So you have never driven a car before.....

[Penny Pincher 11]

My wife had a car and drove in the Philippines, and yes your wife is going to learn bad habits if she learns to drive there. Half the hurdle of my wife getting her license in the USA was teaching her how not to drive like its the Philippines. I actually bought her some behind the wheel lessons to get her through that, when I learned she doesn't listen well to my instructions, and I'm not the most patient teacher either. Something about her wanting to slow down on freeways because the cars going by her so fast scared her, totally scared the carp out of me. Another example is me telling her rolling through a stop sign or stop light was illegal and would earn her tickets plus a failed test here. Her reply was well no one is coming so it shouldn't matter if she stops. The driving instructor just said "Juna, Stop means Stop", and she listened to him. Now why didn't I say that? Another positive was driving instructor was very focused on the skills she needed to pass the test. Getting her the behind the wheel training saved me a ton of stress and she passed first try.

I think that totally depends on the personality and attitude of a person. I can tell my wife never showed any sign of being a bad Filipino driver. She drove in UK which is right hand seat driver and in Phils which is similar to USA. She sticks to the rules a lot more than I do. I "bend" the traffic rules sometimes.

Edited March 25, 2016 by Penny Pincher

[KHnTX 4]

I taught my wife here. Late nights in parking lots and empty country service roads and a lot of patience. The biggest hassle we had was trying to get her driving test scheduled. Everywhere in D/FW they had a month and a half wait. Had to go three hours away to get one that had availability anytime, made her drive most the way there, and she passed first try, but the parallel parking give her a little trouble. She still doesn't like to drive far from the house but she is still getting better everyday. I tried to get her started with a $600 beater truck but she wouldn't drive it much because it was too big so she drives a well used Santa Fe.

[coa24 69]

Yeah, lots and lots of patience, haha....I am teaching my wife now and the first few times she drove she was all over the place. breaking hard, trying to turn when she shouldn't. Complete tunnel vision.....now she is improving a lot. She still needs work on changing lanes because for some reason looking to the side and putting on the signal isn't quite there yet. But improvement is noted every single day. So lots of understanding, patience...and when she doesn't something wrong explain it in a loving way instead of yelling or telling how bad she did.

[Pitaya 2,577]

My Chinese wife never had the need, nor inclination to learn how to drive in the PRC. Anyway, I truly believe that traffic laws in China are optional anyway. I now have a prosthetic index finger from biting the original one off. The floorboards on the passenger side of (now) her car have may soon punch through to the engine compartment. Did the empty school/shopping mall parking lots thing..... didn't realize there are still so many lighting standards that can be hit. Finally, a buddy of mine told me about A-1 Driving School, it is run by cops. It was expensive, but well worth it...... at least she learned the rules of the road, much better than Uncle Benny's E-Z DUZ-IT Driving School and dumpling delivery service... She took the written test in English, though Mandarin was a viable option (proud of her!).

Yes, a Garmin is indispensable for her well-being and safety (and my sanity). Now, I only wish that my old Saturn had the wrap-around bumpers like the "dodge-em" cars at the amusement park..... Oh....did I say that I am proud of her ?

[Joshua@Tinz 52]

My Chinese wife never had the need, nor inclination to learn how to drive in the PRC. Anyway, I truly believe that traffic laws in China are optional anyway. I now have a prosthetic index finger from biting the original one off. The floorboards on the passenger side of (now) her car have may soon punch through to the engine compartment. Did the empty school/shopping mall parking lots thing..... didn't realize there are still so many lighting standards that can be hit. Finally, a buddy of mine told me about A-1 Driving School, it is run by cops. It was expensive, but well worth it...... at least she learned the rules of the road, much better than Uncle Benny's E-Z DUZ-IT Driving School and dumpling delivery service... She took the written test in English, though Mandarin was a viable option (proud of her!).

Yes, a Garmin is indispensable for her well-being and safety (and my sanity). Now, I only wish that my old Saturn had the wrap-around bumpers like the "dodge-em" cars at the amusement park..... Oh....did I say that I am proud of her ?

I agree, We spent years in PRC, 6 for me and 5 for her, that is where we met. Traffic laws were optional at best, getting better though. Driving school is not an option for us there are just not any around, I will have to be the teacher but luckily I am very cool-headed, and I live in the middle of no where so the only thing she can hit will be trees and wildlife lol

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

It's funny. My wife and I were discussing this subject the other day. I am about to send in her I-130 so we have some time yet but eventually I will have to teach her how to drive. She wants to get a job as soon as possible because we have goals of buying some property out in the country. The only problem is public transportation doesn't exist where I live so you have to drive to get pretty much anywhere. She asked me if she could take driving lessons in the Philippines before she gets here. After seeing the way people drive there (mostly around Manila) I didn't think that was a good idea because she might develop bad habits. By the way I have driven in blizzard conditions on many ocassions and I would be afraid to drive in Manila. It is like traffic lights don't exist. We were riding a bus to Manila one time and a trip that should have taken 45 minutes took 6 hours because traffic was so bad. I actually saw one of the workers on the bus get off at most intersections and go out and direct traffic just to get the bus through the intersection hahaha. I also saw people on motorcycles decide the sidewalk was a good way to get around backed up traffic.

So I told my wife it is better if she waits until she gets here. My plan is to take her to a big empty parking lot until she gets used to driving the car then go out on roads that arent busy and work up from there. I just bought a new car with AWD that will basically beome hers as soon as I fix my beater 4wd truck and she is ready to drive. I'm working on getting her to let me buy a diesel lol. The thing I worry about is her driving on slipery roads. I have been doing it most of my life and have had some close calls myself.

All it takes is confidence. I learned to back up a car (parking reversed) in a parking lot and parallel my self. I have driven on a slippery road and blizzard with just a fwd. I have been driving independently for over a year. I like drivings on the highway, even drove in the mountains when it is 75mph. I started driving in the highway early mornings when there is not much car but semi. Lol! We had to get an automatic for me to practice, yes it was hard when your husband teach you how to drive but we managed it, i'm so thankful for him because I have learned so much from him. The only thing I dont like is driving in downtown denver when there is a lot of "one way"

Edited March 29, 2016 by Kathy and Jesse

[Thozelle 16]

Had a drivers license in Philippines but only rode my motorcycle now I'm here and have to get drivers license. I have my learners permit and now we are looking for car for me to drive at 4'8" it is more challenging to find a car that fits.

[Niblet 22]

Youre so lucky living out in the country, i would love to live where the next neighbor is a mile away from our house hahaha i believe its best to let her start learning in the car you got her. am sure its not stick so i bet she'll learn in no time

Lol i hope thats not true though. Hahaha!

I didnt have the patience to teach my Wife to drive,,put her in a lessons behind the wheel,,best money I ever spent,,she passed the exam the first time

[jg121783 3,909]

Had a drivers license in Philippines but only rode my motorcycle now I'm here and have to get drivers license. I have my learners permit and now we are looking for car for me to drive at 4'8" it is more challenging to find a car that fits.

My wife is 4'11''. I hope the new car i just bought works for her. Everything is adjustable in it. Even the gas and brake pedals lol. I have a feeling my new car is going to eventually become my wife's car.

[Caryh 5,206]

My wife is 4'11''. I hope the new car i just bought works for her. Everything is adjustable in it. Even the gas and brake pedals lol. I have a feeling my new car is going to eventually become my wife's car.

LOL My wife is 4'10". She started practicing here in my full sized Durango. I didn't realize it at the time, but with the seat all the way forward her feet didn't reach the floor. She was operating the peddles by with her tiptoes I didn't even know until I went to take a picture of her in the driver's seat one time and noticed it, she hadn't said a word about it. We did buy her a new 2012 Ford Focus which fits her very well.

[Joshua@Tinz 52]

I was researching vehicles as well. The Kia Soul is supposedly the #1 vehicle for "height challenged drivers", and brand new they are really affordable. My wife is also about 4'9" or so. I bought her an edge but now I'm thinking it's gonna get traded in on something else.

[Joshua@Tinz 52]

LOL My wife is 4'10". She started practicing here in my full sized Durango. I didn't realize it at the time, but with the seat all the way forward her feet didn't reach the floor. She was operating the peddles by with her tiptoes I didn't even know until I went to take a picture of her in the driver's seat one time and noticed it, she hadn't said a word about it. We did buy her a new 2012 Ford Focus which fits her very well.

Thanks for the tip. I will have to let her try on a focus as well.

[Joshua@Tinz 52]

My wife is 4'11''. I hope the new car i just bought works for her. Everything is adjustable in it. Even the gas and brake pedals lol. I have a feeling my new car is going to eventually become my wife's car.

What did you buy? My truck has all that too but her driving that is pretty much out of question for a good long while hahaha

[Brassballs 47]

My wife is doing well in a Nisan Versa Note. She's also a sub 5' woman. Less than 10k for a 2014.

[Caryh 5,206]

Thanks for the tip. I will have to let her try on a focus as well.

A big reason for the Focus, was I could get heated seats and remote start in it. Living in Minnesota, winters can get really rough on a small woman (poor body heat retention). She's rather spoiled now as the seats and the car are warm when she gets to it. A reasonable price, it I recall about 18 grand back then, and good gas mileage.