Your course will be planned around your current driving ability, previous experience, confidence and availability. The number of hours required will depend on your starting standard and progress.

No driving school or instructor can guarantee that a learner will pass after a fixed number of hours. Course availability is subject to local instructor capacity, practical-test availability and whether suitable training can be arranged around your preferred dates.

What Is an Automatic Intensive Driving Course?

An automatic intensive driving course places several driving lessons into a shorter period rather than spreading tuition over many weeks or months.

Lessons may take place across several consecutive days or over one or two weeks. The exact schedule will depend on:

• Your current driving ability
• Your previous driving experience
• Local automatic instructor availability
• The number of course hours selected
• Whether you have passed your theory test
• Practical driving-test availability
• Your preferred dates and times
• Your ability to concentrate during longer sessions

Intensive tuition does not mean rushing through essential driving skills. You must still develop safe vehicle control, effective observations, good judgement and the ability to drive independently.

Who Can Book an Automatic Intensive Course?

Complete Beginners

A beginner course can introduce you to the automatic vehicle controls before progressing through junctions, roundabouts, meeting traffic, parking and independent driving.

Complete beginners may require more hours because they are learning every skill from the beginning.

Partly Trained Learners

You may already have completed lessons with another instructor or driving school. Your new instructor can assess your current ability and identify which subjects still require attention.

Learners Changing From Manual to Automatic

Some pupils begin learning in a manual car but later decide that automatic tuition is more suitable.

Skills such as observation, steering, road positioning, junction routines, roundabout planning and hazard awareness can transfer to an automatic vehicle.

Learners Returning After a Break

An intensive course may help you rebuild confidence and refresh your driving skills after several months or years away from driving.

Learners Preparing for a Practical Test

When you are close to test standard, focused tuition may help address repeated faults and improve consistency before test day.

However, test readiness must be assessed honestly. Having a practical test booked does not automatically mean you are ready to use the instructor’s car.

Why Choose an Automatic Car?

An automatic car changes gears without the driver operating a clutch pedal or manual gear lever.

Some learners prefer automatic tuition because it removes the need to manage:

• Clutch control
• Finding the biting point
• Manual gear changes
• Stalling caused by clutch coordination
• Manual hill starts

This may allow more attention to be given to:

• Mirrors and blind spots
• Steering accuracy
• Road positioning
• Speed control
• Junction decisions
• Roundabout planning
• Pedestrians and cyclists
• Hazard awareness
• Independent driving

Automatic tuition does not guarantee a quicker pass. Learners must still demonstrate the same standard of observation, planning and safe decision-making required during the practical test.

Automatic Driving Licence Restrictions

Passing the practical driving test in an automatic vehicle normally gives you entitlement to drive automatic vehicles only.

You would need to pass another practical test in a manual car before driving a manual vehicle independently.

Automatic tuition may suit learners who expect to drive:

• An automatic petrol or diesel car
• A hybrid vehicle
• An electric vehicle
• An automatic family car
• An automatic company vehicle

Choosing the Right Number of Course Hours

There is no single intensive-course length that suits every learner.

The number of hours required depends on:

• Previous driving experience
• Current vehicle control
• Observation skills
• Confidence
• Lesson frequency
• Ability to retain information
• Experience of roundabouts and junctions
• Independent-driving ability
• Private practice, where available

A partly trained learner may require fewer hours than a complete beginner. However, the safest course should be based on an assessment rather than choosing the shortest option simply because a practical test is approaching.

Skills Covered During an Intensive Course

Cockpit and Safety Checks

You will learn how to adjust the seat, mirrors, head restraint and vehicle controls before driving.

Moving Away and Stopping

Lessons will cover suitable observations, safe timing, steering control and stopping in an appropriate position.

Mirrors and Blind Spots

You will practise checking mirrors before changing speed, direction or road position.

Junctions and Crossroads

Your instructor can help you approach safely, select the correct position, observe effectively and judge suitable gaps.

Roundabouts

You may practise lane choice, approach speed, observations, signalling and selecting safe opportunities to proceed.

Meeting and Passing Traffic

Residential streets and village roads around Uttoxeter may be narrowed by parked vehicles. You will learn to assess available space and decide when to wait or proceed.

Speed Awareness

You will learn to identify changing speed limits and select a safe speed for the road, traffic, visibility and weather.

Parking and Manoeuvres

Training may include:

• Forward bay parking
• Reverse bay parking
• Parallel parking
• Pulling up on the right
• Reversing safely
• Controlled emergency stops, where appropriate

Independent Driving

As your skills improve, you may follow road signs or satellite-navigation directions while continuing to plan ahead.

Practical Test Preparation

Later sessions may focus on consistency, repeated driving faults, independent decision-making and mock-test-style practice.

Learning to Drive Around Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter provides a varied environment for intensive driving tuition, including residential streets, busy town roads, roundabouts, rural routes and faster roads.

Depending on your ability and the purpose of each lesson, training may include roads around:

• Bramshall Road
• Stafford Road
• Ashbourne Road
• Derby Road
• Heath Road
• Dove Bank
• Dovefields
• Town Meadows Way
• New Road
• Balance Street
• Carter Street
• Bridge Street
• High Street
• Hockley Road
• Roads around Uttoxeter town centre

The exact roads used will depend on traffic conditions, instructor coverage and your stage of training.

Quieter residential streets may be suitable for early practice involving moving away, stopping, steering and basic junctions.

As your confidence grows, lessons may progress to busier traffic, pedestrian crossings, larger roundabouts, changing speed limits and independent driving.

Local knowledge is helpful, but lessons should not focus on memorising particular roads. Your instructor will help you develop driving skills that can be applied safely in Uttoxeter, Burton-on-Trent and unfamiliar locations.

Driving Around Uttoxeter Town Centre

Town-centre roads can help learners practise observation, speed control and forward planning.

You may encounter:

• Pedestrians
• Parked vehicles
• Delivery vehicles
• Buses
• Cyclists
• Vehicles emerging from side roads
• Pedestrian crossings
• Changes in traffic flow
• Road markings and lane choices

Your instructor can help you identify developing hazards early, maintain a suitable road position and avoid reacting too late.

Rural Driving Near Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter is surrounded by villages and rural roads, which can introduce different driving conditions.

Where suitable, lessons may include routes towards:

• Bramshall
• Rocester
• Denstone
• Doveridge
• Marchington
• Stramshall
• Kingstone
• Draycott in the Clay
• Checkley
• Tean
• Sudbury

Rural driving may involve:

• Sharp or concealed bends
• Narrow roads
• Limited visibility
• Farm vehicles
• Cyclists and horse riders
• Mud or loose material
• Changing speed limits
• Oncoming vehicles using more road space
• Junctions that are difficult to see

Your instructor will help you understand that a higher speed limit does not always mean it is safe to drive at that speed.

Automatic Driving Lessons Near the A50

The A50 serves Uttoxeter and provides links towards Derby and Stoke-on-Trent. This makes the area useful for introducing faster-road and dual-carriageway skills when a learner is ready.

Training may cover:

• Joining from a slip road
• Building speed safely
• Maintaining an appropriate following distance
• Using the correct lane
• Checking mirrors before changing lanes
• Overtaking safely
• Reading directional signs
• Leaving the carriageway in good time

Burton-on-Trent Driving Test Centre

Uttoxeter does not currently have its own practical car driving test centre used by our local learners.

Depending on instructor coverage and appointment availability, learners from Uttoxeter may consider taking their practical test at the Burton-on-Trent driving test centre.

The suitability of Burton will depend on:

• Your instructor’s operating area
• Practical-test availability
• Your current driving standard
• The date and time of the test
• Tuition-vehicle availability
• Whether sufficient Burton-based preparation can be arranged

Use the official GOV.UK practical driving test booking service.

Preparing for a Practical Test in Burton-on-Trent

If your practical test is booked in Burton-on-Trent, some lessons may need to take place in and around Burton before test day.

The purpose is not to memorise a fixed test route. Examiners can use different roads, and routes may change.

Burton-based preparation may include:

• Busy roundabouts
• Multi-lane approaches
• Correct lane selection
• Residential roads
• Meeting traffic
• Pedestrian crossings
• Changing speed limits
• Dual carriageways
• Following road signs
• Satellite-navigation directions
• Independent driving
• Parking manoeuvres
• Responding to cyclists and pedestrians

Travelling between Uttoxeter and Burton may also provide useful practice involving rural roads, bends, faster routes and changing traffic conditions.

Important practical test booking information:

Learners must book and manage their own practical driving test through the official GOV.UK service. Nationwide Driving School and its instructors cannot book, change, cancel or manage a car driving test on a learner’s behalf.

For an intensive driving course, please give Nationwide Driving School at least 3 weeks’ notice before your test date. This gives us time to check instructor availability and arrange a suitable course based on the number of training hours required.

Please do not book a practical test with fewer than 10 full working days’ notice unless you are prepared to lose the test fee. GOV.UK states that learners will normally have to pay again if they change or cancel a car driving test with less than 10 full working days’ notice. Monday to Saturday count as working days, while Sundays and public holidays do not.

Before booking, speak to us about the proposed test centre, date and time. Course availability, instructor availability and use of a tuition vehicle cannot be guaranteed until confirmed.

Book and manage your practical driving test through GOV.UK

Theory Test Requirements

You must normally pass the theory test before taking the practical car driving test. Learners considering an intensive course should therefore begin theory preparation early.

The theory test covers:

• Road signs
• Road markings
• Speed limits
• Hazard awareness
• Stopping distances
• Rules for other road users
• Safe driving responsibilities

Nationwide Driving School pupils may be able to access theory support through our Theory Test Pro page.

Official Driving Resources

• Apply for a provisional driving licence
• Book your official theory test
• Read The Highway Code
• Book your practical driving test
• Read official road-safety advice

Can Complete Beginners Take an Intensive Course?

Complete beginners may take intensive automatic tuition, subject to instructor availability and suitability.

However, beginners should understand that learning over a shorter period can be demanding. Longer sessions require concentration, and learners may need time between lessons to absorb new information.

Intensive Courses for Partly Trained Learners

Partly trained learners may benefit from a shorter course once their existing ability has been assessed.

Your instructor may review:

• Vehicle control
• Mirror routines
• Junction decisions
• Roundabout positioning
• Speed management
• Meeting traffic
• Manoeuvres
• Independent driving
• Repeated faults
• Overall test readiness

Intensive Courses After an Unsuccessful Test

An unsuccessful test does not always mean that you need to restart your training.

A focused course may help you work on faults identified in your driving-test report, including:

• Observation faults
• Junction decisions
• Lane discipline
• Roundabout positioning
• Speed control
• Meeting traffic
• Planning ahead
• Manoeuvres
• Remaining calm after a mistake

Course Scheduling and Availability

Automatic intensive courses require careful scheduling. When making an enquiry, provide:

• Your full postcode
• Your previous driving experience
• Whether you have passed your theory test
• Whether you have a practical test booked
• Your preferred course dates
• Your daily availability
• The number of hours you are considering
• Any particular learning needs

Instructor availability cannot be guaranteed for every requested date. Booking a practical test before confirming tuition may cause problems if an instructor or vehicle is unavailable.

Using the Instructor’s Car for Your Test

Use of the instructor’s vehicle for a practical test is not automatically included with every intensive course.

Vehicle availability may depend on:

• The test being agreed in advance
• Your ability to drive safely without assistance
• Completion of the planned training
• Instructor availability
• The selected test centre
• The date and time of the test
• The instructor’s assessment of your readiness

No Guaranteed Practical Test Passes

Nationwide Driving School does not guarantee practical-test passes.

The result depends on your performance during the official test and whether you demonstrate the required standard of safe, independent driving.

An intensive course can provide focused tuition, but it cannot remove the need to:

• Practise consistently
• Listen to feedback
• Correct repeated faults
• Manage nerves
• Make safe decisions independently
• Meet the required driving-test standard

Beginner Offers and Block-Booking Discounts

Learners may be able to access beginner offers or block-booking options, depending on the selected course and current availability.

View Beginner Offers

View Block-Booking Options

View Intensive Courses

Why Choose Nationwide Driving School?

Learners may choose Nationwide Driving School for:

• Automatic intensive course enquiries in Uttoxeter
• Tuition for complete beginners
• Support for nervous learners
• Courses for partly trained pupils
• Practical-test preparation
• Structured one-to-one tuition
• Local Uttoxeter road experience
• Possible Burton-on-Trent test preparation
• Block-booking options
• Theory-test support
• Online booking and enquiries

Pupils may be taught by DVSA-approved driving instructors or DVSA-licensed trainee driving instructors, where applicable. All instructors providing paid driving tuition are authorised to do so.

Read feedback from previous pupils on our customer reviews page or view our Google reviews.

Areas Covered Near Uttoxeter

Subject to automatic instructor availability, intensive-course enquiries may be accepted from:

• Uttoxeter
• Bramshall
• Rocester
• Denstone
• Doveridge
• Marchington
• Stramshall
• Kingstone
• Draycott in the Clay
• Checkley
• Tean
• Sudbury
• Surrounding villages

Please provide your full postcode so that local instructor coverage can be checked accurately.

How to Book an Automatic Intensive Course

1. Complete the online booking or enquiry form.
2. Provide your full postcode.
3. Select automatic tuition.
4. Explain your previous driving experience.
5. Confirm whether you have passed your theory test.
6. Provide any practical-test details.
7. List your available dates and times.
8. Course availability can then be checked.

Book or Enquire Online

Call 0800 048 9075

Email Nationwide Driving School

Frequently Asked Questions