What to Do If You Haven't Driven for a Year After Getting Your License?
3 Answers
Start by practicing with an automatic transmission car, as it's simpler to operate than a manual transmission. Many people buy a used car to practice after getting their license, as used cars are relatively inexpensive. If you still remember the basic driving operations but feel nervous after not driving for a long time, you can ask an experienced driver to sit in the passenger seat. Skills can be honed over time, but courage must be mustered on your own—especially when coordinating the accelerator, clutch, and brakes.
I also didn’t drive for over a year after getting my license, and I was super nervous at first. Later, I picked a weekend early morning, invited a close friend, and drove to a big parking lot in the suburbs where there were few people and cars. We practiced slowly there. First, I sat in the driver’s seat, fastened my seatbelt, and got used to pressing the accelerator and brake again. Then, I practiced starting and stopping, repeating the basic movements over and over. After half an hour, I dared to try small turns to get a feel for steering. After sticking with it for two or three weekends, the skills came back, and I finally dared to drive on simple roads near home. My advice: don’t overthink it—start from scratch in an empty space, bring a reliable friend for safety, and the skills will return quickly. Just don’t rush onto busy roads to avoid accidents. The key is to practice basic movements repeatedly, stay relaxed, and confidence will come naturally.
As someone who hadn’t driven for years after getting my license, I was completely flustered when I finally decided to start driving again last year. So, I made a small plan for myself. First, I practiced in a safe area, like renting a car to drive around a small town, starting with low-speed maneuvers to get familiar with steering and gear shifting. After a few days of practice, I gradually challenged myself with short highway trips, maintaining steady control. I also took the time to review traffic rules and watched a few safe-driving videos online to reinforce my memory. The whole process took about four or five practice sessions, each lasting around an hour, and I regained about 70-80% of my skills. The key takeaway is not to be afraid of taking time—start with small goals, give yourself plenty of encouragement, and once you get the hang of it, driving becomes second nature. It’s normal to feel rusty after a long break; recovery mainly comes from practice and patience.
