How To Get Over The Fear Of Learning How To Drive

You’ve probably been procrastinating on getting your driver’s license for years now.

It seems like a huge, daunting task, and it’s easy to put off.

Too easy.

You have a list of excuses that you shuffle through whenever people ask about it.

You tell yourself you’re comfortable with taking an Uber or having to ask someone to drop you off wherever you want to go.

But deep down, you want your driver’s license. You just wish you could skip the learning part.

Don’t worry, I’m not judging you right now.

Because I was once in your shoes.

I always knew I wanted to drive, but I put it off for years because it ‘just wasn’t a priority’.

Related: Should You Get Your Driver’s License Now or Wait? Here’s How to Know!

Then all of a sudden, I was in my twenties, and I had no more excuses. But this time, anxiety started to creep in seemingly out of nowhere.

Just the thought of learning to drive made my stomach flutter.

Months later, I became the only person in my family to pass their driver’s test on the first try.

So, how did I do it?

Below are the 7 (literally life-changing) tips I used to finally get over the fear of learning how to drive.

Getting Over The Fear Of Learning How To Drive

1. Know the benefits of driving

Friends, family, and society in general can have a lot of expectations of us.

One of those expectations is that by a certain age, you should know how to drive — no questions asked.

But to begin getting over the fear of learning how to drive, you need to be clear on your why.

Are you learning to drive because you feel pressured to or because you know you’re going to benefit from it?

Related: Unsure About Getting Your Driver’s License? Here’s How to Tell If It’s Right for You

This is key.

Knowing the benefits of driving and actually wanting these benefits for yourself is a great way to turn anxiety into excitement.

You’ll begin to think of driving as a secret power to unlock, rather than a daunting task you’re pressured into.

Whenever you feel anxious about learning to drive, remind yourself of all the things you’ll be able to do once you get your driver’s license.

Here are five undeniable benefits of driving to get you started.

2. Get comfortable in the driver’s seat

This second tip is crucial.

It’s important to know that the driver’s seat is unlike any other seat in a vehicle.

It has the steering wheel in front, gas and brake pedals at the bottom, the hand brakes and gears to the side, and a whole lot of other buttons, knobs, and controls.

It’s no wonder that sitting in this spot can make you anxious — there’s so much to get used to!

If you have access to a vehicle at home, sit in the driver’s seat whenever you get the chance.

Maybe this might be while you’re waiting on someone else, or at a random time when the vehicle is just sitting in the driveway.

You don’t have to do anything, not even turn on the engine.

The goal is only to get familiar with being in this seat.

Once you get used to it, you’ll find that it doesn’t make you (so) anxious anymore.

3. Sit in the front passenger seat

Tip number 3 for getting over the fear of learning to drive is to sit in the front passenger seat while someone else is driving.

This may seem oddly simple — maybe it’s something you already do often — but it works wonders on your mind.

It’s kinda like you’re driving, but you don’t have to worry about moving the car.

While you’re in the front passenger seat, you want to observe the driver and how they change gears, use the pedals, check the mirrors, and more.

Pay attention to what they’re paying attention to.

Also, look at the way the other vehicles behave and how the road works.

Like tip number 2, this exercise will help you get familiar with being in the front part of the vehicle, while also getting an up-close view of what driving is like.

4. Get your expectations right

Repeat after me: ‘No one is born knowing how to drive.‘

This means that there was a time when every single driver (even the ones that act like they know it all) once knew absolutely nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

They all had to start somewhere and learn the basics, and they all made mistakes.

It was only after hours and hours of practice that they got better — and you’re no exception to this rule!

Driving is like learning to read and understand as a kid.

You probably don’t remember those days, but the fact that you’re reading or listening to this post is proof that you learned.

So please be kind to yourself.

Don’t expect that you should know everything on the first try.

Your expectations should be this and this only: YES, I will be nervous and make mistakes. But with time, I WILL get better!

Related: 40 Driving Affirmations to Keep You Calm & Confident

Reminding yourself of this will help take some pressure off you and help you to get started.

This brings us to tip number 5.

5. Sign up for your first class

Once you realize that driving is a skill that is learned, take the next step and sign up for your first class.

You don’t have to do a week of classes or even two classes — just one will do.

Consider this your non-commital risk-free trial.

It’s like when you check out the trailer of a movie to see if you really want to watch it.

This first class will help you see if learning to drive is for you.

Once you do that first class, you’ll probably realize that driving isn’t as bad as it first seemed.

Now the fear of learning how to drive will be almost halfway gone.

And if it’s not for you, that’s okay! You tried, and now you know.

But please allow yourself to try.

6. Say Affirmations

Don’t underestimate the power of positive self-talk and affirmations.

I didn’t realize what I was doing at the time, but whispering ‘I can do this’ and visualizing myself driving literally rewired my brain to be less anxious about learning to drive.

It’s science!

This technique will not only help you conquer your fear but also support you throughout your entire driving journey (and life).

7. Talk about it

Last but certainly not least: talk about it.

This was a key step in my journey to overcome the fear of learning to drive.

I spoke to friends and family about how I felt, and they encouraged me to take the first step and not to let fear stop me.

They reminded me that they, too, felt a bit anxious in the beginning, and now they’re some of the best drivers I know.

It might not sound like a lot, but this really helped me build the courage to finally start learning to drive.

If you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable talking to about your anxiety, don’t underestimate the power of online communities.

You’ll find loads of people who are willing to offer advice and encouragement, and share their experiences with you!

Conclusion

I hope these tips help you on your journey to getting over the fear of learning how to drive, just like they helped me.

Just remember that it is a process, and take things one step at a time.

You’ll be fine <3

If you have any tips of your own, please feel free to share them in our subreddit 🙂.

Stay safe and God bless! ♡