Driving Lessons in Wandsworth

A complete guide to choosing a driving instructor and passing your test in Wandsworth

How to choose a driving school in Wandsworth

You need a driving instructor in Wandsworth who:

  • Boosts your confidence
  • Makes it fun to learn
  • Won’t rip you off!

That’s why when you’re choosing a driving school in Wandsworth it’s important to do these 4 things:

1. Compare reviews

It might seem obvious, but reading what other learners have to say about a driving school in Wandsworth is a great way of discovering whether it’s the right school for you.

2. Beware of terms and conditions

Some driving schools in Wandsworth require you to use up your whole driving lesson package within a short timeframe, and others won’t refund any unused hours. Be sure to read through the terms and conditions carefully so that you don’t get caught out.

3. Check that you can switch instructors

Of course everyone hopes that they’ll learn with the same driving instructor throughout the learn-to-drive process, but there’s always the chance that things don’t work out how you hope. You want to make sure you can switch instructors if you decide that’s what’s best, so make sure that you choose a driving school in Wandsworth that offers this as an option.

4. Avoid long waiting times

Once you decide to fork out on driving lessons, you want to pass as quickly as possible. That’s why it’s best to avoid long waiting times. Some driving schools in Wandsworth don’t advertise their waiting times on their website, so be sure to enquire before making a booking.

Tips for learning to drive in Wandsworth

The best tip we can give you is to practice! The DVSA recommends 22 hours of private practice before taking the practical driving test, allowing you to hone the skills you learn in lessons and become more confident behind the wheel.

Our driving instructors in Wandsworth have shared some of their favourite practice spots.

  • Ryde Vale Road: Ryde Vale Road and some of the other residential streets near Tooting Bec Common are reasonably wide and quiet. According to our driving instructors in Wandsworth, these are good places to head to if you’re still getting to grips with clutch control or looking to hone your manoeuvres.

  • B234: The B234, also known as Earlsfield Road, is a great place to get your head around numerous hazards and road systems without too much bother from other road users. Our driving instructors in Wandsworth have warned that you’ll have bus stops, speed bumps and parked cars to contend with.

  • Wandsworth Common: There are a number of residential roads off Wandsworth Common, including Kelmscott Road and Bramfield Road. These are lined with parked cars on both sides, and are great for practising your passing distances, parallel parking and giving way to other cars.

  • A3: The A3 runs straight through Wandsworth and is a great option if you’re looking for some dual carriageway practice. Get some experience responding to road markings, switching lanes and nailing those observations.

  • Wandsworth Bridge roundabout: This is a large, multi-lane roundabout that’s sure to put your roundabout skills to the test! According to our driving instructors in Wandsworth, the key is to respond to the road markings nice and early, and then observe, observe, observe!

Choosing your test centre

Once you’re getting confident during your driving lessons in Wandsworth, your driving instructor will help you to choose a test centre and start introducing you to the routes that you might come across in your test.

Test centre pass rates

Morden
47.9%
Mitcham
41.1%
Croydon
37.4%

DVSA practical car test pass rates, 2018-2019.

Croydon Test Centre | Pass rate: 37.4%

If you take your test at Croydon Test Centre, you’re likely to encounter suburban roads and dual carriageways. The test centre is located in a residential area near the A23.

Address: 111 Canterbury Road, Croydon, Greater London, CR0 3HH

Mitcham Test Centre | Pass rate: 41.1%

Mitcham test centre is located just a short way from Croydon Test Centre, so it’s likely to include similar routes. You’ll find it on a business park that’s mostly quiet but can at times get fairly busy.

Address: Redhouse Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR0 3AQ

Morden Test Centre | Pass rate: 47.9%

Morden Test Centre is located just off the busy A24 and near some bustling urban roads and roundabouts. So, make sure that your observations are on point!

Address: 10 Tudor Drive, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4PE

Enter your postcode on the DVSA website to find a full list of test centres near you.

Test tips from driving instructors in Wandsworth

We get it, you want to pass your driving test and earn that freedom as quickly as possible. So, we asked local driving instructors in Wandsworth for some driving test tips.

1. Take a driving lesson beforehand

On the day of your driving test, you’re likely to be feeling nervous. Taking a driving lesson directly before your driving test is a great way to boost your confidence and get you in the swing of things.

2. Drive defensively

Sadly, London drivers are the most aggressive in the UK. That means, they’re not always likely to follow the rules. So, a top tip from local driving instructors in Wandsworth is to look out for bad behaviour from other drivers and adapt your own driving accordingly.

3. Observe!

One of the common reasons learners fail their test is for failing to observe adequately - whether that’s coming up to a roundabout, changing lanes on a dual carriageway or during manoeuvres. You’re likely to encounter a number of tricky road systems on a test at any one of your local test centres, driving instructors in Wandsworth advise ‘when in doubt, observe!’.

Choosing between manual and automatic

It can be hard to choose between manual and automatic driving lessons in Wandsworth. So, we thought we’d walk you through the two options to help you make a decision!

An automatic driving licence only qualifies you to drive automatic cars, but a manual driving licence qualifies you to drive both manuals and automatics. So, if you’re unsure, it may be worth choosing manual driving lessons so that you keep your options open.

That said, automatic driving lessons are becoming increasingly popular in cities. Automatics are easier to drive in stop-start traffic, making them a more comfortable option for driving in Wandsworth. You might also find that you pass your driving test quicker as a result!

On the other hand, manual driving lessons tend to be cheaper and it’s also cheaper to hire manual cars in the UK. Many drivers in Wandsworth choose to hire a car when they need one, rather than buying, so if that sounds like you then you might well prefer manual driving lessons.

Either way, we’re sure you’ll enjoy your driving lessons in Wandsworth!

Driving lessons in Wandsworth

Some of the popular locations to learn ti drive are:

Balham, Battersea, Earlsfield, Putney, Roehampton, Southfields, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Wandsworth Town and Wandsworth Common.

Other areas across London include:

Barking, Brixton, Bromley, Clapham, Croydon, Dagenham, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Harrow, Hayes, Hendon, Hounslow, Islington, Kingston upon Thames, Putney, Romford, Southall, Stratford, Sutton, Tottenham, Twickenham, Uxbridge, Walthamstow, Watford, Wembley and Wimbledon.

Enter your postcode to view driving lesson prices near you