How to find a Driving Instructor with an Automatic Car
Checking availability for Automatic Bill Plant Driving School instructors in your area can be done in just a few simple steps.
- Enter your postcode through our directory of local driving instructors, and then select an automatic gearbox.
- Choose your preferred lesson package, starting from 2 hours to get you started, and up to 10 hours of bulk lessons.
- Choose any optional additional extras, such as our advanced driving packages, including the most-popular “Prepare To Pass”..
- Provide us with a few details, such as your name, email, and address, then complete your order!
Manual vs Automatic: Which is right for you?
Manual cars require you to change gears using the clutch, which gives more control but can make learning harder at first — especially with clutch control and stalling.
Automatic cars change gears for you, so there’s no clutch and fewer things to think about. Many learners find this easier, particularly in busy urban or stop-start traffic, and it can help nervous drivers build confidence more quickly.
If you pass in a manual, you can drive both manual and automatic cars. If you pass in an automatic, you’re licensed for automatic vehicles only.
The best choice depends on your confidence, learning style and the type of driving you expect to do, but many learners choose automatic for a simpler, smoother route to getting their licence.
What happens on your first Automatic Driving Lesson?
our first automatic driving lesson will be very similar to any other driving lesson, and is designed to help you feel comfortable, calm and in control.
You’ll meet your instructor and, before any driving, you’ll get used to your tuition vehicle like the cockpit controls and PRND gear positions. You’ll then learn to move off safely and get used to the basic accelerator and brake controls. You can expect to do some simple left and right turns on quiet roads, as well as some early hazard perception skills.
Before your lesson ends, you’ll learn how to pull over safely, and then you’ll receive feedback on what went well and what you’ll learn in your next lesson.
What’s Included in Your Automatic Driving Lessons
Every learner receives professional, one-to-one tuition designed to help you learn quickly and confidently.
You’ll Get:
- A qualified, DBS-checked driving instructor
- Lessons in a market-leading Volkswagen automatic vehicle
- Many instructors offer 60-, 90- or 120-minute lessons, depending on their availability and teaching schedule.
- Flexible pickup/drop-off (home, work, school)
- A structured syllabus aligned with DVSA guidance
- Access to theory training resources with 1:1 support from your instructor
- Optional mock tests, progress tracking and feedback
- Access to our Accelerated Learning Hub to prepare for your theory & practical tests
Whether you’re brand new to driving or returning after time away, we’ll tailor your lessons to your pace and confidence level.
FAQ's About Automatic Driving Lessons
Here at Bill Plant Driving School, our instructors are recognised nationally for the quality of their tuition and the satisfaction of their students – we were even named National Driving School of the Year 2025! With years of experience under their belts, you can be sure that you’re in safe hands whilst out on the roads. There are multiple benefits to taking automatic driving lessons with Bill Plant Driving School.
- Learn to drive in one of our fleet’s market-leading Volkswagen vehicles.
- Benefit from automatic driving lessons taught by experienced driving instructors.
- Choose lesson times that suit your schedule.
- Enjoy free theory training that’s backed up by 1:1 support from your instructor.
- Male and female driving instructors are available nationwide.
The main difference between manual and automatic cars is in the gearboxes. With manual cars, the driver is responsible for changing between gears as they accelerate and decelerate, whilst in an automatic, the car does it all (well, most of it anyway) for you.
Automatic cars still have some gears, but they appear more basic than those with manual transmissions. The main four gears you tend to find in automatic vehicles are:
- P – Park – used for parking as the wheels will automatically lock to prevent rolling.
- D – Drive – used when driving forwards; the car will move between gears automatically as you increase speed (such as when you’re on a motorway).
- N – Neutral – used optionally when the car is stationary in a traffic jam or at traffic lights.
- R – Reverse – used when driving backwards.
Learning to drive in an automatic car can simplify the early stages of learning to drive, as you do not need to develop clutch control and know when to change gears.
It is worth noting that once you master clutch control and changing gears, the learning journey of both manual and automatic drivers is remarkably similar. The key difference is that a manual learner can drive both automatic and manual cars once passed.
Drivers with reduced mobility or any condition that prevents them from changing gears easily can also benefit from taking automatic driving lessons, as well as anyone who is a particularly nervous driver and would benefit from the extra reassurance provided by learning to drive an automatic.
Bill Plant Driving School offers automatic driving lessons nationwide, so you’ll be able to find an instructor in your area with all the knowledge and experience of local roads, hazards and test routes.
We have award-winning driving instructors based in hundreds of locations up and down the country who are ready to teach you everything you’ll need to know to become a confident, competent driver. Browse through our directory of local driving instructors to find your nearest driving instructor and book your lessons today.
To book your block of automatic driving lessons, simply enter your postcode into the search bar at the top of the page. For more information on automatic driving lessons near you or for help with any other questions, contact a friendly member of our customer service team by calling 0330 555 2254.
Learn How To Pass Your Theory Test!
With our Accelerated Learning Hub, you’ve got access to all the resources you need to fly through your theory and practical driving tests! With expert guidance, mock theory tests and interactive hazard perception, we’ll help you steer towards success on the road. Whether you just need some extra support for your theory test, or want to be supported from the minute you get behind the wheel until the day of your practical driving test, we’ve got a package tailored for you!
- Everything in Theory Plus and Learner Essentials – your foundation for theory and practical learning.
- 10 more learning to drive videos – extra tutorials and quizzes to master the essentials of driving.
- 20-test prep video course – detailed explainers, in-car demo’s, and quizzes to fine-tune your skills.
- Learning manoeuvres pack – learn to master every manoeuvre – from parallel parking to the emergency stop.
- Everything in Theory Plus – From DVSA theory content to essential skill videos to enhance your driving.
- 10 pre-lesson tutorials – Get a head start with expert guidance before you even start driving.
- Are you ready for your driving test? – Take the quiz to show you just how close you are to smashing the test!
- Official DVSA-approved content – the gold standard for theory and hazard perception.
- How to pass your theory test – video walkthrough & practice questions.
- Are you test ready? Take our quiz and find out.
- Essential skills explained – topic-by-topic video guides that make sense of it all.
- How to ace hazard perception – pro tips in a video to learn exactly how to master the second-part of your theory test.