I have a full drivers licence but have not driven since the day I passed my test about six years ago. More info here https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ey-change.html

In addition, to pass my test, I took about 10-15 lessons in an automatic car with no 'practice' apart from those lessons as I didn't have access to a car at the time. So I've spent 15 hours max behind the wheel.

Essentially, I'm starting from scratch so a refresher course is not really aimed at me. I wouldn't even know how to start the car!

I only want to drive an automatic car but the car we have currently is a manual. I don't really want to start learning again from scratch in the city with DP as the roads around here are absolutely chockers (multi-lanes, trams etc. etc.) and I don't want my confidence dented at the first hurdle. On top of that, I obviously don't want DD in the car until I'm confident that I'm a safe driver.

So how do I do this?

I was thinking of hiring an auto and DP and I going away to a smallish country town for a week where I can start slowly. No point buying an auto if I get cold feet, hence I thought of hiring. But that doesn't really solve the issue of having someone look after DD. We have friends in Bright but they work so don't know how willing they'd be to look after DD.

What to do?