Automatic lessons · Oxford
Automatic Driving Lessons in Oxford
No clutch, no gear changes and nothing to stall. Automatic lessons let you put your whole attention on observation, road position and the traffic around you, which is why so many learners in Oxford settle faster in one. Pick up from home, work or college across the city, and a female instructor is available on request.
✓ Automatic and manual taught by the same qualified instructors, at the same price.
No gears to manageFemale instructor on requestEarly and late slotsOxford (Cowley) test centre
New driver intro offer
From £40
A one time offer for new learners in Oxford.
First hour£40
Two hour first lesson£80
10 hours prepaid£400
Standard Oxford rates apply after that, and they are the same for automatic and manual. DVSA theory and practical test fees are not included.
750+Learners passed
in Oxford
98%Would recommend
us
87%First time
pass rate
Why automatic
One less thing to think about
Why Oxford Learners Choose Automatic
An automatic takes the gearbox out of the equation. For most learners that means the road gets easier to read, and progress feels steadier from the first lesson.
A
Nothing to coordinate
No clutch, no gear stick and no stalling at the lights. Your hands stay on the wheel and your attention stays on what is happening in front of you.
B
Oxford traffic suits it
Bus lanes, cyclists, frequent crossings and stop start traffic on the Cowley Road, the Botley Road and the ring road. In an automatic you are watching all of that instead of managing the biting point.
C
Often fewer hours to test standard
The DVSA puts the average at around 45 hours of professional tuition. Automatic learners often need fewer because there is less to master, although it still depends on how often you drive.
D
Most electric cars are automatic
Nearly all electric and hybrid cars are single speed and drive as automatics, so an automatic licence covers the cars a lot of people are moving to anyway.
The one thing to know before you book
An automatic licence is restricted to automatic cars. We would rather you heard that from us now than found out later.
- ✓Pass in an automatic and your licence covers automatic vehicles only
- ✓You can take a separate test in a manual car later to remove the restriction
- ✓Your theory test is exactly the same either way
- ✓Most electric and hybrid cars are automatic, so the restriction matters less than it used to
- ✓If you are unsure, start in an automatic and switch. The hours are not wasted.
Prices
Automatic costs the same as manual
Automatic Lesson Prices
We do not charge extra for an automatic. These are our standard Oxford rates and they apply to both. Prepaid blocks work out cheaper than paying lesson by lesson, and DVSA theory and practical test fees are not included.
2 hours
£85
Single lesson
- Automatic or manual
- Pick up across Oxford
- Pay as you go
Most popular
10 hours
£420
Prepaid block
- Cheaper than paying by the lesson
- Usually two hours a week
- Book the next block when you are ready
20 hours
£820
Semi intensive
- Suits a target test date
- Two or three lessons a week
- Test route practice around Cowley
30 hours
£1,200
Intensive
- Planned around your availability
- Weekday and weekend slots
- Regular progress reviews
45 hours
£1,760
Full intensive
- Suits complete beginners
- Spread over the weeks that work for you
- Built around the Cowley test routes
New learners can start on our one time introductory offer: £40 for a first hour, £80 for a two hour first lesson or £400 for ten hours. NHS staff and students pay a discounted rate on production of valid ID. Lessons in Wolvercote, Cumnor, Harcourt Hill and the OX2 9 side of Botley (OX2 8 and OX2 9), Kidlington and the OX5 villages (OX5), Wheatley, Abingdon and Bicester are charged at our out of area rate, from £90 for two hours. We ask for at least 48 hours notice to cancel or move a lesson.
Automatic or manual
An honest comparison
Which One Should You Learn In?
There is no right answer for everybody. Here is the trade off, put plainly, so you can decide before you book rather than after.
Automatic
Fewer things to manage
- Often takes fewer hours to reach test standard
- Nothing to coordinate, so more of your attention stays on the road
- Suits nervous learners and drivers with mobility considerations
- Covers electric and hybrid cars, which are almost all automatic
- Your licence is restricted to automatic vehicles
Manual
One licence, every car
- One licence covers both automatic and manual cars
- Wider choice of hire cars, vans and company vehicles
- Suits drivers who want maximum flexibility later on
- Taught by the same instructors, at the same price
- Usually takes longer to reach test standard
Still not sure? Start in an automatic and see how you get on. If you decide you want the full licence, you can move across to manual lessons and keep everything you have learned about observation, junctions and road position. The only part you start fresh on is the gearbox.
Across Oxford
Where we teach automatic
Automatic Lessons Across Oxford
We pick up from home, work or college anywhere in the city, and these are the areas we cover most.
Cowley OX4
East Oxford
The Oxford (Cowley) test centre is here, on James Wolfe Road. Bus lanes, cyclists and the Eastern Bypass roundabouts, all on the test route side of the city.
Headington OX3
East Oxford
Hospital traffic, the London Road shops and a lot of stop start driving. An automatic makes that far less tiring while you are learning.
Summertown OX2
North Oxford
Banbury Road and Woodstock Road for real traffic, with quiet residential streets nearby for your first hours behind the wheel.
Marston OX3
North East Oxford
Marston Ferry Road and the roundabouts around Cutteslowe, useful for lane discipline once you are ready for it.
Botley OX2
West Oxford
The Botley Road, the A34 junctions and the western approach into the city. Busy, and worth being confident on.
Kidlington OX5
North of Oxford
Quieter roads to build confidence, then the A4260 and the ring road when you are ready to take it into Oxford.
Also covered: Iffley, Jericho, Littlemore and Blackbird Leys. Wolvercote, Cumnor, Harcourt Hill and the OX2 9 side of Botley (OX2 8 and OX2 9), Kidlington and the OX5 villages (OX5), Wheatley, Abingdon and Bicester are covered at our out of area rate.
What we offer
Lessons that fit around your week
More Than Weekly Lessons
Whatever stage you are at, there is a sensible way in.
Intensive automatic courses
Twenty, thirty or forty five hours planned around a target test date. Best suited to learners who can commit to several lessons a week.
Manual lessons
If you decide you want the full licence, the same instructors teach manual at the same rates. Switching either way is straightforward.
Refresher lessons
For drivers who already hold a licence but have not driven for a while, or who are moving from a manual car to an automatic one.
Student and NHS discounts
Discounted rates for students and for NHS staff on production of valid ID, with early and late slots for shift work.
Pass Plus after you pass
Structured practice in motorway, dual carriageway and night driving once you have your licence, and it can reduce some insurance premiums.
Learning to drive questions
Theory test, provisional licence, how many hours you need and what happens on the day. The common questions, answered properly.
Is this you?
Learners who do well in an automatic
Automatic Lessons Suit
1Nervous beginners who want one less thing to think about on the first lesson
2Manual learners who have stalled once too often and want a fresh start
3Anyone who expects to drive an electric or hybrid car
4NHS staff and shift workers who need lessons early or late in the day
5Students who want to pass inside one term
6Drivers with mobility considerations that make clutch work uncomfortable
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Automatic Driving Lessons: Your Questions Answered
Can I only drive automatic cars if I pass in an automatic?
Yes. If you pass your practical test in an automatic, your licence is restricted to automatic vehicles. You can take a separate practical test in a manual car later to remove the restriction, and your theory test does not need to be taken again. In practice a lot of drivers are happy with an automatic licence, because almost every electric and hybrid car is an automatic.
Are automatic driving lessons more expensive than manual?
No. We charge the same for both. A two hour lesson is £85, ten hours prepaid is £420, twenty hours is £820, thirty hours is £1,200 and forty five hours is £1,760. New learners can start on a one time introductory offer of £40 for a first hour, £80 for a two hour first lesson or £400 for ten hours.
How many hours will I need to learn in an automatic?
The DVSA puts the average for a learner at around 45 hours of professional tuition plus private practice. Automatic learners often need fewer than that because there is no clutch or gear work to master, but it depends on how often you drive and how much practice you get between lessons. Your instructor will give you an honest view once you have had a few lessons.
Do you run intensive automatic courses in Oxford?
Yes. Intensive automatic courses run from twenty hours up to forty five hours and are planned around a target test date. They suit learners working to a deadline, but they only work if you can commit to several lessons a week, so we will tell you honestly whether it is the right choice for you.
Can I switch from manual to automatic partway through?
Yes, and it happens more often than you would think. Everything you have already learned about observation, road position, junctions and roundabouts carries straight across. The only part you start fresh on is the gearbox, which is the part you are leaving behind anyway.
Can I request a female instructor?
Yes. A female instructor is available on request. Tell us when you book, or call 01865 763458 and we will arrange it.
Which test centre will I use for my automatic test?
Learners across Oxford normally take the practical test at the Oxford (Cowley) test centre on James Wolfe Road, OX4 2PY. The test is the same in an automatic as it is in a manual, apart from the gear work, so we build your lessons up to the roads around that centre well before test day.
How do I book my first automatic lesson?
Book online through our booking page, or call 01865 763458 and speak to us directly. We will ask where you are up to, agree a pick up point that suits you, and get your first lesson in the diary.
At a glance
Oxon Driving Tuitions teaches automatic driving lessons across Oxford, including Cowley, Headington, Summertown, Marston, Botley, Iffley, Jericho, Littlemore and Blackbird Leys, with pick up from home, work or college. Automatic and manual lessons cost the same. Standard Oxford rates are £85 for a two hour lesson, £420 for ten hours prepaid, £820 for twenty hours, £1,200 for thirty hours and £1,760 for forty five hours. Lessons in Wolvercote, Cumnor, Harcourt Hill and the OX2 9 side of Botley (OX2 8 and OX2 9), Kidlington and the OX5 villages (OX5), Wheatley, Abingdon and Bicester are charged at the out of area rate, from £90 for two hours. New learners can take a one time introductory offer of £40 for a first hour, £80 for a two hour first lesson, or £400 for ten hours. NHS staff and students pay a discounted rate on production of valid ID. A female instructor is available on request. Standard lessons are two hours long, and we ask for at least 48 hours notice to cancel or move a lesson. DVSA theory and practical test fees are not included. Passing the practical test in an automatic gives a licence restricted to automatic vehicles, and a separate manual test removes that restriction. Lessons run Monday to Friday from 7am to 9pm and Saturday from 9am to 6pm. Practical tests are taken at the Oxford (Cowley) test centre on James Wolfe Road, OX4 2PY. Call 01865 763458 or book online.
Ready to Start in an Automatic?
Tell us where you are up to and we will find a slot that fits. First lesson, switching from manual, or final polish before the test.