Driving lessons in Watford

Your guide to learning to drive in Watford

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

How to choose a driving school in Watford

We know the feeling, you want an instructor who:

• Boosts your confidence
• Makes it enjoyable to learn

• Won’t cost an arm and a leg!

Have a look at these 4 things:

1. Compare reviews

Check out what your fellow learners in Watford have said on review sites. Reliable review sources are key to helping you understand what your experience will be like with the school of your choice.

2. Beware of terms and conditions

There are schools in Watford where driving lesson packages are only valid for six months. If you’re planning on pausing your driving lessons for longer than six months, look at the school’s terms and conditions to double check if there is an expiry date on your lessons.

3. Check that you can switch instructors

Some schools in Watford let you swap instructors, which is useful if you and your current driving instructor aren’t getting along. Make sure you check how long it would take a school to rematch you.

4. Avoid long waiting times

Some schools in Watford only show you their waiting times while you’re midway through booking lessons online, or worse, after you have already paid for them. Try to find out how long you’ll have to wait before you book your first lesson so you're not waiting unnecessarily long to start learning.

Choosing between manual and automatic

You have the choice of taking manual or automatic driving lessonsin Watford.

Lessons in manual cars are generally cheaper as there are more manual instructors available. Manuals also have more controls than automatics, which can give you a greater feeling of control of the car.

Best of all, a manual licence lets you drive automatics and manuals, whereas an automatic licence limits you to automatics.

On the other hand, since automatics have no clutch pedal, they are much easier to drive, meaning you could learn quicker and avoid stressing about finding the biting point. They’re also great in heavy traffic as you won’t have to continually fiddle with the gears as you stop and start again.

It’s up to you to decide which one suits you better!

Choosing your test centre

Your instructor will help you practise the routes that are likely to come up in your driving test. Here are the test centres that are closest to you.

Test centre pass rates

DVSA practical car test pass rates, 2018-2019.

Borehamwood Test Centre | Pass rate: 49.3%

Borehamwood Test Centre is found within Stirling Court. You’ll get lots of mini roundabouts on roads like Allum Lane and Furzehill Road.

Address: Ground Floor, Unit 1, Stirling Court, Stirling Way, Borehamwood, WD6 2BT

Watford Test Centre | Pass rate: 46%

You’ll find Watford Test Centre on Otterspool Way which is right next to the A41. It is within CP House which has lots of available parking nearby, though expect lots of parked cars.

Address: CP House, Otterspool Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 8HU

Check out the DVSA page to find your nearest driving test centre.

Test tips from Watford instructors

1. Prepare for narrow roads and parked cars

If you take your test at Borehamwood, you’ll drive through some narrow roads like Gravely Avenue and Chester Road. They will likely have either parked cars or on-coming drivers. Watch your passing distances and your speed, especially when manoeuvring past another driver.

2. Prepare for lots of Mini-roundabouts

Borehamwood will feature a lot of mini-roundabouts, so if you’re attempting the practical assessment here, you need to be confident in dealing with them. Some learners mention dealing with a least 15 mini-roundabouts, many of them in quick succession of each other.

3. Take care when parking

Borehamwood Test Centre shares its premises with the DVLA, meaning the car park can get really busy with both cars and pedestrians. It would be worth getting there a bit earlier to give yourself time to secure a spot.

4. Bring everything you need

Both your provisional driver’s licence and theory test pass certificate are needed for your test. Bring them along or your test will be cancelled.