Driving Lessons in Barnstaple

View other guides: Driving Lessons in London, Driving Lessons in Birmingham, Driving Lessons in Manchester.

Deciding on a driving school in Barnstaple

When looking for a driving instructor; you need someone who:

• Builds your confidence
• Makes learning fun
• Won’t charge a fortune!

So here are 4 simple steps to make sure you find a top driving instructor in Barnstaple

1. Check reviews online

Reviewing an instructors online reviews is a great way to get afeel for what to expect from the driving schools in Barnstaple. Just make sure that you read reviews collated by independent sources, like Google reviews.

2. Read the terms and conditions

Let's face it - most of us never read the terms and conditions but it’s important that you do read them carefully when booking lessons. Local driving schools can often have hidden policies especially around expiry dates for unused driving lessons so don’t get caught out!

3. Make sure you can switch instructors

Check that your driving school in Barnstaplecan match you with a new instructor easily if you decide you want to swap. Not all schools will have enough instructors to facilitate this, so don’t book until you’re sure.

4. Do they have long waiting times?

Imagine booking your driving lessons only to find out that you can't start for ages. It can happen. Many driving schools in Barnstaplewon’t tell you their waiting times upfront unless you ask directly. So again, don’t get caught out!

Choosing your test centre

When the time is right, you’ll need to choose a driving test centre. Your instructor in Barnstaple will advise on the whole test centre experience to make sure you're setup to pass.

To see all of the DVSA test centres near you, check the DVSA website.

Top tips from instructors in Barnstaple

Driving instructors in Barnstaple have given us the lowdown on passing the driving test first time.

1. Brush up on rural road driving

Our instructors in Barnstaple have highlighted rural roads as a tricky ""one to watch"" as you’re allowed to drive at the national speed limit, but sometimes that’s not the appropriate speed for the conditions.

Take extra time to practise judging a sensible speed when on a country road.

2. Drive defensively

When you’re driving in urban settings you need to be aware that not all drivers will drive well, or even follow the highway code! Make sure that you anticipate the behaviour of other drivers and adapt your own driving accordingly.

3. Directions aren’t the be all and end all.

You’ll receive directions from both the examiner and a sat nav at different points in your driving test. If you realise you’re in the wrong lane at the last minute, it might be dangerous to correct yourself. If that’s the case, it’s fine to make a wrong turn - it’s more important to drive safely than to follow directions accurately, and our local driving instructors say that you’re unlikely to be penalised.

Deciding on manual or automatic driving lessons

Before you step foot inside an instructors car you have to decide between manual and automatic driving lessons.

Manual licence holders are able to drive both manual and automatic cars, however, automatic drivers are stuck with automatic cars only.Flexibility is the main plus point with learning in a manual.

Manual driving lessons are also cheaper, as there are more manual driving instructors available. Plus, driving a manual car gives you a greater sense of control, which many people prefer in rural areas or on longer-distance journeys along motorways and dual carriageways.

Automatic cars on the other hand are more straightforward to begin with as you don't need to worry about gear changes at all.Driving in heavy traffic can also be more straightforward as there's no clutch and gear changes to worry about. So if you're after a motor to drive about Barnstaples busy streets, you may find an automatic easier.

There are pros and cons to both, so it's worth spending some time to research and decide before you start.

Where we offer driving lessons in Barnstaple

Regardless of where you live in Barnstapleor the surrounding areas, our top quality driving instructors can help get you on the road.