Learning to Drive After 50

“Make sure you sign up for lessons with someone who makes you comfortable, and then just do it. I drive often locally now and love it,” says Durgha. 

Not sure how to find that perfect instructor? Ask friends or family for recommendations rather than signing up somewhere just because it’s convenient, says Fuchs. 

If you can’t afford a professional instructor or don’t want to go that route, ask a friend or family member to teach you, suggests Fuchs. 

“Choose a mentor you can emulate. They should have a history of safe and responsible driving as well as a respect of the laws and the rules,” she says.

That’s what Elizabeth Widmer, 87, did when she decided to get her license at age 48 after her mother died and left her a car.

“My husband said, ‘You’ve either got to drive that or get rid of it,’ so I decided to drive it,” says Widmer, who lives in Apollo, Pennsylvania.

Widmer learned to drive with the help of her husband and her daughter, Lori, and says she immediately felt at ease. She passed her driving test on the first try.

Plan ahead for any accommodations you might need to make

It’s also a good idea to think through any health issues that make driving unsafe as well as any driving-specific assistance you might need. According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA), all older drivers should do the following:

• Assess whether any medical conditions will make driving safely difficult (such as eyesight, tremors or memory).
• Check with your pharmacist to see if any of your medications might impair your driving judgment.
• Think about any special features you will need your car to have to drive (maybe a swivel seat or a pedal extender).
• Review what driver assisted technologies you want in a car (such as automatic braking and lane assistance).

Practice, practice, practice 

Creager suggests driving as much as possible between lessons and at different times of the day.

“When you’re driving with friends or family, verbalize what you’re about to do – this keeps everyone more relaxed and aware, and helps you reinforce your skills,” she explains.

“Be patient with yourself; learning to drive is a big undertaking, but you will achieve a whole new level of independence with a driver’s license.”

Diane Saarinen, 59, didn’t bother getting her license because she was born and raised in New York City. It was only when her husband retired and they moved to Athens, Georgia, eight years ago that Saarinen realized she would need to learn how to drive.

“I found the whole idea of operating a car alien, and it took a long time to get comfortable behind the wheel,” she recalls.

“In the beginning, certain things terrified me. I remember having one lesson for night driving where a deer ran out of nowhere and even slightly touched the car, but my driving instructor said I handled it like a boss and neither us nor the deer was hurt.”

Saarinen took Creager’s advice — along with 22 driving lessons — and passed her road test on the first try. It took about a year before she truly felt comfortable behind the wheel.

“My husband is 15 years older than me, so I know one day I’ll be doing the driving for both of us. I still get nervous about changing lanes if it looks tight, but we’re going to Savannah in March, and we’re going to split the driving,” she says.

Fuchs notes that it’s never too late to learn how to drive. In her 42 years as a driving instructor, she’s taught people of all ages – her oldest student was 93.​​“For many, it’s about helping them build their self-esteem and recognizing that with patience and perseverance, anything is possible,” she says. “Be realistic about the process and be patient. Every person learns at their own pace.”