Driving Lessons in Hatfield

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How to choose a driving school in Hatfield

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

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

For that reason, here are 4 easy steps to make sure you choose the right driving school in Hatfield.

1. Compare reviews

Reading reviews is a great way to anticipate what your experience will be like with the driving schools in Hatfield you’re considering. Just make sure that you read reviews collated by independent sources, like Google reviews.

2. Beware of terms and conditions

If you’re like most people, the chances are you usually tick the box to say you’ve read the terms and conditions even if you haven’t. But in this scenario, it’s important that you read them carefully. Some driving schools in Hatfield have hidden policies, like making your driving lessons expire if you don’t use them all within a short timeframe. 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 Hatfield can match you with a new instructor easily if you decide you want to swap. Not all schools in Hatfield 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 Hatfield won’t tell you their waiting times upfront unless you ask directly. So again, don’t get caught out!

Tips for learning to drive in Hatfield

We all need a few tips every once in a while, so we asked our driving instructors in Hatfield to share theirs with you. The most important thing is to do your best to practise outside of lessons, so that you can hone your skills quickly in your own time. Here are some of our instructors’ favourite practice spots:

  • The University of Hertfordshire: The University of Hertfordshire is a quiet place to practise at the weekends with long, wide roads. According to our driving instructors in Hatfield, it’s a great spot to get to grips with steering, clutch control and manoeuvres.

  • The Great North Road: This is a busy urban road packed with traffic lights, junctions and even a box junction. It goes straight past Hatfield Station, so keep an eye out for careless pedestrians wandering into the road.

  • Hatfield Avenue: Hatfield is a brilliant place to nail your roundabout driving, and you can’t get better than Hatfield Avenue! Drive along here and you’ll encounter five roundabouts of various sizes, including the big roundabout over the Hatfield Tunnel.

  • A414: You’ll want to get confident with dual carriageway driving before your test, so our driving instructors in Hatfield recommend spending some time familiarising yourself with the A414. It’s a good place to practise your mirror routines while you’re changing lanes.

  • Wildhill Road: Towards Welham Green, you’ll find a number of country roads including Wildhill Road. Rural roads like this are often narrow and winding, and yet you’re usually able to drive at the national speed limit on them. It goes without saying that that’s not always the best speed, so practise judging the appropriate speed to drive at.

Choosing your test centre

When the time is right, you’ll need to choose a driving test centre. Your driving instructor in Hatfield 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.

Test centre pass rates

St Albans
41.1%
Barnet
42.5%
Borehamwood
49.6%

DVSA practical car test pass rates, 2019-2020.

Barnet Test Centre | Pass rate: 42.5%

On a test here, you’re likely to encounter both busy urban roads and narrow residential streets. There aren’t any toilets available here for test candidates, so make sure that you plan a loo stop into your journey.

Address: Raydean House, 15 - 17 Western Parade, Barnet, Greater London, EN5 1AD

Borehamwood Test Centre | Pass rate: 49.6%

Borehamwood Test Centre has a pass rate that’s above the national average of 46.4%. The car park is located opposite the test centre and is barrier controlled. You should only park in the designated bays and arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before your test starts.

Address: Unit 1 Stirling Court, Stirling Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 2BT

St Albans Test Centre | Pass rate: 41.1%

St Albans Test Centre is located near the town centre but only a stone’s throw from rural roads and the A414 dual carriageway. This means you can expect urban driving on a test here, as well as country roads and high speed A roads.

Address: Beauver House, 6 Bricket Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3JX

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

Test tips from driving instructors in Hatfield

Our driving instructors in Hatfield have let us in on their secrets for passing the driving test first time in the area.

1. Practise driving on rural roads

If you take your test at St Albans Test Centre, rural roads are likely to come up. Our driving instructors in Hatfield say that these are difficult because usually, you’re permitted to drive on them at the national speed limit, but that’s not always an appropriate speed. Make sure you practise judging what speed is sensible to drive at on country roads.

2. Drive defensively

When you’re driving in urban settings, particularly on a test from Barnet Test Centre, 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 driving instructors in Hatfield say that you’re unlikely to be penalised.

Choosing between manual and automatic

Are you ready to learn to drive? The first step is to choose between manual and automatic driving lessons.

With an automatic licence, you’re qualified to drive automatic cars, whereas with a manual driving licence, you’re qualified to drive both manuals and automatics. This gives you more flexibility in the long run.

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. As Hatfield is just a stone’s throw from the M1 and rolling countryside, this might suit you best.

That said, automatic cars are easier to get your head around - there’s no clutch to get the hang of! This means you may be able to pass faster by taking automatic driving lessons. 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 Hatfield town centre, you may well prefer an automatic.

Both transmissions come with their pros and cons, so think carefully before making your decision!

Where we provide driving lessons in Hatfield

No matter where you are in Hatfield or the surrounding areas, our driving instructors in Hatfield have got you covered. Our popular areas include:

Birchwood, Ellenbrook, Hatfield Hyde, Marshmoor, Mill Green, Oxlease, Roe Green, South Hatfield, Stanborough and The Ryde.

Enter your postcode to see driving lesson prices near you.