u/Iwantpancake

I passed my test October 2025, got a car last weekend but only started to drive by myself on Monday. I've got to travel on the highway and the drive is about 20 miles 1 way.

I was terrified and so anxious but nailed it. I've had to do country roads yesterday (accident caused a diversion), I paralleled park on my own (no reversing camera or reverse beeping sounds). Went on a new route accidentally and didn't panic. I just felt so good about myself and proud. I was super nervous and just panicking before I started driving on my own so was surprised and felt overall really good.

On Tuesday I made the mistake of cutting someone off at a roundabout, he honked and that really set it in me to just be extra careful and not assume, I thought he was going to go straight instead of loop round. I was able to take that on and learn from it to be more vigilant and careful, or so I thought. I was upset but It didn't make me feel the way I do now though.

I was backing into a parking spot at work. There was plenty of space with cars to left and right of me. While backing up my wing mirror scratched the car to my right. I pulled forward, reversed and parked the car properly. There was no damage to her car or mine. There was a small white line where the impact was but when she wiped it, it went away. You couldn't tell that there was even a mark or where the impact was.

I kept apologizing and just felt so bad. She didn't care and was laughing about it. Said there was no damage and to relax, that these things happen. Her and 2 other staff members were telling me about their fuck ups when they first started driving and just trying to make me feel better.

This is really getting to me, more so then the roundabout incident. The car was parked. I made such a stupid mistake. What if there was serious damage or worse a person. How could I be so stupid. I genuinely thought I knew what I was doing. My confidence is just rattled and I'm feeling super anxious about my drive home tomorrow.

I just called my partner to tell him what happened and I feel so much worse now. This week of feeling good about driving is just gone. I feel so fucking bad, how do you move forward from an accident where it's 100% your fault?

I know this isn't the worst kind of accident but with being a new driver, this has really gotten to me.

First time car owner. Where do I go to get my car serviced? Experience with Halfords?

I got into a mini accident and feel like shit, my confidence feels shattered.