• ikidd@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      I showed up for mine as soon as I was 16, drove around for 30 minutes and paid $30.

      A few years later I drove a tractor trailer for about the same amount of time, showed I could back it around a corner, got my CDL.

      Things were different 30 years ago.

        • tetris11@feddit.uk
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          3 days ago

          My dad got his mate to do the test for him. Handed him his ID, the guy pretended to be him, and boom free pass.

          You could probably still do that now, if you have a cousin that looks like you

        • ikidd@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          Yah, learners was a paper test, but I think it still is. My 14yo nephew took his recently and that’s all it was. I have that kid float shifting an 18 speed Western Star already. Picked it up faster than most adults I’ve taught.

      • tetris11@feddit.uk
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        3 days ago

        That’s about what you pay in Germany. You have to X hours driving at night, Y hours daytime, Z hours on the motorway.

        Something like 60+ hours in total, for 45€ a lesson. 3000€ minimum.

        Plus you have to attend something like 20 mandatory theory lessons, and they’re usually scattered all around the place due to availability, and there’s a fine if you miss a single one.

        Learning from parents is not really allowed, you have to prove you went to a driving school before you do the test.

        Only the English and Swiss have the luxury of turning up on the day sans proof of training. Explains why we’re such excellent drivers haha