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Automatic Driving Lessons

Pros

  • No Gears
    No pesky gears to change for turns, approaches and slowing down. The car will change both up and down for you automatically.
  • No Clutch
    No clutch to press when stopping, meaning you can focus on stopping more safely.
  • Smoother Drive
    Most modern cars will change gear as efficiently as possible, but overall it will mean a much smoother ride.

Cons

  • Less Control
    You’ll have alot less control over the performance and drive as the car will handle gear selections, engine braking and rev matching.
  • More Expensive
    You’ll use more fuel in an automatic and pay more for insurance and maintenance.
  • Automatic Licence
    If you’re the designated driver and wanna drive your mates manual car, then think again. Automatics only on this licence.
Even though 84% of cars in the UK still use manual transmission, automatic cars are gaining popularity, and for good reasons. Going for an auto means no more dealing with gears or a clutch pedal.

Driving in the city also becomes much smoother. You can leave behind the concerns of clutch control and wearing it out. Additionally, there’s no need to deal with the constant stop-and-go frustration of traffic jams.

However, it’s important to note that automatics aren’t perfect either. Before you make a booking, it’s a good idea to know about their downsides too.

Automatic cars not only cost more to buy but also tend to guzzle more fuel and can be pricier to service.

Keep in mind that if you get an automatic license, you won’t be able to drive a manual car later. However, manual drivers have the option to switch to an auto if they want to.

Also, learning to drive in an automatic doesn’t always make it easier or quicker. Pass rates for automatic cars are lower compared to manual cars.

  • DVSA Theory Test

    £30.00
  • Automatic Beginners Course

    Newcastle

    £150.00
  • Automatic Driving Lesson – 2 Hours

    Newcastle

    £80.00
  • Automatic Driving Lessons – 10 Hours

    Newcastle

    £390.00
  • Automatic Driving Lessons – 20 Hours

    Newcastle

    £760.00
  • DVSA Theory Test

    £30.00
  • Automatic Beginners Course

    Newcastle

    £150.00
  • Automatic Driving Lesson – 2 Hours

    Newcastle

    £80.00
  • Automatic Driving Lessons – 10 Hours

    Newcastle

    £390.00
  • Automatic Driving Lessons – 20 Hours

    Newcastle

    £760.00
Great instructors, Hassan got me passed really fast and even managed to move my test to a sooner date! Super patient and great at explaining. Would highly recommend.
I passed my driving test last weekend, I want to say huge thanks to my instructor Lisa baour, she's been amazing mentor throughout the process. I'm from different country and I didn't have any driving experience before, so I had to learn everything from the scratch, she's been calm and polite from the very beginning, that help me lot to boost my confidence and take out my driving nervousness. Thank you so much Lisa and shift for making me a better driver, i higly recommend Lisa and shift, you won't be disappointed..cheers 🍻🍻
I had a great experience learning to drive with Shift and my instructor, Ciaran. As an anxious driver, I really appreciated his patience, encouragement, and support, which helped me build up my confidence behind the wheel. The booking app was also very convenient and easy to use, and Ciaran was always flexible and accommodating with my availability. Thanks to his help, I passed my driving test on the first try. Big thank you to Shift and especially to Ciaran for all the support!
I highly recommend Shift Driving School Gateshead for beginners or anyone with some prior experience. Their website is excellent, and the app is incredibly user friendly, it makes booking lessons, tracking progress, making payments, and setting your availability so simple.

One of the things that impressed me most was how quickly Shift matched me with an instructor. Within a week of purchasing my package, I was driving. Other companies I contacted took over two weeks just to respond and told me I’d be waiting up to five weeks for an instructor. Choosing Shift was definitely the best decision I made.

I had Simon as my instructor, and he was fantastic. He was super flexible with my hectic schedule, gave me honest and constructive feedback, and used the app to track my progress so I could clearly see what I needed to work on and what I was already doing well. This made the lessons streamlined and efficient.

Simon also gave me the confidence to believe I was ready before I even felt it myself and he was right. Thanks to his teaching, I passed my driving test with zero faults (not even a single minor!).

Overall, Shift offers great cars (Mercedes 😉), an easy to use system, and most importantly, excellent instructors. Huge thanks to Simon for making the learning experience such a positive one!
My experience using Shift Driving School in Gateshead has been outstanding from start to finish.

My instructor, Simon Houghton, was incredibly patient, personable, and knowledgeable. He explained everything clearly, tailored lessons to my pace, and kept me calm with encouraging, constructive feedback.

His local knowledge and practical tips made a huge difference, and my confidence grew every week.

Thanks to Simon’s guidance, I’ve just passed my driving test and feel ready to drive independently.

I’d highly recommend Shift driving School—especially Simon—to anyone in Gateshead looking for a supportive, professional instructor and great results.
Passed with Simon today! He’s an outstanding instructor, so much patience and understanding, especially for neurodivergent learners. My confidence developed massively whilst learning with Simon. Also big shout out to the whole team, especially Lewis, for being so reassuring when I first reached out about lessons. I’d recommend these guys to anyone.
100% recommend Shift to anyone looking to learn. Simon is an excellent instructor, so calm and confident, took his time to understand me and how I learn best so that I could become a confident driver. Passed today with only 1 minor fault!
Super organised with their own app which helps you fit your lessons in whenever you like. Lewis is so patient and supportive and very calming when you’re just beginning. He has really developed my confidence and I couldn’t recommend Shift and Lewis enough!
Lewis is a great instructor very patient, clear, and encouraging he made learning to drive feel easy and enjoyable highly recommend.
I passed my test today and would like to thank my instructor, Mr. Hassan. He has been incredibly kind, patient, and clear in his explanations, which made the whole learning experience truly positive. Throughout my journey, I had only one instructor and never felt the need to change, thanks to the excellent guidance I received. I’m also grateful to the Shift team for making everything smooth and convenient through the mobile application.

How many driving lessons will I need?

The number of driving lessons you’ll need will depend on your individual circumstances and how quickly you learn. On average, it takes around 40-50 hours of driving lessons to pass the driving test, but some people may need more or less depending on their previous experience, confidence level, and ability to learn.

Do you have female driving instructors?

Yes, we do have female driving instructors available. When you book your driving lessons, you can request a female instructor if you prefer.

Do you do manual lessons?

Yes, we offer manual driving lessons in addition to automatic lessons. If you prefer to learn in a manual car, we can accommodate your needs. Click here to be taken to our Manual Driving Lessons page.

Is there a long wait for driving lessons?

We do our best to accommodate all our students’ needs and offer flexible scheduling. However, availability may vary depending on the location and the time of year.

What other areas do you cover?

At the moment we provide driving lessons in Newcastle, Gateshead and surrounding areas. Additionally, we are actively seeking driving instructors in other areas. Do you know someone who has what it takes? Click here to visit our become a driving instructor page.

Great instructors, Hassan got me passed really fast and even managed to move my test to a sooner date! Super patient and great at explaining. Would highly recommend.
100% recommend Shift to anyone looking to learn. Simon is an excellent instructor, so calm and confident, took his time to understand me and how I learn best so that I could become a confident driver. Passed today with only 1 minor fault!
I had a great experience learning to drive with Shift and my instructor, Ciaran. As an anxious driver, I really appreciated his patience, encouragement, and support, which helped me build up my confidence behind the wheel. The booking app was also very convenient and easy to use, and Ciaran was always flexible and accommodating with my availability. Thanks to his help, I passed my driving test on the first try. Big thank you to Shift and especially to Ciaran for all the support!
Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me to be my best. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Swift and Hassan. Thank you!
My experience using Shift Driving School in Gateshead has been outstanding from start to finish.

My instructor, Simon Houghton, was incredibly patient, personable, and knowledgeable. He explained everything clearly, tailored lessons to my pace, and kept me calm with encouraging, constructive feedback.

His local knowledge and practical tips made a huge difference, and my confidence grew every week.

Thanks to Simon’s guidance, I’ve just passed my driving test and feel ready to drive independently.

I’d highly recommend Shift driving School—especially Simon—to anyone in Gateshead looking for a supportive, professional instructor and great results.
I 10000000% recommend this driving school my instructor has been appsalutly amazing he had so much patience and really helped me through all my lessons then he recommend me a nervous course which really helped me as I really struggled with my nerve on my test but I finally done it and passed my test and I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for lewis so thank u sooooo much :)
Super organised with their own app which helps you fit your lessons in whenever you like. Lewis is so patient and supportive and very calming when you’re just beginning. He has really developed my confidence and I couldn’t recommend Shift and Lewis enough!
What a great company to not only learn to drive with, but to actually work with too. We would highly recommend Shift without a doubt.
I passed my test today and would like to thank my instructor, Mr. Hassan. He has been incredibly kind, patient, and clear in his explanations, which made the whole learning experience truly positive. Throughout my journey, I had only one instructor and never felt the need to change, thanks to the excellent guidance I received. I’m also grateful to the Shift team for making everything smooth and convenient through the mobile application.
Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Shift and Hassan. Thank you!