How long to learn to drive?

Just wondering how long it took ppl who drove in the US to learn manual driving here in the UK. (Had my first lesson and it did not go well )

I knew how to drive a manual, so I didn't have to learn that part.  I can't remember for certain but it was either 10 or 12 hours of lessons before I tested and passed.

I never learned to drive stick either... someone tried to teach me when I was 16 and a half, and I wrecked his car! Keep posting about how you get on Maryam, I need the encouragement to get started myself.

I didn't learn to drive a manual at all. I just got my license in an automatic. Having said that, I still had more than half a dozen lessons to pass the test! It's not easy!

I already knew how to drive a stick. I took 10 lessons and passed on my first go BUT I had been driving around for a few months so had lots of practice. It was months after that before I was 100% comfortable. It's not an easy transition so don't be too hard on yourself.

I started driving really quickly during my first lesson - BUT - it took me forever to manage a consistently decent parallel park and reverse around a corner. (BTW - my driving was so much better after the test when I wasn't super anxious anymore!)

Hang in there! It's worth it in the end.

My car in the US is a manual, but the car I have been driving here is an automatic.  DH's car is a manual Passat that I am not allowed to drive yet  but he also has an old VW Polo that is automatic that I will only drive when he is with me, I don't feel confident enough yet to venture out on my own! 
I am going to start lessons in the new year, I am looking forward to them, as I find it so frustrating to have gone from driving for almost 30 years in the US to end up so reliant on DH to get from here to there & everywhere because I find these roads so overwhelmingly scary and small and everyone is driving at me from the wrong direction!

I'm glad I'm not the only one nervous about driving here!  I've only been here five days, and haven't tried driving yet.  We just bought a car so I guess I'll have to bite the bullet soon.  I'm terrified!  For some reason it seems so much more confusing than the US.  Roundabouts really intimidate me. 

I drove a manual for years in the US but we bought an automatic here.  I hope that will make things a bit easier. 

Do you need to take lessons to get a UK license, if you already have a license from another country?

People here in the US are always astounded when I tell them I managed 28 years without learning to drive. I had never been behind the wheel of a car until I moved to England and my husband "gifted" me with 20 lessons from the RAC. I took 15 lessons and I passed my driving test in a manual car, the FIRST TIME!  It is something that I take a great deal of pride in. If I could do it, anyone can. So, if you already know how to drive, it shouldn't take too many lessons to get the hang of a standard and learning the rules of the road.

I'll admit that since I've been here in the US (nine years), I've become a bit freaked out by driving. I don't have to maneuver crazy narrow roads at 70mph or being afraid of the random sheep stopping to graze on the side of the narrow roads or roundabouts but I am starting to get scared of people ALWAYS ON THEIR PHONES because the cars are automatic or they're just crazy drivers. My son took two lessons here in Houston and passed his driver's test! My other son is taking driver's ed at school and it's scary how little he will be behind the wheel. 

I'm glad I'm not the only one nervous about driving here!  I've only been here five days, and haven't tried driving yet.  We just bought a car so I guess I'll have to bite the bullet soon.  I'm terrified!  For some reason it seems so much more confusing than the US.  Roundabouts really intimidate me. 

I drove a manual for years in the US but we bought an automatic here.  I hope that will make things a bit easier. 

Do you need to take lessons to get a UK license, if you already have a license from another country?

Your US license will be considered valid in the UK for one year.  In that year, you'll need to take the written test (theory test) as well as the driving test (practical test).  I personally would recommend taking some lessons in the UK to "learn how to pass the test".  I think I took 10 hours of lessons before taking the practical test.

If you test in an automatic, your license will be restricted to only automatics.  If you take the test in a manual, your license will be valid for manual or automatics.  As you already know how to drive a manual, I would recommend taking the test in an instructors vehicle so that you don't have a restricted license.

Do leave yourself plenty of time to get the tests done before your license expires.  For me, it took about a month before I could book my theory test and then four months before the first available appointment for the practical test.

I learned how to drive on a manual 17 years ago but haven't touched it until moving here. My DH bought me a 2001 Ford KA as I'll need it to get to work.

I've driven every day with my DH as instructor, that's three days now. He has been incredibly patient and supportive but I feel so disappointed with myself. It has been so long since driving has been this difficult. I dread driving now, it's scary. When does it become comfortable again?

I am so relieved that I'm not the only one terrified by driving here!  Oh and roundabouts intimidate the hell out of me!!!  Last night I had to go through several of the. And if the DH wasn't in the car I would have panicked.

I learned how to drive on a manual 17 years ago but haven't touched it until moving here. My DH bought me a 2001 Ford KA as I'll need it to get to work.

I've driven every day with my DH as instructor, that's three days now. He has been incredibly patient and supportive but I feel so disappointed with myself. It has been so long since driving has been this difficult. I dread driving now, it's scary. When does it become comfortable again?

I am so relieved that I'm not the only one terrified by driving here!  Oh and roundabouts intimidate the hell out of me!!!  Last night I had to go through several of the. And if the DH wasn't in the car I would have panicked.

Aww that doesn't sound like fun!

I would go out and drive around on Sunday mornings or evenings (think before 10am and after 4pm).  The roads will be a lot less crowded and you can just drive around for an hour or so and start to feel more comfortable.  Would probably be good to drive your journey to/from work a couple of times during the off-peaks times and your DH can explain which lane to be in and you can get comfortable on the speed to enter the roundabouts.

I had 10-15 hours of lessons in the UK and passed both test the first time around (manual).

I had driven both automatic and manual in the US for 13+ years.

DH suggested I try a few instructors before settling on one.  I'm glad he convinced me to do that because my first instructor looked great online and had wonderful reviews, but when it can to MY lesson, she hadn't thought of the fact I'd be on the opposite side of the road, the opposite side of the car and a few other 'switches' I had to adjust to.     Not a good lesson for sure.     And not my fault.   

I tried another instructor (recommended by someone else on UK Yankee in South London) and he was great!  He'd taught loads of other non-UK citizens and was familiar with driving on the 'opposite' side of the road.    He's got a home in Spain, so he's got regular experience making the switch himself. 

It's amazing how much difference an instructor can make.  You don't have to take lessons from someone you're not comfortable with (it's amazing how many people don't like their instructor yet keep giving them money!).

Even if you've got a patient and supportive instructor, it won't hurt to try someone else out.    You never know what's out there. 

Aww that doesn't sound like fun!

I would go out and drive around on Sunday mornings or evenings (think before 10am and after 4pm).  The roads will be a lot less crowded and you can just drive around for an hour or so and start to feel more comfortable.  Would probably be good to drive your journey to/from work a couple of times during the off-peaks times and your DH can explain which lane to be in and you can get comfortable on the speed to enter the roundabouts.

Thanks for your suggestions, they're great. We will definitely be doing the journey to and from work before I have to start, that'll help calm my nerves on the first day.

I just spent an hour behind some garages just learning how to start and stop slowly, learning clutch control and the biting point. It helped a lot and think I'll continue doing that everyday. Practice makes perfect, right? 

I taught my kids to drive stick in a school parking lot, this was after they did driver's ed and practised on an automatic. I don't think it is particularly difficult to drive stick,  but you will need to get used to driving on UK roads and adhering to a different driving style.

I'd say at least 4 hours of tuition, and as much practise as you can get with an experienced driver, or 10 hours of lessons. And I second the advice to get your test booked up in plenty of time before your 12 months is up, just in case you need to retake. I have been telling this to my US expat friends, and most of them still can't grasp the idea that you can't just turn up at the equivalent of the DMV and take your test that day!