Driving Lessons in Basingstoke

How to decide which driving school is best for you in Basingstoke

We get that you’re looking for a driving instructor who:

• Builds your driving ability
• Makes learning to drive enjoyable
• Is affordable

Which is why we've laid out 4 steps to finding a quality driving instructor in Basingstoke

1. Compare reviews

Reading reviews is a great way to anticipate what your experience will be like with the driving schools in Basingstoke. Be sure to select your review sites carefully - some can be a bit dodgy. Make sure you are reading reviews from legitimate customers.

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. Check that you can switch instructors

You don’t want to be stuck learning with someone you don’t get on with. So, the safest thing is to check that your driving school in Basingstokecan 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. Avoid long waiting times

The last thing you want is to book your driving lessons and then find out that you can’t get started for another few weeks! Many driving schools in Basingstokewill stay quiet about tier waiting times so be sure to ask them before booking.

Local driving test centres

As soon as you're ready to start thinking about your test, you'll need to find a local test centre.A good driving instructor in Basingstoke will give you a hand choosing the test centre that’s right for you, and then introduce you to the routes that could crop up on test day.

To see more test centres near you, enter your postcode on the DVSA website.

Test tips from driving instructors in Basingstoke

Driving instructors in Basingstoke have shared thier insider tips for passing your test.

1. Brush up on rural road driving

Our instructors in Basingstoke 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.

Manual or automatic lessons?

Are you ready to learn to drive? The first step is to choose 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.This can make buying a car an easier task as you can drive both transmissions.

Manual driving lessons are also cheaper, as there are more manual driving instructors available. A manual offers the driver a bit more control over the vehicle - especially on windy rural roads where a gear change can help you navigate twists, turns and hill climbs more effectively.

Automatic cars on the other hand are more straightforward to begin with as you don't need to worry about gear changes at all.On top of this, the lack of a clutch pedal makes automatic cars easier to drive in heavy traffic, so it you’re going to be getting a car to run you around Basingstokes busy roads, an automatic may be for you.

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

Where can I find driving lessons in Basingstoke

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