First, my texturing started when I wanted to just have local P.D. textures on vehicles in-game, and I knew that it was fairly easy, so I wasn't going to ask anyone to make my textures for me.
I had Paint.NET, but never got texturing, until I learned how to do it with the template (thnx to a tutorial here, I think)
Second, I started modeling in zModeler, because I did know, that I can't/ shouldn't rely on other modders to make vehicles for me, whether they're for a clan pack, or for personal use, and I couldn't always rely on someone else to model vehicles all the time.
My vehicle modeling started with a simple join.me session with another modder who was willing to help me, with the very basic stuff, such as mapping ELS, etc.
He sent me the files of the exact same Charger I was trying to model at the time, to allow me to see how it was setup, with just one lightbar.
The next day, I just started modeling, following some tutorials on YouTube along with what I learned already, and I'm now here.
I feel I've accomplished what I've wanted (learning how to model vehicles, and getting them in-game with zero errors because of the model), but in terms of modding, I still need to/ would like to learn modelling in 3DS Max, scratch modelling, and possibly how to make peds.