[epc]

I have a 50–something friend who just completed this (Brooklyn native, never felt the need, felt constrained during Covid, etc). They used a driving instructor, took classes once or twice during the week (normally works from home so was easy to fit into their schedule).

Definitely hire a driving instructor. From my friend’s description learning to drive in NYC (specifically Brooklyn) was far more stressful than when I did so as a teen in the 80s (rural Indiana and suburban Chicago). But they passed the driving test on their first try.

If possible find a friend who will let you do some low key driving with them in parking lots or suburbia before tackling the BQE or the LIE. My friend was a bit surprised to have to drive on both in their second or third class. It’s not absolutely necessary but if you’ve never driven it helps to get a bit of the feel (like, learning how the braking distance changes depending on speed is a lot easier in an empty parking lot than on Atlantic Avenue mid–afternoon).

My only advice as an aging driver is people are far more aggressive post Covid. Pre–Covid I felt that you had to be on your “A” game driving in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn or the highways but people generally let you merge, didn’t tailgate constantly. There were always assholes of course, but they seem to have multiplied since 2020.

[epc]

One additional piece of advice: learn to drive an automatic, most of the vehicles you’ll ever drive will be automatic. But, when you’re comfortable with driving, take the time and make the effort to drive a stick (manual). While you’re unlikely to encounter them often in the US, I’ve frequently gotten stuck with them as rental cars in Europe and Asia. Plus it’s a handy skill if you’re ever on some whacky adventure race.