First Time Driving: 15 Tips for Your First Week Behind the Wheel

You passed the permit test, the card is in your wallet, and now someone is handing you the keys. Your first drive will probably last twenty minutes and never leave a parking lot, and that's exactly how it should go. These first time driving tips follow the order a driving instructor uses on lesson one: get the cockpit right, learn to start and stop smoothly, then steer, then scan. Fifteen tips, one week, no highways.

Before you start the car: seat, mirrors, hands

Instructors call this the cockpit drill. It takes two minutes, and skipping it is the root of half the jerky, nervous driving new students do.

Tip 1: Set the seat for your feet first. Slide forward until you can press the brake pedal all the way down with your knee still slightly bent. Then adjust the seatback so your wrists rest on top of the wheel with your shoulders against the seat.

Tip 2: Check the steering wheel distance. Many safety experts recommend keeping roughly 10 inches between your chest and the airbag cover. Tilt the wheel so it points at your chest, not your face.

Tip 3: Adjust all three mirrors before moving. The rearview mirror should frame the whole back window. For the side mirrors, lean your head toward the driver's window and set the left mirror so you barely see the side of the car; lean toward the center and do the same on the right. This setting shrinks your blind spots.

Tip 4: Hands at 9 and 3. It's the position most instructors now teach because it keeps your arms clear of the airbag and gives good control. Thumbs rest along the rim, not hooked inside it.

Tip 5: Know the controls before the engine is on. Find the headlights, wipers, hazard lights, turn signal and parking brake while you're still parked. You don't want to hunt for the wipers during a sudden downpour.

First time driving tips: smooth starts and stops

The goal of your first lesson isn't to "drive." It's to make the car move and stop exactly when you mean it to.

Tip 6: Right foot only. In an automatic, your right foot handles both gas and brake. Keep your left foot flat on the floor or the dead pedal. Using two feet leads to pressing both at once.

Tip 7: Heel on the floor, pivot. Plant your heel in front of the brake and pivot your foot between pedals. You'll get finer control than lifting your whole leg.

Tip 8: Creep before you accelerate. With the car in drive, release the brake slowly and let the car roll at idle speed. Get a feel for how little pressure moves the car before you touch the gas.

Tip 9: Brake early and squeeze. New drivers tend to brake late and hard. Start slowing sooner than you think, press gradually, then ease off slightly just before you stop so the car doesn't lurch. Practice stopping with the front bumper on a painted line.

Steering and turning

Tip 10: Look where you want to go. The car follows your eyes. In a turn, look through it to where you want to end up, not at the curb right in front of you.

Tip 11: Use hand-over-hand or push-pull for turns. Instructors teach one or both. Hand-over-hand works for sharp turns at low speed; push-pull (feeding the wheel through your hands) keeps both hands on the wheel. Ask your supervisor which they learned and practice one until it's smooth.

Tip 12: Slow before the turn, not during it. Brake while the wheels are straight, then turn at a steady low speed and gently accelerate as you straighten out. Let the wheel slide back through your hands under control rather than letting it spin freely.

Where to practice first

Choose your first locations so the only challenge is the car itself.

Get permission if a lot is private, and check that it's truly empty: watch for light poles, curbs and shopping carts. If you're a parent planning these sessions, our how to teach your teen to drive lesson plan breaks this progression into ten sessions.

Scanning and mirrors

Tip 13: Move your eyes every few seconds. Look far ahead down the road, check a mirror, look back ahead. Staring at the hood is the classic beginner habit; your eyes should be scanning a block or more ahead on city streets.

Tip 14: Check mirrors before you brake, turn or change position. Knowing what's behind you tells you whether to brake gently or firmly and whether someone is about to pass. Before any lane change, add a quick look over your shoulder for the blind spot.

What to master before busy roads

Tip 15: Earn your way into traffic. You're ready for busier roads when you can do all of these without your supervisor reminding you:

• Stop smoothly at a line, every time.
• Hold a steady speed at the limit without drifting over it.
• Stay centered in your lane, including through curves.
• Signal before every turn and lane change.
• Check mirrors regularly without being told.
• Make a full stop at stop signs and look both ways before going.

Many states also expect you to log supervised hours before your road test. Start a log from day one, even for short lot sessions; our guide to supervised driving hours by state shows how many you'll need. And if your stomach drops every time you think about pulling onto a real road, read our driving anxiety tips for a gradual plan that takes the panic out of each step.

Keep the rules fresh while your hands learn the car. A few rounds of free practice tests on DMV Permit Prep between drives will remind you of right-of-way rules, speed limits and sign meanings, so you're not guessing at the first four-way stop you meet. NHTSA's teen driving resources also explain the risks new drivers face most, like distraction and speeding, which is worth reading with your supervisor before week two.

Frequently asked questions

How should I prepare for my first time driving?

Get enough sleep, wear comfortable flat shoes, and review your state's driver manual basics. Before moving, do the cockpit drill: seat, mirrors, steering wheel, seat belt and a quick tour of the controls.

Where is the best place to learn to drive?

An empty parking lot is ideal for the first one or two sessions because there's nothing to hit and no traffic pressure. Move on to quiet residential streets once starting, stopping and turning feel smooth.

How long does it take to get comfortable driving?

It varies a lot, but most new drivers feel basic car control settle within the first several sessions. Real comfort in traffic comes with dozens of hours of varied practice, which is why states require supervised hours before the road test.