#1 South West London Driving School
Automatic Driving Lessons in South & South West London
Pass faster with BNM Driving School
Learn to drive without a clutch or gears. BNM Driving School teaches automatic driving lessons in South and South West London, from Battersea and Wimbledon to Croydon and Sutton. Your DVSA approved instructor collects you for free and teaches you one-to-one.
Book Driving Lessons Online
Choose your lesson, then pick a date and time below.
- Special offer Intro Lesson1st lesson £55
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Refresher2 hours £75
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10 HoursBlock booking £365 Save £10
Manual and automatic lessons are the same price.
What Do Learners Say About BNM Automatic Lessons?
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What Are Automatic Driving Lessons?
Automatic driving lessons are practical driving tuition in a car with two pedals, an accelerator and a brake, and no clutch. The gearbox changes gear by itself, so the learner concentrates on steering, observation and road positioning. The gear selector has four main positions: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral) and D (Drive).
BNM Driving School teaches automatic lessons one-to-one across South and South West London, with a DVSA approved instructor in a dual-control [car make and model]. Lessons run on routes near the Morden, Mitcham and Tolworth test centres, and beginners and nervous learners do not have to worry about stalling. A test pass gives a Category B licence for automatic cars only, shown on the licence as code 78.
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What Are the Benefits of Automatic Driving Lessons?
Automatic driving lessons give 5 benefits: no clutch and no stalling, fewer hours to test standard, easier driving in London traffic, readiness for electric and hybrid cars, and a calmer start for nervous learners.
No Clutch and No Stalling
An automatic car has two pedals, an accelerator and a brake. There is no clutch pedal and no biting point to find, so the car does not stall when moving off. That also helps learners who find a clutch physically difficult to use.
Fewer Hours to Test Standard
Lesson time goes on junctions, roundabouts and manoeuvres from the start. BNM Driving School's automatic learners reach test standard in an average of 20 hours, against the DVSA average of 45 hours.
Easier in London Stop-Start Traffic
On the A24 through Tooting and Morden, or along Tolworth Broadway, an automatic car creeps forward when the brake is released. Queues, bus lanes and traffic lights become simpler to manage.
Ready for Electric and Hybrid Cars
Electric cars have no manual gearbox, and most hybrids are automatic. Automatic tests made up 29.4% of all car driving tests in 2025/26, according to AA Driving School analysis of DVSA data. The UK ends sales of new petrol-only and diesel-only cars in 2030, so the share of automatic cars on UK roads will keep rising.
Calmer Start for Nervous Learners
With fewer controls to coordinate, a nervous learner gives full attention to observation and steering from the first lesson. BNM's DVSA approved instructors start on quiet residential roads and add busier junctions one step at a time. Dual controls let the instructor step in at any moment.
Automatic vs Manual Driving Lessons: Which Should You Learn?
Learn automatic to reach test standard in fewer hours and drive without a clutch in London traffic. Learn manual to hold one licence that covers both manual and automatic cars.
| Automatic driving lessons | Manual driving lessons | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginners, nervous learners and drivers who plan to own an automatic, electric or hybrid car | Learners who want to drive any car, including work vans and older vehicles |
| Lesson focus | Observation, hazard awareness and road positioning, with no clutch or gears | Clutch control, gear changes and hill starts |
| Hours to test standard | 10 hours on average at BNM | 20 hours on average at BNM |
| Licence | Category B, automatic cars only (code 78) | Full Category B, manual and automatic cars |
| Car choice | Automatic, electric and hybrid cars | Every Category B car and van |
| Price at BNM | £75 for 2 hours | £75 for 2 hours |
BNM Driving School teaches automatic and manual driving lessons at the same price across South and South West London, including Battersea, Wimbledon, Croydon and Sutton. DVSA approved instructors teach both one-to-one in dual-control cars on Morden, Mitcham and Tolworth test routes.
Who Are Automatic Driving Lessons For?
Automatic driving lessons suit 5 types of learner. BNM Driving School, founded in 2021, teaches all five across South and South West London, from Battersea and Wimbledon to Croydon and Sutton.
- Complete beginners: you need a provisional licence and no driving knowledge. Your first automatic lesson covers the controls, moving off and stopping.
- Nervous drivers: two pedals and no clutch mean less to worry about. Your DVSA approved instructor sets one small goal per lesson, with dual controls ready.
- Learners switching from manual to automatic: an assessment drive shows what you already know, so you do not start again.
- International licence holders: lessons cover driving on the left, UK road signs and multi-lane roundabouts such as the Hook Roundabout in Tolworth, ready for the UK practical test.
- Returning drivers: a 2-hour automatic refresher lesson for £75 rebuilds your confidence on busy South London roads.
Not sure which one fits you? Book a 90-minute intro lesson for £55.
Who Are Automatic Driving Lessons For?
Automatic driving lessons suit 5 types of learner. BNM Driving School, founded in 2021, teaches all five across South and South West London, from Battersea and Wimbledon to Croydon and Sutton.
- Complete beginners: you need a provisional licence and no driving knowledge. Your first automatic lesson covers the controls, moving off and stopping.
- Nervous drivers: two pedals and no clutch mean less to worry about. Your DVSA approved instructor sets one small goal per lesson, with dual controls ready.
- Learners switching from manual to automatic: an assessment drive shows what you already know, so you do not start again.
- International licence holders: lessons cover driving on the left, UK road signs and multi-lane roundabouts such as the Hook Roundabout in Tolworth, ready for the UK practical test.
- Returning drivers: a 2-hour automatic refresher lesson for £75 rebuilds your confidence on busy South London roads.
Not sure which one fits you? Book a 90-minute intro lesson for £55.
Which Automatic Driving Courses Does BNM Offer?
BNM Driving School offers 6 automatic driving courses across South and South West London: weekly lessons, block-booked lessons, intensive lessons, refresher lessons, manual-to-automatic lessons, lessons for nervous learners, and Pass Plus and motorway lessons. A DVSA approved instructor teaches each course one-to-one in a dual-control automatic car.
Weekly Automatic Lessons
Block-Booked Automatic Lessons
Intensive Automatic Lessons
Refresher Driving Lessons
Manual-to-Automatic Lessons
Automatic Lessons for Nervous
Why Choose BNM Driving for Automatic Driving Lessons?
Learners choose BNM Driving School for automatic driving lessons across South and South West London for 6 reasons:
- DVSA approved instructors: every lesson follows the DVSA National Standard, with honest feedback at the end.
- Dual-control automatic car: you learn in a modern [make and model], and your instructor can step in at any moment.
- Local road practice: lessons cover the A24 through Tooting and Morden, Purley Way and the Hook Roundabout.
- Test route preparation: mock tests run on roads similar to the Morden, Mitcham and Tolworth test routes.
- Proven experience: founded in Hackbridge in 2021, with over 20 years of instructor experience and 2,000+ learners passed.
- Free pickup and flexible times: early morning, evening and weekend slots from your home, work or college.
Meet Your Automatic Driving Instructor in South London
Nauman is a DVSA approved driving instructor with 10 years of experience teaching automatic lessons across South and South West London. He is calm and patient, and he starts every new learner on quiet roads.
Which Test Centres Do BNM Automatic Learners Use?
BNM automatic learners use 3 DVSA driving test centres: Morden, Mitcham and Tolworth. BNM Driving School runs lessons and a full mock test on the roads around your chosen centre, so the conditions feel familiar on test day.
Morden Test Centre
Morden Test Centre is at 10 Tudor Drive, SM4 4PE. Nearby roads mix residential streets, roundabouts and dual carriageways, including the A24 and its bus lanes. In an automatic, your attention stays on lane choice and speed changes. Learners from Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Tooting and Sutton usually test here.
Mitcham Test Centre
Mitcham Test Centre is on Redhouse Road, CR0 3AQ, close to Beddington. Nearby roads are narrow and tightly parked, with frequent changes of speed limit. An automatic car's creep helps with slow, precise control when meeting oncoming traffic. Learners from Wallington, Croydon, Streatham and Battersea usually test here.
Tolworth Test Centre
Tolworth Test Centre is in KT6, near the A3. Nearby roads include the Hook Roundabout, the A3 Kingston Bypass and Tolworth Broadway. Lessons focus on lane discipline at multi-lane roundabouts and joining faster roads. Learners from Putney, Roehampton and Tolworth usually test here.
Local Driving Lessons Serving South west London
BNM Driving School provides automatic and manual driving lessons across south london.
Sutton
Tolworth
Tooting
Thornton Heath
West Wickham
How Do Automatic Driving Lessons with BNM Work?
Automatic driving lessons with BNM Driving School follow 5 steps, from your first booking to a test pass at the Morden, Mitcham or Tolworth test centre.
Book Your First Lesson
Book online, call 020 8092 9510, or message us on WhatsApp. It takes a couple of minutes.
Meet Your Instructor
A DVSA approved instructor collects you from home, work or college in South or South West London, checks your provisional licence and sets your goals.
Learn at Your Pace
You start on quiet residential roads in a dual-control automatic car, then move on to busier junctions and roundabouts.
Take a Mock Test
A 40-minute mock test on roads similar to your local test routes shows whether you are ready.
Pass and Keep Going
A pass gives you a Category B licence for automatic cars. Pass Plus or motorway lessons build your confidence afterwards.
How Much Do Automatic Driving Lessons Cost in South & South West London?
Automatic driving lessons with BNM Driving School cost £75 for a 2-hour lesson, or £36.50 per hour on a 10-hour block. Manual and automatic lessons are the same price, and the same rates apply from Battersea and Wimbledon to Croydon and Sutton.
Automatic
Manual
Intensive Courses
What Happens in Your First Automatic Driving Lesson?
Your first automatic driving lesson follows 5 steps on a quiet residential road: a licence and eyesight check, the cockpit drill, the controls, moving off and stopping. With BNM Driving School, it is a 90-minute intro lesson that starts with free pickup from your home, work or college in South or South West London.
- Show your licence. Hand over your provisional licence and read a number plate from 20 metres.
- Complete the cockpit drill. Check the doors, seat, steering, seatbelt and mirrors.
- Learn the controls. Identify the two pedals, the gear selector, the parking brake and the indicators.
- Move off. Press the brake, select D, check the mirrors and blind spot, then ease off the brake.
- Stop. Brake gently, apply the parking brake and select P.
An automatic car does not stall, so you can concentrate on steering and observation from the start. Your DVSA approved instructor has dual controls and can step in at any moment.
Test Date Booked? Take the 30-Hour Intensive Automatic Course
With a test date booked, every week of practice counts. BNM Driving School’s intensive course gives you 30 hours of one-to-one tuition with a DVSA approved instructor, plus a mock test on roads similar to the Morden, Mitcham and Tolworth test routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost in total to learn automatic?
Learning automatic costs about £1,760 in total for a learner who takes 45 hours of lessons. That covers £1,642.50 of lessons at BNM’s 10-hour block rate of £36.50 per hour, plus £34 for the provisional licence, £23 for the theory test and £62 for a weekday practical test.
Is the automatic driving test easier to pass than manual?
No. The automatic test follows the same route types and marking standard as the manual test. The automatic pass rate was 44.6% in 2025/26, according to AA Driving School analysis of DVSA data. An automatic car is easier to learn in, but the test itself is not easier.
Can you drive a manual car with an automatic licence?
No. An automatic test pass gives a Category B licence for automatic cars only, shown on the licence as code 78. A manual licence covers both manual and automatic cars.
How do you upgrade an automatic licence to manual?
You upgrade by passing a practical driving test in a manual car. You do not need to retake the theory test. BNM Driving School offers manual lessons at the same price to prepare you for it.
Is an automatic licence worth getting in 2026?
Yes, for learners who plan to drive automatic, hybrid or electric cars. Automatic tests made up 29.4% of all car driving tests in 2025/26, and the UK ends sales of new petrol-only and diesel-only cars in 2030. The limit is that the licence does not cover manual cars or vans.
Can you use BNM's automatic car for your driving test?
Yes. You can take your practical test in BNM’s dual-control automatic car, the same car you learn in. Test car hire costs [£120 or £140] and includes [conditions, such as a pre-test lesson].