I was a late learner too - I waited until I was 26, and all my siblings passed their tests in their teens. I just didn't ever think I'd be able to do it - I suck at those driving computer games, and my general coordination is rubbish.
Then my Grandparents gave me some money and said, 'you have to spend it on driving lessons'. I knew it would be my last chance, but I couldn't see it ever working out.

But you know what? Compared to what I had built it up to be, it was EASY! I had this amazing instructor who was just like a dad, and he never ever lost patience with me. He made me believe I could do it, and then I could!
I went from never sitting in a drivers seat to getting my full manual (stick-shift in America?) licence in 3 months, and I'm sure it is simply because I waited until I was ready. You can do it too!

So it's been a few months since I started this thread, but I finally got behind the wheel for the first time today! A friend took me down to a huge deserted car park and went through the basics sloooooowly. I did laps around the car park in first gear, and only stalled once! I am having my first formal lesson tomorrow, but I feel so much better about the whole idea now that I've had a little practice. Yaay!

Haha OK...I just saw this thread and thought "Ooh, learning to drive late in life...that's relevant because I'm 29 and learning to drive."

So I read the original post and I'm scrolling down and I see that I've already posted in here! Back in May before I started my lessons! Now it's September and I've been having weekly lessons since June. I go for my test next month!

I was absolutely terrified before my first lesson. Now I'm driving all over the place. I really think it's true that waiting until you're ready is a huge help.

So I've had 4 lessons so far. Started out driving very sloooowly around the Domain (a nice parkland area with quiet roads) and have since progressed to doing 80km/hr (approx. 50 miles/hr) on a highway with cars whizzing all around me!

I'm happy with how I've been progressing, and I haven't done anything REALLY stupid yet. I ran a red light yesterday, but it was turning orange just as I got there and so I didn't think I had enough time/room to stop... but my teacher reckons I did. It's so hard to judge these things, at least to begin with!

I'm still a looong way off going for my license test, or even to progressing to the second stage of my learners' permit, but pretty soon I hope to be driving around with other people, not just an instructor.

I've driven across this bridge a few times. It's scary!

PS, LoversSaintsSailors, are you learning in a manual? I am. I'm so good at changing gears now!

Yep, I sure am. Changing gears is a breeze now! What were we ever afraid of? hehe.

I didn't learn to drive manual until later, but I don't think I could ever go back to automatic!
My biggest tip is absolutely to get used to your car! It can feel extremely foreign at first, and weird, every little thing will need adjusted and getting used to, from the way you're sitting, leaning, where your mirrors are and how things look from the windshield etc, but just keep calm and really get to know your car and all its little ticks and quirks!

Yay! Go us! I am still terrified every time, but it is getting easier.