Learning to drive in my 30s

rsynnott

I'm 31. After about a decade of not getting around to it, I'm finally planning on trying to learn to drive. I don't have access to a car. Is it realistic to try to learn and pass the test solely based on lessons?

If I do pass, I'd consider getting a second-hand car. Is there an optimal car from the point of view of low purchase and maintenance costs, and cheap insurance? I wouldn't be using it all that frequency, and wouldn't be too worried about what it looks like. Also, how much realistically would I be looking at paying in insurance as a novice 31 year old?

jimmycrackcorm

rsynnott wrote:

I'm 31. After about a decade of not getting around to it, I'm finally planning on trying to learn to drive. I don't have access to a car. Is it realistic to try to learn and pass the test solely based on lessons?

Yes . Just very expensive.

rsynnott

Was afraid of that

Gatling

It's doable to pass the test with just the 12 lessons ,
I've done my lessons and currently waiting for a test date but have no car myself ,my instructor reckons I can pass the test with just a pretest ,I'm 38 a late starter too, if I don't get out with a family member I'm constantly sitting at home or work I'll be going through the motions of driving ,gear changes , clutch, mirrors ,I'd make sure you know the rules of the road as well

dbagman

Is it a case of needing to or feeling you have to? Or just something to tick off a bucket list? It's an expensive thing to do if you've no real need for it. And chances are if you've made it this far without one I'm assuming a car isn't a real need in your life.

rsynnott

Nope, I definitely don't need to. I just feel like it's something I should be able to do at some point, and it seems like the sort of thing I should get done while I'm still young (or at least while I'm still telling myself I'm still young ) It'd occasionally be convenient to be able to drive, but day to day I definitely don't need it.

SteM

dbagman wrote: »

Is it a case of needing to or feeling you have to? Or just something to tick off a bucket list? It's an expensive thing to do if you've no real need for it. And chances are if you've made it this far without one I'm assuming a car isn't a real need in your life.

I agree with this apart from the last bit. Neither myself nor my wife learned to drive until it our late 30s. We were having a kid so we knew we'd need car. Circumstances can change later in life, moving to the suburbs or having kids etc.

rsynnott

Yeah, that's another thing; I live in town and don't plan on moving, but who knows what'll happen. Just seems like a useful life skill.

SteM

It is for sure, it allows you to hire a car if you're abroad etc. No reason you can't get your license without a car, the test is passable after 12 lessons.

monkeyslayer

Learned in my 30's too... Well worth learning though it does get very expensive... get it done if and when and as soon as you can afford it because life might not be so simple in the future... worth noting it takes 6 months to take your test from when you first get a provisional license, and then you're on a waiting list, so probably best not to do all 12 lessons and then have to wait months for the test... personally I found I didn't really 'get it' till i got out and practiced in my own car in real situations, I found the lessons and tutored sessions fine etc but don't get good till I practiced.

TheHouseIRL

Absolutely doable without your own car. Similar situation to yourself. Had my first lesson in October having never been behind the wheel in my life. Finished the EDT in late Feb, had a couple of additional lessons (probably 8 to 10 hours in total) and passed the test first time in April. No practice outside of the lessons. Total cost including the test from start to finish was approx e650

kunst nugget

dbagman wrote: »

Is it a case of needing to or feeling you have to? Or just something to tick off a bucket list? It's an expensive thing to do if you've no real need for it. And chances are if you've made it this far without one I'm assuming a car isn't a real need in your life.

Honestly, I think everyone should learn to drive - it's a great skill to have and opens up what you can do and gives you a lot of independence. If you were using a car only infrequently or for weekends, you could look at hiring for the odd occasion rather than paying for maintaining something that you are not using that much.