Did anyone here learn to drive at a "late age"?

[goofygirl]

By "late" I mean beyond teen years- mid to late 20's, 30's or later.

I am just curious if there are any "late learners" here when it comes to driving, and what your experiences were. Any adivice? And why did you wait so long?

 

[honeywolf7]

I'm learning now (Roger's teaching me) and I'm 27.

 

[snoopy]

I learned to drive and got my license when I was 16, but I never really drove anywhere. I lived in the city, then went to college in NYC, so having a car was never an option (unless I wanted to pay an astronomical parking garage fee). It wasn't until I was in my mid 20's that I actually drove a car on a regular basis, although even today I still really only drive to work - everything I need to get to is within walking distance, for the most part.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I took driver's ed in high school, but never got my license. It scared me too much. I think I was the only kid around that renewed my permit. LOL!

My DH made me start driving in college. We would make plans to go out when we were dating, and then he'd say we weren't going unless I drove. I got my first car when I had graduated from college. I needed something to drive to work, since I accepted a teaching job in the next town.

 

[olena]

LOL! I'm 30 and still counting.....

A good friend of mine started driving at 26 though.

 

[delikado]

I'm 23 and have yet to learn how to drive a car... I just never needed to learn, I guess But my BF is trying to teach me now.

 

[kdibattista]

My great aunt learned to drive in her 60s.... she never had to until her husband passed away. It's never too late!!!

 

[Mermaid02]

I took drivers ed in high school but never got my license until I was 27. I was totally petrified to drive.... that and my mother drove me NUTS when I drove with her.

 

[Kitty 34]

I learned to drive when I was 16 but didn't actually get my license and start driving 'til I was 24!!! I went to school in Chicago.....I never felt any need to drive!!

 

[DonnaS]

I took driver's ed in high school but my father wouldn't take me out to practice and my mother never had her license. I did finally get my license when I was 23. I took private lessons through a driving school. my sister is 50-- almost 51 and still doesn't have her license.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm 35 and I can't drive. Since I live in NYC, I'm not in a hurry to learn.

 

[WDWLVR]

I took Drivers Ed in high school but didn't get my liscense until I was 28. I worked in downtown Chicago and always took the el down to work. I also had a close friend who LOVED to drive so when we went somewhere she would drive anyway. It wasn't until my mom got a new car that I had to urge to drive and got my liscense that year.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

I'm a suburban kid, live in an area where there is no such thing as public transportation, so I've been driving since I was 17. but my aunt didn't learn how to drive until my uncle died -- she was in her 30's at the time.

 

[minnie56]

I learned to drive at age 31!

I never was interested before that really and was not encouraged either by my parents. I bussed it all over the place and it never bothered me.My sisters also were in their 30's when they learned to drive.

I found, for me, it made me a calmer driver and once I had my Licence I loved it and valued it immensely.I basically only got it because I had children and wanted to take them places while my Husband was at work and in case of Emergencies.

My daughter is now 19 and she has no interest in driving. I am encouraging her however because I think it is a necessity these days.My 16 year old daughter is however keen and is beginning lessons shortly!

The roads are crazy places now and I am in no hurry for either of them to be out on them really...however necessary it may be.

 

[dmslush]

I didn't learn to drive until last year, right when I turned 30. I don't know why I had never learned before, just never had the need I guess. My mother, brother, and ex husband had always taken me everywhere I wanted to go and I never thought much of it.

The reason that I learned to drive though.. well, I had just graduated with my AS degree in sociology, and **THE JOB** came open. It was the job of a lifetime and I didn't get it because I couldn't drive. I cried and cried, my heart was broke. My brother told me to do something about it then, and then he started teaching me how to drive. I started learning in June and bought my own car in August!!

 

[goofygirl]

Wow its great to know so many "late bloomers" are out there!

I am not alone in my crowd. 3 of my friends also don't drive! But I figure since I am 34, I should learn to do it already. I feel more confident now than when I was younger. And I hate depending on people for rides!

 

[lisajl]

My DD will be 18 in November and does not want to get her license until then. A friend of hers had an accident two weeks ago, and the sister of this friend is still in the hospital.
Scared my DD and her friends....she is not sure she wants to drive, but I keep telling her if she is careful she will be fine.

Lisa

 

[nativetxn]

I was 26. My MIL was 49. She took her test two days after I did

 

[DonnaS]

Just a warning GoofyGirl... the reason my mom never got her license was that every time she began to take lessons, she got pregnant.

 

[phyllis1966]

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one ! I took driver's ed in high school, but chickened out of taking the road test, even though I was a decent driver. I just got my license last July, at the age of 35. Why? Because in September, I knew I had to be able to take my then 3-yr-old to pre-K - otherwise, I might still be asking for a lift!

I waited so long because the more time that passed, the more nervous and frightened I became about driving. Now, I have my license almost a whole year, and I love driving! What a sense of freedom I never knew!

But you have to do it in your own time. People have been asking me for so many years what I was waiting for and trying to embarrass me into doing it, as if that would ever work! I had to have my own good reasons for learning, not someone else's. You'll know when you're ready. Best of luck.