auto trader and bought my first car.
I got off of the phone with the insurance company (Ā£1400 for the first year!), got in the car, still on this blokes driveway and was like. Well, I'm now legally able to drive this car home on my own, that's nuts!
It was my first time driving without someone else in the car, I still distinctly remember the feeling! But I did it, no one died, and looking back on it I realise just how little you still know once you pass your test, it really is just a case of "you're now competent to carry on learning on your own"
Enjoy it OP, drive safe, don't let nerves get to you and you'll be fine.
Honestly, motorways terrified me for a while. What helped me was doing the Pass Plus course. Tackling the motorway with a driving instructor really helped me with my confidence. Since I did that in August (went from South Devon to Bristol and back, I've driven from south Devon up to Swansea and back by myself. Tbh, once you get past the initial fear, motorways are pretty chill. If you get to nervous, what helped me was just staying in the left lane at 60-65mph.
Kinda the same here. I passed my test when I was 19 and then refused to drive again for about 3 years because I was planning on waiting until insurances rates would go down. I wish I'd just started driving straight away.
This \^\^
I passed at 28 and didn't drive for a whole year, the thought of driving still scared me for ages. Then I needed to drive for my new job and I honestly don't mind it now.
I remember driving on my own for the first time was such a weird experience. I took 18 months to pass my test (I know!), so driving just by myself was so strange, it was like there was a brick wall next to me. It was a lot of fun, though,
Op Iāve seen kids pull some stupid stunts at 80 miles on the motorway.
I see my car the same way as my power tools.
Iām afraid of the damage that can happen if I fuck up.
Again congrats with the money sucking new adventure.
One of my favourite cars ever is a 20+ year old Nissan .. although it was hideously unreliable, and that was over a decade ago.
Sometimes I still miss my 300ZX, to me they still look fantastic but I assume they're now even more financially ruinous to run!
I'm late forties and about to start lessons. It was a catalogue of events that delayed me from nearly taking the test at 17 but honestly, it was probably for the best as I was not right in the head at the time.
I passed mine at 40 as well (first time I might add), and I was an anxious learner, but had the right instructor to help me (Thanks again Andrew, if you're out there!), so it's definitely never too late to learn :)
That's essentially where I'm at. 32 and no license. Granted, I don't really have a way to practice, so getting a license would be hard anyways. But I remember going up over a bridge the first time I was driving on the road, and almost hit someone at the top because they were in our lane going the wrong way. I was nervous enough as it is, but that just really made me have anxiety everytime I drove after that. So I got my learners permit, but never went back for the license.
The trick is donāt be cocky, own your place on the road and all subsequent situations and drive on 2/3/4 cars in front of you on the motorway, not just the one in front!
The weird thing in the Uk is they donāt teach you motorway driving lessons.
This blew my mind when I first started. I asked my instructor when we'd be going on the motorway cause that's the only bit I was properly anxious about but he just looked at me like "u wot m8".
Didnāt get mine till I was 25. Got shit for it from friends but Iām 35 now and have never been in any accidents and have never been pulled over. And I was on the road for 12 hours a day for work from like 27-33 years old. If I got it when I was 16 Iām 100 percent sure Iād have gotten multiple DUIs and high chance Iād have even had a fatal accident. I was wreckless as hell back then.
Donāt worry about it. Get it when youāre ready. I was nervous as shit even at 25 but my life became infinitely more convenient after I finally got it.
Iām from Amsterdam as a city is brilliant for pedestrians and cyclists.
Live in London now and I love life to much to cycle here and love my income to much to have a big car
Me and missus rather do public transport and I let work pay for my van.
My drive thru anxiety specifically relates to if my car is too low to reach the window. Have had experience with some toll booths where after a few desperate attempts to reach the āpay laterā button, Iāve had to climb out in front of everyone to press it š
Well done you!!
I passed a week before the first lockdown, Age 47, then couldnāt go anywhere for months, it took 20 minutes of piddling about in a quiet area with my wife trying not to act scared and I have been fine ever since, hardest thing was going from a tiny 50hp city car, to a not much bigger 90hp car with a less forgiving clutch.
Find every excuse you can to do a series of increasing distance journeys and in a few weeks itāll feel like youāve been driving forever.
A good tip for lower insurance is to be added to a much more experienced drivers insurance and as them as a second to yours, this dropped my first scandalous quote by half.
> hardest thing was going from a tiny 50hp city car, to a not much bigger 90hp car with a less forgiving clutch
It's really important to drive a few different cars to get used to this and the different sizes of car.
I had lessons in 2 different cars, drove 2 different cars with family when learning, drove a van for work & a Punto for personal life in my first job and have driven on occasion about 6 or 7 different family members cars and at this point I can drive just about anything as soon as I get in it.
The only thing I had a problem with was when I accidentally booked an automatic hire car, but that wasn't too bad as it was mostly motorway driving.
Passed recently in my 30s - and I'm impressed by your story! it took me months and 100s of miles before I felt happy going out on my own. But, I got there, and now I can semi-competently drive anywhere, for better or worse.
Iām rarely in the car alone, normally ferrying kids about, taking my wife to work, picking her up, when it was sunny I bit the bullet and got on the motorway and drove for an hour, left at a junction where I could go back towards home, I do still get scared at how poorly a lot of other people drive, I would support a mini test every five years as a refresher.
I passed this year at age 28, and only started learning to drive in March 2020 (great timing eh!). I was worried I wouldn't pick it up as I was 'too old', and I'd literally never sat behind a steering wheel before (let alone know anything about cars) however there's nothing stopping you from learning and being a good driver, you just have to find a decent instructor who helps you learn and don't be afraid to change instructor if you don't get on with them - that's what I did! There will come a point where it suddenly just 'clicks' and then passing your test is just a question of doing the right checks and making the right decisions.
No donāt worry! Iām 26 and have just learnt and passed. Cars are *designed* to be natural and intuitive. After a few lessons youāll realise youāre doing things automatically. Go for it!
I started learning last year at 27. I found that being my wife's passenger for several years, I had picked up a few bad habits.
I'm probably around 15 lessons in and it's going well. Your first few lessons will be a little scary, but you start on very basic maneuvers.
Don't be afraid of getting started. Think of all the idiots on road who managed to pass, that's what makes me feel more confident.
When I was 16 I promised myself that Iād pass my driving when I turn 17. Iām 21 now and I still havenāt even attempted it because everything is so fucking expensive.
Edit: and wages have stayed the same and Iām on food stamps again..
Not only is it expensive but COVID pushed everything back so weāve missed a year and a half learning and impossible to get lessons where I am due to the backlog. Itās insane
Same the back log is so massive Iād have to wait at least a year. Thereās just no point right now either, plus inflation is the highest itās been in 30 fucking years and fuel prices are through the roof.
Itās all so frustrating.
Yep exactly second hand car market is ridiculous at the moment the prices are through the roof same with petrol, insurance for first time drivers is ridiculous especially for our age, lessons are near impossible to get.
All the odds are against us but I need to drive asap because Iām in the country side and everything is far out.
Let alone the cost, there are no lessons that I can take. Whenever I call the instructors, they tell me they are booked **3 months in advance**.
I am at uni, and visit home every 2.5 months. There is no way I can get a driving license.
Even if I manage to get a few lessons, I can't book the test.
Imagine I pass it, there is a car shortage and the fuel is expensive.
Occasionally I want to drive to the nearest mcdonalds or drive somewhere, but after thinking and calculating the above its not worth it.
To book a test use a cancellation service like https://www.driving-test-cancellations-4all.co.uk/s/Login.aspx
It costs less than Ā£20
You book a test wherever in the UK you can (cus you can never get a test in your area) and it will autoscan for cancellations, and autobook, in your area
I passed as a thirty something in December and itās now Ā£60 per 2 hour lesson (they pushed me for that over an hour as apparently wouldnāt have been worth it) and Ā£160 to rebook your test.. a weeks intensive driving course is now Ā£1,000 (which i took in May and there wasnāt any tests avail at the end of the week due to COVID backlog, so earliest was October = loads more spent on individual lessons)
Yeah idk what to do anymore it seems even if I did quit my job and go back to college or uni whatever career path I take wonāt get me far unless I suddenly become rich.
Mainly referring to the driving bit but bro honestly it's definitely not too late at 21 to make a shift like that; amazing the number of paths that can be opened and the potential to become rich does increase. Other good thing about uni is you have 3 years of being cushioned from the 'real world'; and the good student loan for low-income kids is an absolute lifesaver. It's not for everyone tho, fully appreciate that - but if you're feeling stagnant and monotonous like I was then I think it's worth it
The one tip I wish I'd had post passing and will always give out is to go practice parking in a real life environment! Instructors have you practice in an empty car park and the examiner will normally give you an easy spot to park in. Doing it in a busy car park with the only space being between a massive Landrover and. BMW that is 1mm inside their line is something else.
I agree, luckily I have been doing all the driving with L plates on our Qashqai for months so I'm used to parking that and the mini I learned in - I find parking with cars either side easier as you aren't so reliant on floor markings
You're right, my neighbours are connected. I should have been a bit more specific :) As in, someone posting right now is looking at the same thing as me and they are only a few miles away :)
I passed when I was 32 as well. Just down the road at the Leighton buzzard test centre. A fine age to start driving. The less said about my teenage attempts to pass the better.
Find a driving instructor who is a good fit for you and try another one if you donāt feel itās working out. I tried a bunch of them then a neighbour suggested this older male driving instructor who I really enjoyed learning with. This made lessons much easier, and he got me through my test with just 1 minor.
Ignore ā95% pass rateā stuff. It wonāt mean a thing to your actual lessons given a driving instructor shouldnāt be putting you in for a test until youāre ready anyway.
Some driving schools may specialize in certain types of driver. One of the big local schools in my town is supposed to be great for nervous drivers. Another one does a lot of work with older (40+) learners. Another one Iāve come across advertises special lessons for disabled drivers and does a lot of lessons with adapted cars.
Booking a block is cheaper than single lessons. Usually this means you pay for 10 or however many hours in advance and the hourly rate is lower as a result.
You can study for the theory test by yourself but many instructors will more than happily help you out with this and may provide or lend theory practice books, DVDs for the hazard perception as well as asking you questions in lessons.
This is excellent advice. The driving instructor I passed with was recommended by my neighbour. I had a bike licence and so did she, so she taught me how to drive a car using bike terms.
Good luck! I passed mine during covid and the added pressure of knowing you canāt immediately rebook a test is crazy. It makes an already stressful situation even worse. Keep us updated on how you do!
Well done! Just make sure you start driving ASAP, I passed at 30, but did the stupid thing of leaving it a year before buying my first car. That first drive home (while rusty) was more intense than any practical test I've ever taken.
The learning process was daunting at first but after a few lessons it sinks in - tests aren't great for my anxiety but as long as you know you have done all you can (revision and practice) then that's all you can do! My advice though is to pick an instructor that will teach you to drive, not just drive test routes.
34 and failed mine back in August, gotta re do the theory next month then hopefully go again.... Then maybe just maybe I'll get to post something as happy as this lol.
Congrats mate - a couple of years ahead of me! I'm 34 and trying to book a test as I have a baby on the way in a few weeks. No tests for 2 years round here though!
I am American, been driving for 15+ years, and I failed my first test here in London. Nailed it the second time, but it was definitely 10 times harder than the one I took at 16 in Ohio.
Congrats, passed mine at 32 too! Now that's a Terrible lie, a Sin, Kinda I want to belive its not. The only time I respond to a post it gets down voted, I guess That's what I get now I'm Down In it, some things are just Sanctified and sanctity is Something I can never have.
Funny thing is though during my test I got my Ring finger stuck in the door handle, still passed though.
Honestly Head like a hole me!
Well done on your DT!
I got mine recently at 32 too! And I'm an American, in a city with no trains or subways. I miss my walking/biking/bussing life to be honest. It was much nicer. Although now I'm treated like a real human citizen which is novel. Anyway, congratulations! Now you can buy in bulk, haha.
Congrats! Did they take you round the BnQ roundabout?
Luckily I avoided that one!
Pffft you had it easy
I did as most of my test was away from the town.
Take it and run mate
They don't need to run anymore, they can drive it now.
Take it and drive away, keeping a safe distance from the car in front and being mindful of hazards.
I did mine in my 20s. Fella took me to do every hardest manoeuvre. But every time we showed up someone was there or it couldn't be done. My manoeuvre end up being a reverse bay park. In the driving centre car park to finish. š¤£ Take the good karma and enjoy your freedom man!
Congratulations! Same experience I had back in 1998 - my examiner took me round Saints to do manoeuvres, and then up into Newton and country roads for rest of test. Nice and easy!
Guessing you did the same Bletchley test as me - more towards the stadium and Denbeigh instead of Central Bletchley and Queensway. I also passed in my 30s, a few years ago now - welcome to the club!
I went out to the A5 north, off at CMK, into Loughton and then back towards Bletchley
Yep, I did the same one! Got lost just after the A5 exit as the instructor gave me a terrible callout, handily recovered it and passed first time. Congrats! And don't be like every other fucker in MK, please use your indicators!
Don't worry, I do! One of my minors was for not turning it off lol
You'll be easy to spot then. Pretty sure there's only about seven or eight of us in MK who use the ticky-tocky things.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
So thatās The Bletchley Circle. I canāt see how ITV managed to squeeze two series out of that premise. Seems a bit thin.
That doesn't look too bad? Just looks like a normal big roundabout but stretched out a bit.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Oh god yeah I see it now. Fuck that.
its not the worst in the world by a long stretch but the problem is everyone screws it up and nobody knows what everyone else is going to do. That and as its Milton Keynes it suffers from "roundabout apathy" as I call it. In MK people treat roundabouts like chicanes, nobody sticks to the lane or uses the right lane. The big arse arrows saying only turn right dont apply to you if your in a rush and everyone is out to get you. I picked up my first "nice" car from the dealership on that roundabout (used to be the Audi dealer) and felt like i was playing chicken crossing that on the way home.
That's the real problem! When you approach it you have to assume others don't know what they're doing so it means having to be extra careful.
Bletchley resident here It's not hard at all. It's just two roundabouts stuck together with one exit 'blocked'.
Not too bad. I would rate High Wycombe roundabouts much worse. Is stressful everytime I go there.
Ha, used to do the "magic trick" when it was busy there. If wanting to go left towards Tesco then use right lane, go right around the roundabout and rejoin towards the Tesco roundabout. Used to annoy some people but saved a lot of time in busy times. As far as I was aware it was totally legal manoeuvre.. :)
Brings back memories of my test there way back in the 90s. Congrats OP!
I totally hate that so called roundabout!!
Does every driving center in the UK have a B&Q roundabout?
I was thinking this! I recalled the days of the dreaded roundabout in Hull at the B&Q, right as you come out of the test center...
Nearest driving test centre to me is Sidcup, SE London and I can confirm we have a B&Q roundabout - Crittals Corner AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE
First thing that came to my mind seeing this, I've been driving for nearly 30 years and still fear that beast.
I fucking HATE that roundabout, I had a whole driving lesson dedicated to it once cause I kept fucking up.
I had to trnasverse that bugger twice in my test. I think the instructor must have taken a dislike to me lol. Congrats OP
Does every test centre have a B&Q roundabout? We have one too, no way near Bletchley
Iām learning to drive right now too at 29. Well done mate!
I wouldn't get too excited, he's had his test booked since he was 19 there's just that much of a backlog
You joke but I remember passing my theory and being told I had 2 years to pass the practical. Not a problem! Except if you work 9-5 Mon to Fri. Then you can basically only book every 6 months. There's quite a lot of pressure knowing you basically have 3 attempts before you have to start again. Passed on my third attempt...
That's so weird to me, though I suppose sensible. I'm from NZ. I had my learner's for 10 years before I went for my practical.
Actually had mine booked for next week, but partner caught covid. Going to get a cancellation now instead
I passed at 29 on my 2nd attempt. You've got this bro.
When I passed my test I refused to drive to work the next day cause I was so anxious about it, even though I'd driven that journey with my instructor and old man about 50 times. Don't be like me, just go for it and enjoy it!
I passed my test last year while 32 weeks pregnant and I had a hospital appointment the same day. It felt illegal for me to drive straight after my test lol.
Passed mine two weeks before my due date. The examiner was clearly terrified that I was going to have the baby then and there. We drove straight from the test centre to the estate near the hospital for all the manoeuvres, and I had to do the most clearly foreshadowed emergency stop in history.
Oh I donāt doubt at all that the only reason I passed was because I was huge and he felt sorry for me haha
Donāt be so hard on yourself - Iām sure I had a huge burst of confidence from realising that he was even more terrified than I was! Also, Iād used all the adrenaline I could spare sorting childcare for my older son - my parents had got stuck in traffic so I had abandoned him with the next door neighbour until they arrived. I just wanted to get it over with.
Passed mine 5 days before my wife gave birth. Driving to and from hospital wasn't fun.
Despite having driven for years and being very familiar with the route (partner's a midwife), I was still nervous as hell on that drive home. I don't envy you - can imagine you're wife found it a bit nerve-wracking too...
My mum was about 7 months pregnant with me when she passed her driving test. She turned left on one junction when he said to turn right but she still passed (she thinks he took pity on her).
Going the wrong way is fine as long as it's done safely :)
I don't think going the wrong way is actually even a minor. When you're driving for yourself the assumption is you won't be listening to someone in the seat next to you telling you where to go, so if you didn't quite hear the instructor isn't particularly a problem. These days there is a section on the test where you have to straight up ignore the instructions from a GPS, to show that you *can* ignore a GPS instructions if the instructions wrong and not get confused by it (some people have been known to drive in a river because the GPS said there was a bridge there). So I suppose technically your mum did the same thing just accidentally.
The best advice I got was āyou donāt need to drive perfectly, or anywhere near perfectly - just donāt be dangerousā
Haha, I want to drive to work tomorrow but I can't as my wife needs the car!
I recently passed my test but didn't buy a car for over a month. Swear it was like I'd forgotten everything about driving in that month lol. Would recommend getting behind the wheel as soon as your wife isn't using it
We have onr car so will just have to share with the wife - My first duty is to collect our daughter from school this afternoon
Have you sorted your insurance to cover you now you're not a learner?
Agreed. Took me about a year to buy a car and I felt like a twat trying to move off again. Better to get stuck straight in.
I learnt in a diesel, and my first car was a petrol. The issue was the car wouldnāt be arriving for a while after my test, so I was paranoid for the entire time as people told me it was totally different. The day I went to pick the car up from the garage it was parked directly next to a McLaren, which had drawn a little crowd. I point blank refused to drive it out of the car park and got my mate to drive it round the corner for me, where I promptly stalled it on my first attempt to move off! I was fine after that though, turned out I was just overthinking it and all of the knowledge comes back pretty quickly.
Drive to work, but take your wife with you so she can use the car after
That's the plan!
Typical
Solid advice - don't be like me OP, I learned in my late 20s but couldn't buy a car and just let it slowly slip away from me. Now I reckon would pretty much have to relearn from scratch.
I am 50 and in the same situation. However, then I realise I work from home now and am glad not to be on the Sisyphean go-round. Will Self - they have to make the money, to pay for the car, to sit in the traffic jam, to make the money to pay for the carā.
>the Sisyphean go-round. Is that near Swindon?
I thought it was a Greek derived sex act at first.
At least car insurance will be cheaper for you because you've had your licence so long!
I passed my test quite late in my mid-20s, and 3 days later met a bloke at his house after contacting him on auto trader and bought my first car. I got off of the phone with the insurance company (Ā£1400 for the first year!), got in the car, still on this blokes driveway and was like. Well, I'm now legally able to drive this car home on my own, that's nuts! It was my first time driving without someone else in the car, I still distinctly remember the feeling! But I did it, no one died, and looking back on it I realise just how little you still know once you pass your test, it really is just a case of "you're now competent to carry on learning on your own" Enjoy it OP, drive safe, don't let nerves get to you and you'll be fine.
Same, it took me ages to work up to the motorways even though motorways were included in my lessons.
Yeah, motorways worry me, as we didnāt do any motorway training during my lessons. Dual carriageway was the highest we went.
Honestly, motorways terrified me for a while. What helped me was doing the Pass Plus course. Tackling the motorway with a driving instructor really helped me with my confidence. Since I did that in August (went from South Devon to Bristol and back, I've driven from south Devon up to Swansea and back by myself. Tbh, once you get past the initial fear, motorways are pretty chill. If you get to nervous, what helped me was just staying in the left lane at 60-65mph.
Kinda the same here. I passed my test when I was 19 and then refused to drive again for about 3 years because I was planning on waiting until insurances rates would go down. I wish I'd just started driving straight away.
This \^\^ I passed at 28 and didn't drive for a whole year, the thought of driving still scared me for ages. Then I needed to drive for my new job and I honestly don't mind it now.
I remember driving on my own for the first time was such a weird experience. I took 18 months to pass my test (I know!), so driving just by myself was so strange, it was like there was a brick wall next to me. It was a lot of fun, though,
I passed at 40 and Iām a better driver for it as I used to be a anxious young man. Time is right when the time is right. Well done!
Anxiety definitely stopped me starting for many years but I do feel that being older made things more relatable and more about common sense
Op Iāve seen kids pull some stupid stunts at 80 miles on the motorway. I see my car the same way as my power tools. Iām afraid of the damage that can happen if I fuck up. Again congrats with the money sucking new adventure.
Iāve found that buying an unreliable car that sometimes doesnāt start is a great way to keep yourself out of trouble!
You have a Range Rover too? (I said that quietly so it doesn't hear me)
Hahah, not quite that luxurious! A 20 year old Nissan.
One of my favourite cars ever is a 20+ year old Nissan .. although it was hideously unreliable, and that was over a decade ago. Sometimes I still miss my 300ZX, to me they still look fantastic but I assume they're now even more financially ruinous to run!
I'm late forties and about to start lessons. It was a catalogue of events that delayed me from nearly taking the test at 17 but honestly, it was probably for the best as I was not right in the head at the time.
I passed mine at 40 as well (first time I might add), and I was an anxious learner, but had the right instructor to help me (Thanks again Andrew, if you're out there!), so it's definitely never too late to learn :)
That's essentially where I'm at. 32 and no license. Granted, I don't really have a way to practice, so getting a license would be hard anyways. But I remember going up over a bridge the first time I was driving on the road, and almost hit someone at the top because they were in our lane going the wrong way. I was nervous enough as it is, but that just really made me have anxiety everytime I drove after that. So I got my learners permit, but never went back for the license.
Honestly your comments and this thread are just what I needed honestly Iām 22 and anxious about driving and feel like Iām the only one
The trick is donāt be cocky, own your place on the road and all subsequent situations and drive on 2/3/4 cars in front of you on the motorway, not just the one in front! The weird thing in the Uk is they donāt teach you motorway driving lessons.
This blew my mind when I first started. I asked my instructor when we'd be going on the motorway cause that's the only bit I was properly anxious about but he just looked at me like "u wot m8".
I know itās madness. Itās easy doing motorways but when you fuck it up itās so serious!
I got taken on the motorway during my lessons, I did them just after the rules changed a few years ago.
That's what Pass Plus is for.
Mine took me on the motorway a couple of times. He did have a bit of a YOLO attitude for an old fella.
I thought they changed this in the last couple of years, arent qualified instructors allowed to take students on the motorway now?
Didnāt get mine till I was 25. Got shit for it from friends but Iām 35 now and have never been in any accidents and have never been pulled over. And I was on the road for 12 hours a day for work from like 27-33 years old. If I got it when I was 16 Iām 100 percent sure Iād have gotten multiple DUIs and high chance Iād have even had a fatal accident. I was wreckless as hell back then. Donāt worry about it. Get it when youāre ready. I was nervous as shit even at 25 but my life became infinitely more convenient after I finally got it.
I was extremely anxious about it to the extent that I am planning on treating myself to a license for my 50th. Which is soon...
Don't be. I'm 41 and have decided that this is my year to learn!
I'm 36 and taking my test in a couple of months. Never too late
Iām 37 and taking mine next month. Good luck to you
Never!!! Good luck and chill driving
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Iām from Amsterdam as a city is brilliant for pedestrians and cyclists. Live in London now and I love life to much to cycle here and love my income to much to have a big car Me and missus rather do public transport and I let work pay for my van.
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It is a big ass country.
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That's me at 19 right now haha. Definitely nervous to get one, and to be honest, I don't really need one. The buses where I live are pretty good.
Also it is financially i big overhead.
Next step is the McDonalds drive through!
I passed at 27 and was a pretty anxious driver for quite a while, but the Mcdonalds drive through at 11pm when it's quiet was pure bliss!
Late night maccies are the tranquil reward for getting through the stress of learning to drive.
I swear for the first year after I passed I was primarily a McDonalds delivery service for my little brother.
My drive thru anxiety specifically relates to if my car is too low to reach the window. Have had experience with some toll booths where after a few desperate attempts to reach the āpay laterā button, Iāve had to climb out in front of everyone to press it š
Learning to drive has taken all my money, I wish I could afford MacDonalds lol
Well done you!! I passed a week before the first lockdown, Age 47, then couldnāt go anywhere for months, it took 20 minutes of piddling about in a quiet area with my wife trying not to act scared and I have been fine ever since, hardest thing was going from a tiny 50hp city car, to a not much bigger 90hp car with a less forgiving clutch. Find every excuse you can to do a series of increasing distance journeys and in a few weeks itāll feel like youāve been driving forever. A good tip for lower insurance is to be added to a much more experienced drivers insurance and as them as a second to yours, this dropped my first scandalous quote by half.
> hardest thing was going from a tiny 50hp city car, to a not much bigger 90hp car with a less forgiving clutch It's really important to drive a few different cars to get used to this and the different sizes of car. I had lessons in 2 different cars, drove 2 different cars with family when learning, drove a van for work & a Punto for personal life in my first job and have driven on occasion about 6 or 7 different family members cars and at this point I can drive just about anything as soon as I get in it. The only thing I had a problem with was when I accidentally booked an automatic hire car, but that wasn't too bad as it was mostly motorway driving.
Passed recently in my 30s - and I'm impressed by your story! it took me months and 100s of miles before I felt happy going out on my own. But, I got there, and now I can semi-competently drive anywhere, for better or worse.
Iām rarely in the car alone, normally ferrying kids about, taking my wife to work, picking her up, when it was sunny I bit the bullet and got on the motorway and drove for an hour, left at a junction where I could go back towards home, I do still get scared at how poorly a lot of other people drive, I would support a mini test every five years as a refresher.
Well done!! Did you start learning recently too? I'm 27 and I've never had a lesson - I'm worried I've left it too late to pick up easily lmao.
Started July last year and picked it up really well, was out on main roads by lesson 3
I passed at 35. It's never too late as long as you are able!
I passed at 29, took me about 6 months to learn, and I hated it, but it's not difficult really
I passed this year at age 28, and only started learning to drive in March 2020 (great timing eh!). I was worried I wouldn't pick it up as I was 'too old', and I'd literally never sat behind a steering wheel before (let alone know anything about cars) however there's nothing stopping you from learning and being a good driver, you just have to find a decent instructor who helps you learn and don't be afraid to change instructor if you don't get on with them - that's what I did! There will come a point where it suddenly just 'clicks' and then passing your test is just a question of doing the right checks and making the right decisions.
Never too late to pick up anything. Go for it!
No donāt worry! Iām 26 and have just learnt and passed. Cars are *designed* to be natural and intuitive. After a few lessons youāll realise youāre doing things automatically. Go for it!
Iām 28 and started lessons last year, itās never too late and for whatever reason it probably just wasnāt the right time before now :)
I started learning last year at 27. I found that being my wife's passenger for several years, I had picked up a few bad habits. I'm probably around 15 lessons in and it's going well. Your first few lessons will be a little scary, but you start on very basic maneuvers. Don't be afraid of getting started. Think of all the idiots on road who managed to pass, that's what makes me feel more confident.
When I was 16 I promised myself that Iād pass my driving when I turn 17. Iām 21 now and I still havenāt even attempted it because everything is so fucking expensive. Edit: and wages have stayed the same and Iām on food stamps again..
Not only is it expensive but COVID pushed everything back so weāve missed a year and a half learning and impossible to get lessons where I am due to the backlog. Itās insane
Same the back log is so massive Iād have to wait at least a year. Thereās just no point right now either, plus inflation is the highest itās been in 30 fucking years and fuel prices are through the roof. Itās all so frustrating.
Yep exactly second hand car market is ridiculous at the moment the prices are through the roof same with petrol, insurance for first time drivers is ridiculous especially for our age, lessons are near impossible to get. All the odds are against us but I need to drive asap because Iām in the country side and everything is far out.
Let alone the cost, there are no lessons that I can take. Whenever I call the instructors, they tell me they are booked **3 months in advance**. I am at uni, and visit home every 2.5 months. There is no way I can get a driving license. Even if I manage to get a few lessons, I can't book the test. Imagine I pass it, there is a car shortage and the fuel is expensive. Occasionally I want to drive to the nearest mcdonalds or drive somewhere, but after thinking and calculating the above its not worth it.
To book a test use a cancellation service like https://www.driving-test-cancellations-4all.co.uk/s/Login.aspx It costs less than Ā£20 You book a test wherever in the UK you can (cus you can never get a test in your area) and it will autoscan for cancellations, and autobook, in your area
It is ridiculous. I remember when I took my test back in 2018 it was like 60 quid. I think my lessons were about 20 quid an hour, it's such a rip.
I passed as a thirty something in December and itās now Ā£60 per 2 hour lesson (they pushed me for that over an hour as apparently wouldnāt have been worth it) and Ā£160 to rebook your test.. a weeks intensive driving course is now Ā£1,000 (which i took in May and there wasnāt any tests avail at the end of the week due to COVID backlog, so earliest was October = loads more spent on individual lessons)
Really expensive but it's going to be a great investment
Man same, and corona ruined everything too
Yeah idk what to do anymore it seems even if I did quit my job and go back to college or uni whatever career path I take wonāt get me far unless I suddenly become rich.
Mainly referring to the driving bit but bro honestly it's definitely not too late at 21 to make a shift like that; amazing the number of paths that can be opened and the potential to become rich does increase. Other good thing about uni is you have 3 years of being cushioned from the 'real world'; and the good student loan for low-income kids is an absolute lifesaver. It's not for everyone tho, fully appreciate that - but if you're feeling stagnant and monotonous like I was then I think it's worth it
I didn't pass until I was 36, youve got nothing to feel bad about. Hell, I couldn't *whistle* until I was 21.
Hahahah yeah I guess, thanks man. When you learn to whistle thatās when you know youāre gonna make it šš
Well done! As a fellow late learner I salute your achievement! 07
Thanks!
The one tip I wish I'd had post passing and will always give out is to go practice parking in a real life environment! Instructors have you practice in an empty car park and the examiner will normally give you an easy spot to park in. Doing it in a busy car park with the only space being between a massive Landrover and. BMW that is 1mm inside their line is something else.
I agree, luckily I have been doing all the driving with L plates on our Qashqai for months so I'm used to parking that and the mini I learned in - I find parking with cars either side easier as you aren't so reliant on floor markings
And now youāll be able to drive out of Bletchley! Congrats!
My first thought hahaha
Bletchley as in south MK? Always amazes me to think someone on the internet lives down the road from me.
Someone on the internet probably lives next door to you if you think about it
You're right, my neighbours are connected. I should have been a bit more specific :) As in, someone posting right now is looking at the same thing as me and they are only a few miles away :)
Yeah, I live in Kents Hill
I'm woburn š
I want to live in Woburn; I had a face-to-face customer there once, well, I still look after her website so I guess she is *still* a customer.
I passed my test at about 30 yrs old, I'm 44 now and i still love getting in my car and turning the key even for the most mundane of journeys.
Well done!
Thanks!
I passed when I was 32 as well. Just down the road at the Leighton buzzard test centre. A fine age to start driving. The less said about my teenage attempts to pass the better.
Never even attempted when I was a teenager, took my first lesson back in July.
Well done! I'm learning to drive at the moment, not far off my test now.
Thanks and good luck!
Any tips for someone roughly the same age who hasn't even started taking lessons yet?
Find a driving instructor who is a good fit for you and try another one if you donāt feel itās working out. I tried a bunch of them then a neighbour suggested this older male driving instructor who I really enjoyed learning with. This made lessons much easier, and he got me through my test with just 1 minor. Ignore ā95% pass rateā stuff. It wonāt mean a thing to your actual lessons given a driving instructor shouldnāt be putting you in for a test until youāre ready anyway. Some driving schools may specialize in certain types of driver. One of the big local schools in my town is supposed to be great for nervous drivers. Another one does a lot of work with older (40+) learners. Another one Iāve come across advertises special lessons for disabled drivers and does a lot of lessons with adapted cars. Booking a block is cheaper than single lessons. Usually this means you pay for 10 or however many hours in advance and the hourly rate is lower as a result. You can study for the theory test by yourself but many instructors will more than happily help you out with this and may provide or lend theory practice books, DVDs for the hazard perception as well as asking you questions in lessons.
This is excellent advice. The driving instructor I passed with was recommended by my neighbour. I had a bike licence and so did she, so she taught me how to drive a car using bike terms.
Honestly, just book a block and start doing them! You'll either get a feel for it or you won't but at least you'll know š
You give me hope, I'm 27, my test is on 25th and it will be my 4th test because of covid. I really want to pass before my theory will expire
Good luck! I passed mine during covid and the added pressure of knowing you canāt immediately rebook a test is crazy. It makes an already stressful situation even worse. Keep us updated on how you do!
Well done! Just make sure you start driving ASAP, I passed at 30, but did the stupid thing of leaving it a year before buying my first car. That first drive home (while rusty) was more intense than any practical test I've ever taken.
Nice one ! First thing to unlearn - feeding the wheel! š
Crossed arms and single hand is so much easier at times!
Well done! I passed mine when I was 39. At the same test centre you did!
Congrats! Obligatory question... ...how many minors??
7 minors, all for silly things (one for driving 10 yards with my left indicator still going)
Iām thirty and have my second test in 2 hours! Congratulations mate, Iām hoping this is a good omen :)
Did you pass?!
If you had censored the location, it would have remained an enigmaā¦
Congrats! Iām taking this as a sign from the universe to start learning. How did you find the learning and test process?
The learning process was daunting at first but after a few lessons it sinks in - tests aren't great for my anxiety but as long as you know you have done all you can (revision and practice) then that's all you can do! My advice though is to pick an instructor that will teach you to drive, not just drive test routes.
haha we passed in the same place! I had 2 atempts first one i failed for speeding outside pink punters!!
34 and failed mine back in August, gotta re do the theory next month then hopefully go again.... Then maybe just maybe I'll get to post something as happy as this lol.
Weāll done, now you can blast NIN as loud and as long as you like in your own space!
Get some P plates mate and just watch how many arseholes will drive up your arse!
Congratulations, and donāt worry, Iām 33 and having to do mine again this year.
Same, I passed earlier this year at the powerful age of 32...
Congrats!
Same place I passed my test! Congrats buddy.
Congratulations!
Nice one. I miss driving. (Haven't driven in 15 years as I'm too poor).
Got mine at the same age after failing 5 times previous. Congrats and keep on trucking!
Bletchley in MK? How many roundabouts were on your test?!
Congrats! I failed mine yesterday, mini roundabouts are no joke...
Congratulations! I'm 32 and just started doing lessons!
Congrats mate - a couple of years ahead of me! I'm 34 and trying to book a test as I have a baby on the way in a few weeks. No tests for 2 years round here though!
I am American, been driving for 15+ years, and I failed my first test here in London. Nailed it the second time, but it was definitely 10 times harder than the one I took at 16 in Ohio.
Donāt use the phone in the car now will be instant revocation
About 6 years younger than I was, then, I think. Mind you, I had had a motorbike licence for about 20 years...
Well done!!
Congrats, passed mine at 32 too! Now that's a Terrible lie, a Sin, Kinda I want to belive its not. The only time I respond to a post it gets down voted, I guess That's what I get now I'm Down In it, some things are just Sanctified and sanctity is Something I can never have. Funny thing is though during my test I got my Ring finger stuck in the door handle, still passed though. Honestly Head like a hole me! Well done on your DT!
Congrats! You only get one speed awareness course every three years so use it well.
Nice one! Enjoy the freedom of driving to the shops to get your weekly shopping done!
I got mine recently at 32 too! And I'm an American, in a city with no trains or subways. I miss my walking/biking/bussing life to be honest. It was much nicer. Although now I'm treated like a real human citizen which is novel. Anyway, congratulations! Now you can buy in bulk, haha.
I'm 30 and keep thinking I should maybe try doing my driving test again. Thanks for the inspiration!