How much do automatic driving lessons cost in Sevenoaks?

My automatic driving lessons cost £95 for the recommended 90-minute lesson, about £63 an hour. So far, my automatic learners who also practise with a parent have needed about 22 hours of lessons, which comes to about £1,380 at today's prices.

All my automatic lessons are in Rene, my electric Renault 5 E-Tech, so if you're looking for electric car lessons, the prices are the same (automatic driving lessons). Here's what lessons cost, what learners actually spend, and how to keep the total down.

My automatic lesson prices

Automatic lessons cost £5 more than manual, whatever the length. Automatic lessons are in high demand, and fewer instructors offer them.

I recommend 90-minute lessons. An hour can feel short once you've settled in, gone over last time's feedback and driven somewhere useful to practise. Ninety minutes gives us time to work properly on specific skills, without becoming tiring. Three-hour sessions are for experienced learners and full-licence holders, not beginners.

Pay as you go, with your price locked

You pay for each lesson as you have it. There are no block bookings, no upfront packages, no booking fees and no extras (how much are driving lessons?).

I've chosen this deliberately. It's hard to predict exactly how many lessons someone will need before they start, so you shouldn't have to pay upfront for lessons you might not use. And once you start learning with me, your price is locked, even if my prices go up later.

How much will automatic lessons cost altogether?

The total depends mainly on how many hours of lessons you need, and that depends on your previous experience, how regularly you have lessons, how well you use feedback and, above all, how much you practise in between.

Here's what my own learners have needed, from my last 65 passes:

The automatic figures come from only four learners so far, so treat them as early figures. They're averages, not quotes: some learners need fewer hours, some more, and I'll never take you to test before you're ready (how many automatic driving lessons do you need to pass?).

It's the hours, not the hourly rate, that decide what you spend.

Will I save money by learning in an automatic?

Probably not, on the figures so far. Automatic lessons cost £5 more each, and my automatic and manual learners who practise with a parent have needed about the same number of hours (about 22 and 21.5).

That surprises people, because an automatic is simpler to operate. With no clutch or gears, you can give more attention to steering, observation, junctions and other road users from the start, which can make a real difference if you find the coordination of a manual difficult. But you still need the same experience of the road, and that takes time in any car (automatic vs manual driving lessons).

The bigger question is usually which licence you need. Pass in an automatic and you can only drive automatic cars; pass in a manual and you can drive both. If you expect to drive an automatic after you pass, learning in one from the start makes sense.

How practising with a parent cuts the cost

This is where you can really save. My learners who practised with a parent needed about a quarter fewer lessons than those who drove only with me.

Automatics can make that easier too. With no clutch to manage, many parents feel more comfortable supervising, and both of you can concentrate on the road. Between lessons, a learner can practise moving away, approaching junctions, judging gaps and parking, so that when we next meet, we build on that rather than repeating it.

I don't see private practice as a replacement for lessons; the two work together. I introduce the right techniques and correct mistakes; a parent helps them become habits. My Parents' Guide explains how.

Before you start, check three things (practising with family or friends (opens in a new tab), GOV.UK):

• You need an automatic car to practise in. My car is for lessons, so practice happens in a family car.
• The supervisor must be over 21 and have held a full licence for at least 3 years. A manual licence lets them supervise in an automatic; an automatic-only licence doesn't let them supervise in a manual.
• You must be insured to drive that car as a learner. Some insurers also require the supervisor to be over 25.

Looking for electric car lessons?

My automatic lessons are electric lessons: all of them are in Rene, my Renault 5 E-Tech, at the prices above. There's no extra charge for electric.

Learning in an electric car is a little different. Acceleration is smooth and immediate, and regenerative braking slows the car when you lift off. I start with strong regenerative braking, then move to a more conventional mode, so your skills transfer to any automatic (electric vs petrol automatic driving lessons). Rene arrives charged, so you never pay for charging.

Two cost points if you're thinking of buying an electric car after you pass:

• Running costs can be lower than petrol or diesel, but that's the car, not the lessons.
• Get insurance quotes before you buy. Electric cars can be surprisingly expensive to insure for young drivers (choosing your first car).

Price matters, but so does who's teaching you

Price is important, but it shouldn't be the only thing you weigh up. Think about the quality of the teaching, how your progress is tracked and how well lessons prepare you for the Sevenoaks test (how to choose the right driving instructor in Sevenoaks).

You'll only ever learn with me, from your first lesson to your test. Lessons are planned around your progress, and I prepare you for the particular challenges of Sevenoaks roads, not just the test.

So, how much will automatic lessons cost?

My automatic lessons cost £75 an hour, or £95 for the recommended 90 minutes, pay as you go, with your price locked once you start. If you can practise with a parent, my learners' average so far suggests about £1,380 in total.

The best way to keep that down is the same in any car: regular lessons, plenty of good private practice, and booking your test only when you're genuinely ready.

Hours are averages and ranges from my last 65 passes, to September 2026. Automatic figures come from only four learners. Totals are at today's prices for 90-minute lessons; past learners paid older rates.