At what age did you learn to drive?

[bob6600]

When I was 16, I couldn't wait to learn to drive. Applied for my provisional license and had my first lesson on my 17th birthday, passing in around 6 months with 1 lesson a week.

When did you have your first lesson?

Are kids of today just as eager to learn and have a lesson on their 17th birthday? Perhaps some of you with children of that age could enlighten us.

 

[AMGeed]

Started with a Lambretta in 1966 and took my car test in 1970 after around 12 lessons. I do recall the actual test costing 22/6d


I think most 17yr olds realise that nowadays the huge cost of insurance is the big factor in whether they can actually afford to learn to drive. I bet most would love to get that independence that driving gives you.

 

[Adrian5405]

Riding motor bikes at 8 and driving cars at 10.
We lived in a very rural area and my dad was a petrol head.
Passed my test at 17 and 3 months.
Daughter is 17 next year and can't wait to drive, but unlike my dad I havnt taught her yet.

 

[Meldrew2]

I had my first car at age 12. A MOT failed Austin 1300, which I drove (with my father supervising) on our own land. Never got above 2nd gear, but I certainly learnt what a clutch does.

My first "proper" car, a Hillman Imp Californian, was bought at age 16, placed in a relative's garage for a bit of TLC.

My first lesson on the public road was on my 17th birthday, driving home from Art College with Dad teaching me. That Saturday I drove from home, through Liverpool, the Mersey tunnel, across North Wales to Anglesey and back again. Sunday was another long journey, but I forget exactly where.

After Dad had taught me how to drive, I had 6 lessons with an ADI to learn how to pass my driving test...

 

[Wheep]

I started driving when I was 22 as I couldn't afford it before then but as I ran out of money I didn't pass my test until I was 38. My daughter on the other hand started driving on her 18th birthday and passed first time. Son is 12 and he's already driven at Brands Hatch on their Young Drivers course, twice

 

[lisa110rry]

Learning to drive (both "behind the wheel" and "behind the book") was part of my school curriculum in the US. I started when I was 15 and passed my test just after becoming 16, which is (or was at any rate) the driving age. I would have been 16 in May 1973.

My first car was a violently green Oldsmobile Delta 88 (1966).

 

[kwk]

I was 13 or 14 and started to drive with a 53 seater coach, on site of course. I passed my test a couple of months after my 17th birthday and have been doing various tests ever since. I am now 58 and hope will keep on learning something.

 

[scumbag]

had my first lesson on my 17th birthday. passed my test 6 months later on my brothers birthday as it happens.

 

[tanuie]

I was seventeen and passed first time. In a Singer Chamois, (a posh Hillman Imp).

 

[Codger49]

I too had a Lambretta when I was 16 which helped with road awareness.

Started with a car by backing out of garage at 16 which helped with clutch control and started as an accompanied driver on 17th birthday. Passed test after about 6 months with no lessons.

Two things which helped me were a) driving across London to the Kent coast as an accompanied driver (family member in hospital for some time) and b) the Roadcraft book which was full of useful information.

 

[moonloops]

Aged 17 14 lessons passed first time

 

[RonFleet]

I started counting the days until I would be allowed behind the wheel of a car when I was fourteen. I had my first lesson on my seventeenth birthday. Passed my test four months later, after 12 lessons. First car was a Ford Anglia 100E - 3 speed gearbox, no synchro on 1st gear, vacuum driven wipers. Luxury!

My son had his first lesson on his seventeenth birthday. He passed his test but has no interest whatsoever in driving. Too expensive in his view.

 

[Lennox]

Learn to drive what????

Got my first motorbike at 6 (Honda atc50)
Tractors, JCBs, loadalls, dumper etc from 8
Cars 10 (auto Range Rover 3dr)
First Ferrari 11
Horsebox from 11 or 12
Crosser early teens
Scooters 15
Sat test after 6 hours of lessons (2 hour sessions 3 days in a row) passed first time with 7 minors
Fire engine 17
Plane 21
Helicopter 22
F3000 race car 23
Rally car 23
Argo 23

Thinks that's it...

 

[mike_es]

Birthday in July, passed 1st attempt on 1st December same year.
Would have passed sooner if the first instructor I used had not been a scam artist who took the money for the test and never booked it, Took me 2 months to get the money back. Git.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

I had first lesson a month after my 17th birthday in 1990.

I had 4 lessons then was put in for my test. In total I had 9 lessons and passed first time in a Metro.

However I'd been driving dads car and van regularly on waste ground since I was 14. (Dad was sat next to me). The good old days.

Ant.

 

[Piff]

Bike test around 17th Birthday
IIRC I had 12 car lessons & took my car test in a Vauxhall Viva estate just after 18th birthday, passing 1st time.

 

[renault12ts]

Started with a Lambretta in 1966 and took my car test in 1970 after around 12 lessons. I do recall the actual test costing 22/6d


I think most 17yr olds realise that nowadays the huge cost of insurance is the big factor in whether they can actually afford to learn to drive. I bet most would love to get that independence that driving gives you.

So...what age were you in 1966?

 

[C36fan]

When I was 16, I couldn't wait to learn to drive. Applied for my provisional license and had my first lesson on my 17th birthday, passing in around 6 months with 1 lesson a week.

When did you have your first lesson?

Are kids of today just as eager to learn and have a lesson on their 17th birthday? Perhaps some of you with children of that age could enlighten us.

I was 11 and the first vehicle i drove was a 1982 ford transit.
Obviously only drove legally when I was 18 and took 5 lessons before test.

 

[Delayed Steve]

I was 17 and passed in a mark two Escort, the company I worked for paid for my lessons and test so I could drive the van.
I was into motorbikes at the time and thought I would never want a car.:bannana:

 

[Trickythemerc]

I took my test on my seventeenth birthday,had no lessons and drove myself in my Austin A30 to the test center tied the L plates on and walked in to wait for my examiner to arrive. Passed,binned the L plates and drove home.