Driving Lessons in Putney

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

How to choose a driving school in Putney

You won’t be short of driving instructors in Putney. You deserve one who:

• Encourages you
• Makes learning enjoyable
• Won’t charge a fortune!

So, when you’re choosing a driving school in Putney, be sure to do these 4 things:

1. Compare reviews

By comparing reviews on Trustpilot or Google reviews, you’ll get a much clearer idea of the driving school that you’d like to learn with. As well as focusing on the good reviews, take a look at how the driving schools in Putney respond to the bad reviews they receive.

2. Beware of terms and conditions

You might be tempted just to skim through the terms and conditions, but make sure that you read them carefully. Some driving schools in Putney won’t refund any unused lesson hours, while others invalidate your lessons if you don’t take them within a short timeframe.

3. Check that you can switch instructors

After all the time you spend choosing a driving instructor in Putney, the last thing you want is to find that you don’t gel. So, to be on the safe side, it’s worth checking that your driving school will help you to switch instructors free of charge if things don’t work out. Not all driving schools in Putney state their switching policies on their websites.

4. Avoid long waiting times

Waiting times can be as long as three or four weeks with some driving schools in Putney, especially during busy times of year. So, before you choose a driving school, check what their waiting times are. It may influence your decision.

Tips for learning to drive in Putney

The DVSA recommends 22 hours of private practice between your driving lessons in Putney, so that you can hone your driving skills and become a more confident driver.

Driving instructors in Putney have pinpointed some great practice spots, so get yourself behind the wheel and head to one of these places.

• Putney Village: If you’re just starting out, Putney Village is a great spot to get your head around the basics like steering and clutch control. You could also return here when you’re looking to perfect your manoeuvres. The streets here are wide and quiet - in fact, you could forget you were in London altogether!

• One-way system: Just north of Putney Railway Station, you’ll find a number of one-way streets. Driving instructors in Putney have recommended that you head here to practise responding to road signs.

• A205: Also known as Upper Richmond Road, the A205 cuts through Putney and goes straight past both Putney Railway Station and East Putney tube station. It’s a busy urban road lined with parked cars and pedestrians, so it’s a great spot to perfect your hazard perception.

• Ranelagh Gardens: Near Putney Bridge tube station, Ranelagh Gardens is lined with parked cars on both sides. According to driving instructors in Putney, it’s a great place to practise your parallel parking and to get your head around passing distances.

• A3: You’ll need to get some dual carriageway practice before your driving test, and the A3 is the perfect place to do it. It’s not a dual carriageway for its entire length though, so follow it through Putney Heath towards Richmond Park to get the practice you need.

Choosing your test centre

After you’ve taken some driving lessons in Putney, your instructor will help you to choose a driving test centre. It’s usually best to choose a driving test centre near to where you live, so that you can head to the areas around it during your driving lessons and private practice. Unfortunately, there aren’t any test centres in Putney, but we’ve listed your closest below.

Test centre pass rates

DVSA practical car test pass rates, 2018-2019.

Isleworth (Fleming Way) Test Centre | Pass rate: 42.2%

This test centre is located on a quiet business park surrounded by residential roads, so at least you know you can ease yourself into your test a bit more gently. There aren’t any toilets here, so be sure to go for a safety wee beforehand!

Address: The Wireless Factory, Fleming Way, Isleworth, Greater London, TW7 6DB

Mitcham Test Centre | Pass rate: 41.2%

You’ll find Mitcham Test Centre in a bustling industrial area. There are often cars parked down the side of Redhouse Road, so you may have to give way to vans and trucks. Make sure you perfect your passing distances!

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

Morden Test Centre | Pass rate: 47.9%

Morden Test Centre is located just off the busy A24, so you can expect dual carriageway driving to crop up in a test here. There isn’t a car park available for test candidates, so be sure to arrive early so you can find a parking spot near the test centre.

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

Use the DVSA test centre finder to see a full list of driving test centres near you.

Test tips from driving instructors in Putney

We know you’re keen to pass your test first time, so we asked driving instructors in Putney for some tips!

1. Research your test centre

Instructors in Putney have warned that some of the test centres nearby are either lacking in toilets or allocated parking. It’s little things like this that can risk getting you flustered on test day, so make sure you know what to expect so that you can plan ahead accordingly.

2. Drive defensively

Unfortunately, London drivers can be fairly aggressive, so it’s best to always expect the unexpected from them and adapt your driving accordingly. That way, you don’t risk getting caught out by bad drivers.

3. Perfect your hazard perception

Many of the test centres near Putney are located in busy areas where you may encounter the doors of parked cars swinging open unexpectedly, buses pulling out in front of you and pedestrians suddenly wandering out into the road. Keep your eyes peeled for hazards at all times so that you can demonstrate to your examiner that you’re a safe driver.

Choosing between manual and automatic

Before you book a driving lesson package, you’ll need to choose between manual and automatic driving lessons. There are pros and cons to both transmissions, so take your time to decide.

You might find an automatic car more relaxing to drive in Putney. Automatics don’t require you to change gears, so they’re less trouble in stop-start traffic, which you’re sure to encounter a lot of in South West London! On top of that, taking automatic driving lessons may enable you to pass your driving test quicker, as there’s less to get to grips with.

In contrast, a manual car requires more input from you as a driver, as it needs you to press and depress the clutch each time you come to a standstill or change gears. Nevertheless, some people find this makes driving more fun and gives them a greater sense of control, especially on longer roadtrips that take them out of London. Manual driving lessons also tend to be cheaper, and manual cars less expensive to buy or hire.

Whether you think you’d prefer to drive a manual or automatic transmission car, it’s worth bearing in mind that a manual licence qualifies you to drive both. On the other hand, an automatic licence only qualifies you to drive automatics, so you’ll need to be sure of your decision.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours!

Where we provide driving lessons in Putney

Wherever you are in Putney, you can find a driving lesson. A few of the popular areas include East Putney, Putney Bridge and Putney Village.

You can also find driving lessons across London, including Barking, Brixton, Bromley, Clapham, Croydon, Dagenham, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Harrow, Hayes, Hendon, Hounslow, Islington, Kingston upon Thames, Romford, Southall, Stratford, Sutton, Tottenham, Twickenham, Uxbridge, Walthamstow, Wandsworth, Watford, Wembley and Wimbledon.