If you’re looking for automatic driving lessons, Pro Drivers Academy provides calm, structured tuition designed around your individual experience, confidence and progress.
Learning in an automatic car removes the need to operate a clutch and manually change gears. For many learners, this means there are fewer controls to think about, allowing more attention to be given to observations, road positioning, hazards, junctions and making safe decisions.
Automatic lessons can be suitable whether you’re a complete beginner, have previously taken manual driving lessons, are returning to driving after a break or simply prefer the experience of driving an automatic car.
Our aim isn’t simply to prepare you for the practical driving test. We want to help you develop the skills, judgement and confidence needed to drive safely and independently afterwards.
The main difference between learning in an automatic and a manual car is the way the transmission is controlled.
In an automatic car, you don’t need to operate a clutch pedal or manually change through the gears as you drive.
For many learners this can make vehicle control feel simpler, particularly when dealing with busy traffic, junctions, roundabouts and frequent stopping and starting.
Benefits of Learning in an Automatic Car
Automatic doesn’t remove the need to learn proper driving skills. You’ll still need good observations, planning, judgement, positioning, speed control and hazard awareness.
Your automatic driving lessons will develop all the essential skills needed for safe and independent driving, but without having to operate a clutch or manually change gears.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll first become familiar with the automatic controls, including selecting the correct driving mode, moving off and stopping safely and controlling the car accurately at lower speeds.
As you progress, more attention can be given to observations, road positioning, planning, hazard awareness and independent decision-making, while gradually introducing more challenging roads and traffic conditions.
Because there’s no clutch or manual gear changing, many learners find they can concentrate more of their attention on what’s happening around the vehicle.
You don’t need any previous driving experience to start automatic lessons.
Your first lessons will concentrate on understanding the car, basic observations and learning how to control the vehicle safely.
There’s no need to rush.
As you become more comfortable with the controls, you’ll gradually progress from quieter roads to more demanding traffic situations, junctions, roundabouts and faster roads.
Everyone learns differently, so lessons are adapted to your individual progress rather than expecting every learner to reach the same stage after the same number of hours.
Many nervous learners prefer automatic cars because removing the clutch and manual gear changes gives them fewer controls to manage.
That can allow more attention to be given to what’s happening outside the car.
However, choosing an automatic doesn’t mean you will automatically stop feeling nervous.
Confidence normally develops through experience, clear explanations and gradually being introduced to more challenging situations when you’re ready.
Our lessons are designed to be calm and supportive, allowing you to develop your skills progressively without feeling unnecessarily rushed.
If you’re returning to driving after a longer break or already hold a licence but want to rebuild your confidence, you can also explore our Refresher Driving Lessons.
Yes.
You don’t have to continue learning in a manual car if you decide that automatic driving would suit you better.
Perhaps you’ve already spent time learning clutch control and changing gears but find that these are taking too much of your attention away from observations and road awareness. Or you may simply decide that you expect to drive automatic cars once you’ve passed.
The road skills you’ve already developed aren’t wasted.
Your understanding of mirrors, junctions, roundabouts, positioning, hazards and planning can continue to develop when you move to an automatic car.
Your instructor can assess your existing ability and continue your training from an appropriate level rather than automatically treating you as a complete beginner.
Before switching, however, make sure you understand the difference between the two driving licences.
There isn’t one answer that’s right for every learner.
Automatic may suit you if you:
Manual may suit you if you:
The important thing is to understand the licence difference before making your decision.
For a more detailed comparison, visit our Manual Driving Lessons page.
This is one of the most important things to understand before choosing automatic lessons.
If you pass your practical driving test in an automatic car, your driving licence will normally restrict you to driving automatic vehicles.
You won’t be entitled to drive a manual car using an automatic-only licence.
If you later decide that you want to drive manual cars, you can learn in a manual vehicle and take a manual practical driving test.
You do not need to take another theory test simply to upgrade an automatic car licence to a manual one.
If you pass your practical test in a manual car, you can drive both manual and automatic cars.
The required standard of driving isn’t reduced because you’re using an automatic car.
You’ll still need to demonstrate safe observations, judgement, positioning, speed control, manoeuvres, independent driving and the ability to deal safely with different road and traffic conditions.
The practical driving test follows the same overall format for manual and automatic cars.
The main difference is that in an automatic car you don’t have to operate a clutch or manually change gears.
So while many learners find controlling an automatic car simpler, you still have to demonstrate the same standard of safe driving and decision-making.
There isn’t a fixed number of automatic driving lessons that every learner needs.
Your progress can depend on several things, including:
Some people find that removing clutch control and manual gear changes allows them to progress more comfortably, but this doesn’t mean everybody will become test-ready after a particular number of automatic lessons.
Your instructor will monitor your progress and gradually reduce the amount of help you’re given as your driving becomes more independent.
Depending on instructor availability and your current experience, automatic lessons can also be arranged over a more concentrated period.
An intensive course may suit someone who has a limited amount of time available or wants to take lessons more frequently rather than spreading them over a longer period.
However, intensive training isn’t automatically the best choice for every learner. The number and frequency of lessons should still be appropriate for your experience, ability and progress.
You can find more information on our Intensive Driving Course page.
As you get closer to test standard, your lessons should increasingly focus on driving independently rather than relying on constant instructions from your instructor.
You’ll need to demonstrate that you can safely deal with different roads and traffic conditions, including situations you may not have encountered before.
Preparation can include:
A Mock Driving Test can also be useful when you’re approaching test standard. It can help identify areas that still require improvement while giving you experience of driving with less assistance.
Pro Drivers Academy provides automatic driving lessons across our local teaching areas in North East London and nearby parts of Essex, subject to instructor availability.
Our local knowledge allows lessons to include different types of roads and traffic conditions rather than repeatedly practising the same familiar routes.
Automatic driving lessons are available across areas including:
Lessons may also be available in surrounding areas depending on instructor availability. Contact us with your postcode if you’d like to check whether automatic tuition is currently available where you live.
Our current automatic driving lesson price is:
£75 for a 2-hour automatic driving lesson
Lessons are available on weekdays and weekends, subject to instructor availability.
For current lesson information and other training options, visit our Driving Lesson Prices page.
Passing your practical test is an important goal, but your lessons should prepare you for what happens afterwards as well.
Once you’ve passed, there won’t be an instructor beside you telling you when to change lanes, which gap is safe or what to do at an unfamiliar junction.
That’s why our automatic driving lessons progressively encourage you to make more of your own decisions.
The aim is to help you become a driver who can recognise hazards, plan ahead, understand road signs and markings and safely deal with unfamiliar situations — not simply someone who has memorised a collection of local roads.
Is automatic driving easier than manual?
Many learners find an automatic car simpler to control because there’s no clutch pedal and no need to manually change gears. This can free up attention for observations, road positioning and traffic situations.
However, you’ll still need to develop all the road skills and judgement required to drive safely.
Can I drive a manual car after passing my test in an automatic?
No. Passing your practical test in an automatic car normally gives you an automatic-only licence.
If you later want to drive manual cars, you’ll need to pass a practical driving test in a manual car.
Can I switch from manual driving lessons to automatic?
Yes. Skills you’ve already developed — such as observations, junctions, roundabouts, positioning and hazard awareness — can continue to be developed in an automatic car.
Your instructor can assess your current ability rather than automatically starting your training again from the beginning.
Are automatic driving lessons suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. You don’t need previous driving experience to start automatic lessons.
Lessons can begin with the basic controls and gradually progress to more challenging roads and traffic situations as your ability develops.
Are automatic lessons suitable for nervous learners?
They can be. Some nervous learners prefer having fewer vehicle controls to manage because there’s no clutch or manual gear changing.
Confidence still needs to be developed through experience and good instruction, but an automatic car can remove one part of the workload that some learners find difficult.
How many automatic driving lessons will I need?
There’s no set number.
The amount of tuition required depends on your previous experience, lesson frequency, private practice, confidence and individual progress.
Rather than promising a particular number of hours, your instructor should assess how consistently you can drive safely and independently.
Is the driving test different in an automatic car?
The overall test format and required driving standard are the same. You’ll still be assessed on your observations, judgement, road positioning, manoeuvres, independent driving and ability to deal safely with different traffic conditions.
The main difference is that you won’t need to operate a clutch or manually change gears.
Can I take an intensive automatic driving course?
Automatic lessons may be arranged more intensively depending on your experience and instructor availability.
Visit our Intensive Driving Courses page or contact us to discuss whether concentrated training would be appropriate for you.
Can I take a mock driving test in an automatic car?
Yes. As you approach test standard, a Mock Driving Test can help assess how you cope when driving more independently and identify any areas that still require work before your practical test.
Whether you’re a complete beginner, switching from manual, returning to driving after a break or simply prefer to learn in an automatic car, Pro Drivers Academy can structure your lessons around your current ability and progress.
Explore our local automatic lesson pages, view our Driving Lesson Prices, read our Student Reviews, or learn more about our mock driving test and intensive driving courses. You can also find out about lessons with a female driving instructor or Contact Pro Drivers Academy to check current availability and discuss starting your automatic driving lessons.