Automatic driving lessons in Finningley

Why automatic works well for Finningley drivers

Life in a small village usually means driving for everyday things. A trip into Doncaster from Finningley runs through Auckley and Branton, with plenty of junctions and queues on the way, plus the roundabouts on the edge of the city. In an automatic car you simply ease off the brake and press the accelerator, so stop-start traffic is far less tiring.

It also helps at the A614 level crossing, where you may wait in a queue for a train. In an automatic you keep the car still on the footbrake or the parking brake, then pull away when it is clear, with no risk of a stall in front of other drivers.

Creep control around the school and The Green

Automatic cars move gently forward in drive when you lift your foot off the brake. That creep is how you control the car at very low speeds. Silver Birch Grove, home to St Oswald's CofE Academy, is a good example of where it matters: at drop-off and pick-up times you need to edge past parked cars slowly while watching for children.

Around The Green and along Doncaster Road, creep lets you inch out of a junction for a better view and stop instantly if something appears. Parking uses the same skill. Bay parking and parallel parking become far easier when you control the speed with light brake pressure alone.

Keep your left foot flat on the floor. Using both feet is a habit your instructor will spot and correct early, especially if you have had a go in a manual car with a parent before. Your right foot does all the work, moving between two pedals instead of three.

Faster roads without changing gear

On the A614 towards Blaxton, the gearbox looks after every change for you. What you learn instead is smooth use of the accelerator and sensible following distances. Early braking for the roundabout by the Bluebell Inn matters too. Press the accelerator firmly and the car will select a lower gear for extra pull, which helps when joining faster traffic.

Later lessons take in the Great Yorkshire Way, the A6182 link road from Hurst Lane to Parrots Corner and the M18. Joining and leaving that road gives you practice with lane discipline at higher speeds before you meet the bigger roundabouts nearer the test centre.

The automatic-only licence

Passing in an automatic gives you a licence for automatic cars only. Electric cars are automatic, and so are many hybrids, so for most new drivers that is no real limitation. If you ever need to drive a manual, you can take another test later.

Read our guide to choosing a manual or automatic licence if you are undecided, and see the main automatic driving lessons page for how we teach across Doncaster. Lesson rates are listed on the prices page.

Automatic instructors and nearby villages

Diana teaches only in automatic cars and is used to fitting lessons around busy family timetables. Alecsandru, a former college teacher who is now an approved driving instructor, also teaches automatic. You can ask for a male or female instructor when you book.

Neighbours can book automatic driving lessons in Auckley or automatic lessons in Rossington. Disabled learners can find out about Motability driving lessons in Finningley, which also use automatic cars. For pick-up points and the test centre route, see our driving lessons in Finningley page.

Automatic driving lessons in Finningley: your questions

How many hours do automatic learners in Finningley need?

There is no set number, but many learners need fewer hours in an automatic because there is no clutch to master. Your instructor will give you an honest estimate once they have seen you drive a few times.

Can I switch from manual to automatic part way through?

Yes. Plenty of learners change gearbox if clutch control is holding them back. Your road skills carry over, so you are not starting again. Just remember the licence you get will be for automatics only.

Will I learn the emergency stop in an automatic?

Yes. The emergency stop is taught in automatic lessons along with the reversing exercises and the show me tell me questions, exactly as they are for manual learners, because the test is the same in both.

Do automatic lessons start from my house in Finningley?

Yes. Your instructor collects you from home, or from school, college or work if that suits you better. Tell us your usual timetable and we will plan lessons around it.