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How do I improve my driving confidence?

I recently got my driver’s license but just barely. I made a few mistakes on the driving test, and I very nearly failed. It’s sort of shaken my confidence in my driving, which wasn’t great to start with. Do you have any suggestions on how I can improve my confidence?

avatar
Michelle Ballestrasse · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Hey, you are far from being alone in this—lots of new drivers are short on confidence in their abilities, even after getting their licenses. The best way to improve that confidence is to tackle it head-on and practice.
First, ask yourself the following questions:
  • What’s making you nervous about your driving?
  • What did you mess up on during your driving test?
  • Where do you think your weaknesses as a driver are?
Once you have that figured out, the best thing you can do is practice. But that means more than just going for a drive. Try to do the following:
  • Reduce pressure and stress: Drive around a residential or low-traffic area that you’re familiar with.
  • Remove all distractions: Keep your phone shut off, turn off the radio, and focus only on the road. And go by yourself—passengers can be distracting, too.
  • Change up your route: Once you start getting more comfortable with routes you know, venture into the unknown. Try different routes home or at different times of the day, to put what you’ve learned into practice.
  • Reward yourself: If you successfully navigate a 4-way stop or parallel park correctly or even execute
    a proper left turn
    , pump yourself up! The feeling of success can help with confidence!
  • Sign up for advanced courses: If you’re still not feeling adequately prepared for the road, there are
    advanced driving courses
    that can help!
And make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality with the right
car insurance
. For that, you just need
Jerry
! No matter what kind of coverage you’re looking for, Jerry can get you tailored quotes from top companies in minutes, and save you an average of $887 that can easily go towards those advanced driving lessons.
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