Driving Lessons in Norwich

The essential guide to learning to drive in Norwich

View other guides: Driving lessons in London, Driving lessons in Manchester, Driving lessons in Birmingham.

How to choose a driving school in Norwich

You deserve an instructor who:

• Builds your confidence
• Makes learning fun
• Doesn’t cost the earth!

That’s why you should do these 4 things:

1. Compare reviews

Most schools in Norwich will only display their best testimonials online, which provides only a partial view of a school. Check out independent review sites like Yell.com to see what learners have been saying unfiltered.

2. Be aware of terms and conditions

Plenty of Norwich driving schools have attractive introductory offers, like 10 hours for £200. But these are often only available to ‘new drivers,’ meaning they’ll only be redeemable if you’ve no driving experience at all.

3. Check that you can switch instructors

If, for whatever reason, you’re wanting a new instructor, you’ll need a school that lets you switch. However, not every school in Norwich allows you to switch instructor, so take care to find one that does so you don’t get caught out.

4. Avoid long waiting times

The majority of schools in Norwich don’t publish their waiting times until you make a booking request. Don’t pay for lessons until you know how soon a school can get you on the road learning.

Choosing between manual and automatic

There’s a choice to made between manual and automatic driving lessons in Norwich.

Lessons in manual cars can be cheaper, and once you pass you are qualified to drive both manual and automatic vehicles. An automatic licence restricts you to automatic cars, but these can often be easier to learn in, so you could end up passing quicker.

You might want to think about where you plan to drive in Norwich. If you think you’ll be stuck in traffic a lot, an automatic could be better for you, as you won’t have to worry about changing gears. And there certainly can be some traffic around Norwich, as the Eastern Daily Press has said.

However, by choosing an automatic, you might lose out on the sense of control a manual transmission provides, especially when tackling hills. That’s because in a manual, you can change down gears for more power in anticipation of a hill.

There are pros and cons to both sides. The decision’s down to you!

Choosing a driving test centre

When you’ve picked your driving test centre, your instructor will help you learn the routes likely to come up in your test.

Test centre pass rates

DVSA practical car test pass rates, 2018-2019.

Peachman Way Test Centre | Pass rate: 51.5%

Peach Way Test Centre has a solid pass rate, above the national average. But don’t think it’s going to a cinch. The roads may be quiet, but there will be plenty of roundabouts to contend with.

Address: Plot 16A, Peachman Way, Broadlands Business Park, Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 0WE

Jupiter Road Test Centre | Pass rate: 49.7%

Exiting the test centre, you’ll quickly hit the busy A1042. Stay switched on as there are lots of phased junctions to navigate on this road.

Address: Jupiter Road, Hellesdon, Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 6SS

To find your nearest test centre, you can enter your postcode on the DVSA’s website.

Test tips from Norwich instructors

1. Be ready for roundabouts

Norwich has roundabouts galore, especially around Peachman Way Test Centre. Remember your mirror checks, and to signal early, as some learners can forget in the pressure of the test!

2. Take a driving lesson beforehand

It’s always smart to take a driving lesson before your test. You can go over the roads around your test centre, or sneak in some last-minute manoeuvre practice. It’s also a good opportunity to get accustomed to the day’s driving conditions.

3. Perfect your hill starts

The city centre has quite a few inclined roads, which, coupled with multiple phased junctions, means you’ll need to be able to ace your hill starts. Prince of Wales Road is a good place to start if you need extra practice.

4. Prepare for junctions

There are some tricky junctions around Norwich, most of them near Jupiter Road Test Centre. Where the A1042 meets the A140 there’s a large phased box junction. From most directions it’s a three-lane approach, so lane positioning is key!