Getting a new car as a new driver is exciting, but also, yeah, it can feel a little like being handed a fragile, expensive object and just being told to act normal and drive normal. Well, that, and keep it looking good as new too; that’s another thing to think about here as well. Even if it’s a second-hand car, well, it's still going to be super intimidating. Like, even if lessons went fine, even if the test got passed, the first few solo drives can hit differently. It’s quiet in the car, there’s no instructor, and suddenly every decision feels louder in the brain than it needs to.
By Team Savant
Image: Junior REIS
And if it’s a parent buying a first car for a kid, that’s its own emotional cocktail too if that’s the situation you’re in. But in general, the whole nervousness isn’t ideal for anyone. But at the same time, it’s not like you’re incapable. But nervous just means the brain is still getting used to being in charge.
Why Not Pick a First Car that Makes Driving Easier?
Maybe this is subjective, maybe it’s not, but there are some cars that are way easier to drive than others. But sure, it’s tempting to focus on what looks nice, or what feels cool, or what seems impressive. But the best “new driver” car is usually the one that feels manageable. Is that super boring? Yeah, probably, but it at least lowers the chance of a guessing game with a car or whatever. Like ideally, here, it’s best to look into good visibility, easy parking, predictable controls, and a shape that doesn’t make corners feel like a guessing game.
But for all of these, it’s honestly going to be in your best interest here to just look at shopping in person because sitting in a car and checking sight lines is so different from looking at photos online. It’s pretty normal to do a quick search like Skoda dealers near me just to compare models up close, because sometimes a car looks perfect on a screen, then feels weirdly cramped or hard to see out of in real life. Sure, people like to shop online nowadays, but with a car, you’re better off doing it the old-fashioned way and doing it in person.
Ideally, Start with Familiar Routes
Alright, so now with that out of the way, this is the best part about now being nervous in new cars: familiarity. But so confidence doesn’t come from one heroic motorway drive. It comes from boring repetition, granted, it’s like super annoying, but it works. But seriously, just start with routes that are almost embarrassingly familiar. Meaning the same streets, same turns, same roundabout, same little parking area.
Well, not because it’s exciting, but because the brain can finally stop scanning for surprises every two seconds. That alone is going to help you adjust a lot more easily to driving.
Just Make the Car Feel Familiar Before Trying to Feel Confident
And so what exactly does any of this even mean here? Well, a lot of nervousness isn’t even about driving; it’s about feeling unsettled. Like, the seat’s not quite right, the mirrors feel off, the heater is blasting when it shouldn’t be (and sometimes it takes weeks to even years to figure out the right controls), and somehow the radio is also too loud, or the bass is too much (again, finding the controls can take some time).
So, yeah, take a minute and set things up properly. It will take some time, hopefully not years, but sit in it for an hour, just parked, and figure everything out the way you want, like the seat, mirrors, steering wheel,if it moves, vents, demister, all the boring basics. Learn where the buttons are before anything stressful happens.