Tips for 30 year old

darego

Hi guys,

I am now on my 3rd learner permit since 2009 but I have never got lessons before out of nervousness, so my last 2 learner permits went to waste.

I now really want to take the leap and start learning. For someone who has never driven before, what is the best way to start learning? Are there specific types of lessons for absolute beginners? Recommendations in the Dublin 8 area would be appreciated if so.

Also, would I be best off buying and own car to start learning? Can I even get insured with only a learner permit? Or should I just use a car provided by the driving lesson company?

Any tips or suggestions welcome

jamesbondings

darego wrote: »

Hi guys,

I am now on my 3rd learner permit since 2009 but I have never got lessons before out of nervousness, so my last 2 learner permits went to waste.

I now really want to take the leap and start learning. For someone who has never driven before, what is the best way to start learning? Are there specific types of lessons for absolute beginners? Recommendations in the Dublin 8 area would be appreciated if so.

Also, would I be best off buying and own car to start learning? Can I even get insured with only a learner permit? Or should I just use a car provided by the driving lesson company?

Any tips or suggestions welcome

Dont know what the current situation is due to the pandemic but honestly lessons. Each instructor knows where to begin and will gauge where you are at - its not as hard as you think and you will get the hang of it in no time! Nerves and confidence are the only thing to overcome!
Best of luck with it!

Thoie

darego wrote: »

Also, would I be best off buying and own car to start learning? Can I even get insured with only a learner permit? Or should I just use a car provided by the driving lesson company?

Any tips or suggestions welcome

As you can't drive unaccompanied, buying a car is only useful if you have a licensed driver who can accompany you - otherwise it's just going to sit somewhere unused, costing you money. If you do have someone to come with you, the extra practice outside formal lessons can be useful.

If you have someone to accompany you living with you, for example, and they have their own car, it might be cheaper to just pay to be added to their insurance.

Either way, you'll probably start off in the instructor's car where they have dual controls.

darego

Appreciate the 2 replies guys. I can see ism.ie have a package with 12 lessons, so I will most likely book them and use one of their provided cars (covid permitting)

messrs

darego wrote: »

Hi guys,

I am now on my 3rd learner permit since 2009 but I have never got lessons before out of nervousness, so my last 2 learner permits went to waste.

I now really want to take the leap and start learning. For someone who has never driven before, what is the best way to start learning? Are there specific types of lessons for absolute beginners? Recommendations in the Dublin 8 area would be appreciated if so.

Also, would I be best off buying and own car to start learning? Can I even get insured with only a learner permit? Or should I just use a car provided by the driving lesson company?

Any tips or suggestions welcome

I was in my late 30's when I started learning to drive. Tried it in my 20's sat my test failed and gave up. Then in my late 30's decided it was time to try again.

I didn't have my own car to practice in so was just in my instructors car when doing lessons but I found that okay.

Have you any family that could put you as named driver on their insurance if you wanted to do a bit of extra practice between lessons - I didn't do this but its an option to think about.

Just let your instructor know that you are nervous and a beginner and maybe you would like to go somewhere quiet to begin with before going out in traffic if you think that would make you more comfortable

ThewhiteJesus

If you can afford insurance on a car i'd recommend you take it, as it will inspire you not to give up again, and secondly, you will have to get your own insurance at some stage.
The other thing i would say is, it's totally normal to sh*t yourself driving until you get used to it.
So practice is the only way to get beyond that point.
Good luck

jamesbondings

as you have had your license since 2009 im pretty sure you do not have to do the prescipted 12 lessons. double check but pretty sure.

i had an old provisional license and only needed 3 lessons before passing the test. was so happy to not have to pay near 500 quid for the lessons

darego

messrs wrote: »

I was in my late 30's when I started learning to drive. Tried it in my 20's sat my test failed and gave up. Then in my late 30's decided it was time to try again.

I didn't have my own car to practice in so was just in my instructors car when doing lessons but I found that okay.

Have you any family that could put you as named driver on their insurance if you wanted to do a bit of extra practice between lessons - I didn't do this but its an option to think about.

Just let your instructor know that you are nervous and a beginner and maybe you would like to go somewhere quiet to begin with before going out in traffic if you think that would make you more comfortable

do any driving lesson companies have their own "private area" for example? where I could start off without anyone else around? the carpark and surrounding area outside of my apartment is quite busy

darego

jamesbondings wrote: »

as you have had your license since 2009 im pretty sure you do not have to do the prescipted 12 lessons. double check but pretty sure.

i had an old provisional license and only needed 3 lessons before passing the test. was so happy to not have to pay near 500 quid for the lessons

I don't have to the 12 EDT lessons, maybe I will just pay as I go per lesson and see how I get on. But I will probably need more than the 12 lessons anyway :pac:

Godeatsboogers

I used the driving instructing companies car to do my second test and passed because I had terrible habits driving my own car and failed the first test. My brother taught me the basics in an industrial estate in limerick when there was hardly no traffic before I moved onto an official driving instructor.

jamesbondings

darego wrote: »

I don't have to the 12 EDT lessons, maybe I will just pay as I go per lesson and see how I get on. But I will probably need close to the 12 lessons anyway :pac:

thats perfect!
get a couple see how you go! you might be comfortable enough after a couple of lessons and a few drives with a fully licensed driver.
i dont believe there is any "learner driving area" it is really not needed. the instructor will bring you somewhere less busy to start off and then bring you out on the road. most manouvers (reversing around a corner etc) will be done in a housing estate somewhere or industrial estate.

Humour Me

I was in a similar position as you. Had the provisional licences so long I didn’t need to do the 12 lessons. I did get driving lessons at one point, but the instructor had very little patience for my nerves and put me off driving for a few years. Got back into it 2 years ago with a really good instructor and passed.

I would book a few lessons with an instructor and see if you are comfortable with them before committing to booking blocks of lessons. Driving can be stressful enough as a beginner without dreading getting into the car with an instructor you don’t get on with.

messrs

darego wrote: »

do any driving lesson companies have their own "private area" for example? where I could start off without anyone else around? the carpark and surrounding area outside of my apartment is quite busy

you could get the driving instructor to pick you up and he drive to an industrial estate and then switch over and let you drive around there, wouldn't be too many cars around there - just until you are comfortable to drive in traffic

darego

great advice lads. thanks a lot

D.Q

Slightly further down the path than you but similar situation. Thirty this year, on my second learner licence. Just finished the lessons. Worst part BY FAR is the mental side. Just takes practice.

I definitely struggled with feeling like I had any right to be on the road after putting it off so long. Id be embarrassed to drive almost, it was weird.

Confidence will come with time though

Thelonious Monk

I think I was 36 when I got mine a few years ago, or 35. I had avoided it all my life but eventually I got insured on my folks car which cost like 50 quid a year or something, and I was living at home at the time saving for a deposit so I just used to drive to the shops and do all those things whenever someone with a full licence needed a lift somewhere. Failed the first time but second time I got it, there are videos online like the one I'm posting here which really helped, bonus for me that he's actually driving around the streets I grew up in and still live in and that's where the Raheny tests are held. But I just decided that I was getting one no matter what and made it happen, once you get it out of the way it's a weight off the shoulders, now driving is second nature whenever I need to, even when I'm in Spain on the wrong side!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2t1CBUVwZs