Driving a car. How long did you take?

[trouble16]

Im learning to drive at the moment and ive been learning since march! (my birthday month,woo hoo)! Neway... just curiosity as to how long you ppl took and how many attempts were taken at that dreaded test! im due for one and im terrified! :-)

[dothawkes]

I took three goes, for some stupid reason I wore a wig for the second one, it was 1977 and u could buy afro wigs in Dorothy Perkins. There was no theory test then and u had to just answer 3 questions at the end of the drive. I argued back on one in my first test.

[xHeatherx]

I don't think anyone can put a definate time on how long it takes - you'll know when the time is right to take your test! I had 48 lessons and wasn't in a rush to pass - I passed first time. But a friend of mine had just 15 lessons and rushed her test and failed. Also, how long you take and how many tests you have doesn't make you a worse or better driver than anyone else. My mum took her test 5 times as she's a great driver!

[Doolallygirl]

I took 10 months to learn which talking to my friends seems to be about average, if not on the long side!  I passed second time and I know I'm the best driver out there!  That was five years ago now and I haven't had a single speeding ticket or point on my license yet and never having crashed!  I passed my theory first time althought it wasn't half as difficult as it is nowdays though!  I am THE most arrogant driver there is, always pointing out others faults! 

[CiderMonkey]

i had 20 lessons each an hour long and passed first time.

[georgit79]

i started learning the month of my birthday- October- and passed first time the following February...8 long years ago!

[georgit79]

Think I had about 14 lessons, plus lots of practice with my poor mum!

[luckystrike]

Started learning in July 1997, had ten lessons over about eight weeks, and passed in September 1997.  Also practiced lots with my parents.

[luckystrike]

Oh, and I passed first time, despite having my original test date cancelled because of an IRA bomb scare outside the test centre.

[butter1]

I had 17 lessons and past first time but I never had to take the theory test.  I had 2 hours lessons before my test and I think that helped a lot as it made me more confident for the test.  You'll be fine, try and relax.  Good luck!!   Oh by the way, one of my friends took 8 goes to pass her test....she got used to failing and when she was told she passed she was totally in shock, it was so funny.. Expensive but funny!

[pamnez]

I passed my test when I was 36 yrs old, at the second attempt after about 30 lessons.  I have now been driving 28 years and love it.  As my husband has a Hackney cab,  I have always had the family car and I have no points on my licence, have never been done for speeding and only ever had 1 parking ticket. Not bad eh for an old girl.

[Ouisch]

I'm curious - what are the driving lessons and test like in the UK?  It sounds much more difficult/rigorous that ours in the U.S.  I took Driver's Education in school the summer after my sophomore year (so I was 15 years old at the time).  It consisted of something like six weeks of classes, plus practice driving.  After that, to get a license, I had to take a written test (20 questions, mainly about traffic laws and signs) and then a road test.  Passed both the first time and got my license on my 16th birthday.

[pamnez]

I may have mis-interpreted your query Ouisch but I thought that in the USA, you could not hold a drivers licence until you were 21 yrs old?

[purpose]

I passed just before my 33rd birthday, 2 years ago, which apparently made it more likely i would need more lessons (being an oldie, i suppose). I had about 35 lessons in all and passed 2nd time.

[Ouisch]

Pamnez, 16 is the legal driving age in the US.  You can get a permit to drive at age 15, but with a permit you must have a licensed driver ride with you in the front seat. 

[pamnez]

purpose.   Look at my first answer about driving tests.  Now, I am an OLDIE.  You are only young at 35.

[trouble16]

ive always been interested in what actually happens in the U.S with driving.  because ive been told that the vast majority of cars/trucks are automatic, there-for you dont need to have clutch control practise. (i hate it!)

well, im 17 had 20 odd lessons but i dont no about hours, cos ive merged 2 hourly lessons into 1 2 hour lesson. alot!

actually the american learning of driving does sound very similar to ours, except of the age (it can start @ 17)  we have a fairly difficult theroy test(i passed first time!) but the actual practical exam is very pinickity! they will fail you on the smallest thing! argh!

[Artemis]

1st time and I was 17 years and 3 months.

[ondemania]

haha ive been having lessons for ages and still havnt booked my first test. me blames my instructor though...

[nicola_red]

I had a bash at learning when I was about 20 but i was terrible at it.  i dread to think how many lessons I had - I stopped counting because it was too painful - but I just couldn't get the hang of it at all.  My instructor eventually put me in for a test but I bottled out and cancelled on some poor excuse and have never attempted driving again since.  I am now 30 and take a bus and tram to work every day and although I don't mind too much, I really wish I had taken lessons when I was 17 and managed to pass, because i get the feeling the older you are the harder it becomes.

[fairy!]

Took 9 months of lesson... passed test 4th time... practice makes perfect!!!