Automatic driving lessons in Hatfield

Why an automatic suits Hatfield traffic

Most of Hatfield's through traffic follows the A18 along Manor Road and High Street. At busy times it moves in short bursts between bus stops and side roads, with the 388 pulling in and out near Church Walk. In a manual car each of those stops means clutch down, neutral, handbrake and then back into first. In an automatic you hold the car on the footbrake and move off when the gap opens, which leaves more of your attention for your mirrors and the pedestrians crossing near the shops.

School runs add to the picture. Travis St Lawrence CofE Primary on Cuckoo Lane and Crookesbroom Primary Academy on Crookesbroom Lane both bring morning and mid-afternoon traffic, and Ash Hill Academy adds its own on Ash Hill Road. Parked cars, children crossing between them and slow queues are much easier to deal with when your feet only have two pedals to choose from.

Creep control and the parking brake

Using creep

When you lift off the footbrake in an automatic, the car creeps forward on its own. We teach you to use that creep for slow, careful moves such as edging out of Millcroft Crescent onto Crookes Broom Lane or easing into a gap in a queue, with your right foot covering the brake the whole time.

Smooth braking

Without a clutch to cushion things, stopping smoothly is all about the footbrake. Lessons along Station Road past Tesco and on towards the railway bridge give you lots of chances to brake progressively for bus stops and side roads. The aim is a stop your passenger barely notices.

The parking brake

When you stop for longer, for example in a slow queue on Manor Road, you apply the parking brake and select park or neutral as your instructor shows you. Many newer cars have an electric parking brake, so we explain exactly how ours works on your first lesson.

What an automatic-only licence means

Pass in an automatic and you get an automatic-only licence. You can drive any automatic car, including electric cars, but you would need to pass a separate test in a manual before driving one with a clutch. For many Hatfield learners that is no problem at all, especially if the family car on the drive is already an automatic.

Automatic learners often need fewer hours to reach test standard, because there is less to coordinate at once. Our manual or automatic licence guide sets out the pros and cons in more detail, and the main automatic driving lessons page explains how our automatic courses run across Doncaster.

From village streets to test centre roads

Once you are comfortable in Hatfield itself, lessons take you west along Doncaster Road through Dunsville and Thorne Road through Edenthorpe. Traffic grows heavier on the way into Doncaster, which is good practice for lane discipline and planning ahead at higher speeds. These roads also lead towards the Armthorpe side of the city, where the test centre sits.

We also spend time on the reversing exercises. Bay parking is a good example: in an automatic, the creep lets you reverse into a bay slowly and accurately while you look all around, which makes it one of the manoeuvres automatic learners tend to pick up quickly.

Automatic instructors and booking

Our automatic instructors include Diana, who is used to fitting lessons around busy family timetables, and Alecsandru, an ADI and former college teacher. Availability changes, so ask when you call 07402 034084 or send a WhatsApp message. You can see lesson costs on the prices page.

For pick-up points and the test centre drive, see driving lessons in Hatfield. If you live north of the railway, our automatic driving lessons in Stainforth page covers that side. Anxious about starting? Our lessons for nervous drivers in Hatfield are often taught in an automatic too.

Automatic driving lessons in Hatfield: your questions

Are automatic lessons easier in Hatfield traffic?

Most learners find them easier in stop-start traffic like the A18 through the village centre. With no clutch to manage you can give more attention to the buses and the pedestrians around the shops. You still need the same observation and judgement, and the test is marked to the same standard.

Can I pass in an automatic and drive a manual car later?

Only after passing another practical test in a manual car. An automatic pass gives you an automatic-only licence. If you think you might need a manual car for work in future, talk it through with us before you start.

Do automatic lessons cost more than manual lessons?

Rates for both are listed on our prices page together with packages and block booking options. Because automatic learners often need fewer hours, the total cost of learning can work out similar. Call us and we can talk through what is likely to suit you.

Will I practise parking in an automatic?

Yes. We cover every reversing exercise you could be asked to do on test. That means bay parking and parallel parking as well as pulling up on the right and reversing about two car lengths. Creep makes slow, accurate control much easier in an automatic.