Driving Alone for the First Time? 13 Things That Make It Way Less Scary

When you pass your driving exam, you get this inexplicable surge of confidence.

It’s official, you can drive, and your shiny plastic license is there to prove it.

You’re excited to show your family and friends your skills, and suddenly, the idea of being someone’s personal chauffeur kinda starts appealing to you.

You like driving – heck, you love driving!

…with people.

For some of us, the moment the car is empty except for you buckled up in the driver’s seat, that love for driving slowly starts to creep out the window.

Your mind starts to race, and your body starts to do funny things.

Sweaty palms, increased heart rate, a thousand butterflies in your stomach.

It’s anxiety, and it happens to just about everyone their first time driving alone.

Why am I so nervous to drive alone for the first time?

From the moment you began your journey of learning to drive, there’s always been someone beside you, whether it was your driving instructor or a parent.

So it’s totally normal to feel weird about being alone for the first time!

It’s a brand new experience, and those usually come with a little bit of nerves.

The good news is that anxiety or nervousness doesn’t have to stop you from embarking on your first solo driving trip.

Even better to note: you can only drive alone for the first time once, and after that, you will get better.

In this post, you’ll learn 13 tips for your first time driving alone that will help you have a better experience than most people.

How do I stop being scared of driving alone for the first time?

1. Get it over with

We know, that’s easier said than done.

But the truth is: the longer you delay driving alone for the first time, the more of a big deal it will feel like.

The best way to overcome the fear of driving alone is to drive alone as soon as you can after getting your license.

Even if you’ve been licensed for months or years at this point, tomorrow is still better than next week.

As they say: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.

Go on your first solo drive while you’re still excited about being licensed, and you’ll find that the excitement outweighs the nerves.

Doing it soon after you pass your driving exam also allows you to ride on the fact that you just passed, which is solid proof that you can drive.

Driving examiners don’t hand out licenses to everyone, and they’re actually more likely to fail you than pass you because they’re looking for sure signs that you’re a good driver.

So if you have a license card with your name and face on it, that means you earned it.

You can do this!

Again, you can only drive alone for the first time once. Once that’s out of the way, it only gets easier.

Here’s what to do next: pick a date in the next few days that you’re going to drive alone.

Set an alarm on your phone for the day before as well as the day of, that way you can’t forget.

Next, you’ll need to pick a route. Which brings us to tip #2.

2. Pick somewhere close

Driving alone is all about, well… driving alone.

There is no rule that you have to drive somewhere far for it to count, so do yourself a favor and pick somewhere close.

This might be the grocery store a few minutes away, or just around your block.

This will make the process less overwhelming, but it will still count as you driving alone.

3. Practice the route with someone first

Now that you know where you’re driving to, the next step is to become familiar with the route.

Do this with someone you feel comfortable driving with.

If you’ve never seen that route before, it will be even better to be a passenger princess again (just for a little while) and watch the other person drive the very same route you’re planning to take.

Watch as they handle different street signs, traffic situations, and maneuvers that you will likely have to repeat.

Let them talk you through the decisions they make and why, as well as important things you should note.

This is like getting your very own personalized tutorial, which is invaluable.

4. Plan Stop Spots

‘Stop spots’ – try saying that three times fast!

These are simply places along the route you plan to drive that are suitable for stopping and pulling over if you need to.

Here are some perfectly okay reasons to stop during your first time driving alone:

• You feel overwhelmed
• You can’t remember what to do or where to go
• The car feels off
• You’re not feeling well
• You need a break

Indicate, pull aside safely, and take the time you need.

5. Pick Your Emergency Contact

Another helpful tip for how to get over the anxiety of driving alone is to pick someone that you can call, if you need to.

Tell this person that you’ll be driving alone on this specific route and at this specific time on this specific date.

This ensures that they’ll be ready and available to come meet you if you need their assistance.

However, your emergency contact doesn’t need to come get you to be effective. They can offer support and encouragement over the phone!

Plus, just knowing that someone is aware of where you are and willing and able to come help when you need it helps reduce anxiety and gives you peace of mind.

6. Use a “New Driver” Sign

Don’t be afraid to let people know you’re new!

Putting a “New Driver” sticker on your car is a great way to let other drivers know to give you a little extra space.

Most people will be much more patient with you if they see that sign, which helps take the pressure off while you’re still getting used to driving alone.

How do you drive alone for the first time?

If you’re wondering how to drive by yourself for the first time, the secret is all in the preparation.

So let’s say it’s the day of your scheduled first drive alone.

Here’s exactly what to do before you leave.

1. Check your vehicle

Don’t let your vehicle sabotage you!

Get your vehicle’s oil, tire pressure, and fuel levels checked ideally the day before.

Knowing your car is in tip-top shape removes one more thing to worry about.

2. Choose A Good Time of Day

Picking the right time to head out can make a world of difference.

Try to avoid rush hour or times when school lets out to keep things simple.

Also, check the forecast before you head out!

You want your first solo trip to be as smooth as possible without adding heavy rain, fog, or snow into the mix.

Ideally, you’d want to pick a clear, sunny day for your first run so you can focus entirely on the road and your car.

3. Read Your Notes

At Girls Who Drive, we believe in the power of driving notes, and you should too!

If you took notes throughout your journey of learning to drive (which we recommend), it’s perfectly fine to read through these notes to prepare for your first drive alone.

In fact, that’s the point!

Your driving notes are meant to be a lifelong document you can reference whenever you need to, because we all need refreshers sometimes.

4. Visualize Your Journey

Before you head out, get a quiet spot, close your eyes, and visualize the route you’ll be driving.

Visualize any pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, roundabouts, etc and what you’ll do at each.

This is perfect to help you to prepare mentally.

Visualization is also a powerful way to boost confidence and reduce anxiety.

5. Pay Attention

Your first time driving alone is not the time to be playing your feel-good playlist or the podcast you love.

No distractions allowed!

During your first solo drive, it’s extremely important that you focus and pay attention to what’s going on around you because there’s no one there to point it out for you.

As you get more comfortable driving alone, you can add music and podcasts at a reasonable volume level.

6. Talk to Yourself

Talking to yourself is an underrated way to boost your confidence and stay focused.

You can repeat affirmations like ‘I can do this’ or talk about the driving decisions you’ll need to make next.

It might sound something like: “Okay, so I need to turn left next, so I need to remember to indicate, slow down, and check my mirrors before I turn.”

7. Self Soothe

Finally, be sure to have some self-soothing techniques in your back pocket.

Prayer, deep breathing, and grounding exercises are great ways to reduce anxiety and give yourself peace of mind.

Conclusion

Taking that first solo trip is a huge milestone, and it’s okay if your heart is thumping a little harder than usual.

Remember, everyone you see on the road (from the truck drivers to the grandmas) had their very first solo drive once, too.

You’ve put in the work, you’ve earned that license, and you are more than ready to handle the wheel.

Take a deep breath, trust your training, and enjoy that first drive.

You’ve got this!