Drive Auto 1st

Drive Auto 1st Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Drive Auto 1st, Driving school, Hookstone Chase, Harrogate.

Professional Automatic Driving School offering Automatic Driving Lessons with an experienced Automatic Driving Instructor and Driving Instructor, providing patient Beginner Driving Lessons to help learners gain confidence and drive safely.

Every lesson starts before the car moves.That moment you see here — leaning in, talking through what's on the screen, bo...
15/06/2026

Every lesson starts before the car moves.

That moment you see here — leaning in, talking through what's on the screen, both of us relaxed and smiling — that's actually one of the most important parts of what I do.

Before we pull away, I always take a few minutes to walk through the car with you. The MG4 is different to what most people expect. It's electric, it's quiet, and the dashboard is more like a tablet than a traditional car interior. Some learners love it straight away. Others need a moment to take it in.

Either reaction is completely fine.

What I've noticed over 20+ years of teaching is that nerves often come from feeling unprepared — not from the driving itself. So if we spend the first few minutes just getting comfortable with the controls, the display, how the car responds — everything that follows tends to feel a lot calmer.

There's no rush. No pressure to just get going before you're ready.

That's the difference between learning in a supported environment and feeling thrown in at the deep end.

Whether you're a complete beginner or you've had lessons before and want a fresh start, I teach all ages and abilities across Harrogate, York, Knaresborough, Ripon, Wetherby and the surrounding areas.

If you'd like to find out more or book a first lesson, just drop me a message. Happy to have a chat first if that helps. 😊

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

Three things to do before your first driving lesson — and honestly, the list is shorter than most people think.Get your ...
13/06/2026

Three things to do before your first driving lesson — and honestly, the list is shorter than most people think.

Get your provisional licence applied for, spend a little time with the Highway Code, and then let go of the worry. That third one matters more than people realise.

Most of my learners arrive nervous. That's completely normal. The rest takes care of itself once you're in the car and moving.

Drop me a message when you're ready to get started.

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

That white dashed line in the middle of the road tells you something most learner drivers don't think about until it's t...
11/06/2026

That white dashed line in the middle of the road tells you something most learner drivers don't think about until it's too late.

It means the road is divided. Two directions. Other vehicles coming the other way. And on a two-lane road outside of town, those speeds are higher, the gaps are smaller, and the decisions come faster.

A lot of what I teach in lessons covers town driving — roundabouts, junctions, traffic lights. And rightly so. That's where most tests are assessed.

But the roads between Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough and the villages? Those are a different kind of driving altogether. Wider roads, faster limits, longer straights where your eyes need to be working much further ahead.

I make sure my learners get proper experience on those roads, not just town routes. Because passing your test is one thing — feeling genuinely confident on any road you might actually use is something else entirely.

That's why I cover real local routes throughout our lessons. You won't just know how to pass. You'll know these roads.

If you're thinking about starting lessons — or you've been putting it off for a while — I'd love to have a chat. Drop me a message and we'll find a time that works for you. 🚗

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

Before I became a driving instructor, I spent time doing something a little different.That's me suiting up at the track ...
08/06/2026

Before I became a driving instructor, I spent time doing something a little different.

That's me suiting up at the track — helmet on, race suit, the whole thing. I've done corporate driving days at Silverstone and spent years around motorsport at a level most people don't expect from their local driving instructor.

I don't say that to show off. I say it because it shapes how I teach.

When you understand a car properly — how it responds, how weight shifts, how braking actually works — you become a better, calmer, more confident driver. And that understanding is something I bring into every single lesson I give in Harrogate and York.

I've been a qualified ADI since 2003. That's 20+ years of teaching learners of all ages and abilities, including plenty of people who were convinced they'd never be able to drive.

The track background might surprise people. But honestly, it's one of the reasons I'm so calm and patient behind the wheel. I've seen what cars are actually capable of — so I'm never rattled by a wobbly junction or a missed mirror check.

If you're thinking about learning to drive — or you've tried before and it didn't click — I'd love to have a chat.

Drop me a message or find me at DriveAuto1st. 🏁

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

Learning to drive in an electric car is genuinely different to what most people expect.There's no engine noise to second...
05/06/2026

Learning to drive in an electric car is genuinely different to what most people expect.

There's no engine noise to second-guess, no gears to think about, and no stalling. The MG4 is smooth and quiet from the moment we pull away, which makes a real difference when you're already concentrating on everything else around you.

A lot of my learners tell me their first lesson felt far less stressful than they were expecting. That's not luck. That's the car doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

If you're thinking about starting lessons in Harrogate, York or the surrounding areas, feel free to drop me a message and I'll talk you through your options.

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

A few spaces have opened up in my schedule for lessons in Harrogate and York, so I wanted to let you know.Whether you're...
02/06/2026

A few spaces have opened up in my schedule for lessons in Harrogate and York, so I wanted to let you know.

Whether you're a complete beginner or you've had a few lessons elsewhere and want a fresh start, I'd love to hear from you. Lessons are in my fully electric MG4, automatic only, with pick-up and drop-off included.

Pay As You Go from £45 for a 1 hour lesson, no block commitment needed. Just drop me a message and we'll find a time that works for you.

Chris
DriveAuto1st

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

This car turns heads every single time I pull up to collect a learner.People see the MG4 and do a double take. It doesn'...
02/06/2026

This car turns heads every single time I pull up to collect a learner.

People see the MG4 and do a double take. It doesn't look like a typical driving school car — and that's kind of the point.

No rattly old hatchback. No faded paintwork. Just a sleek, modern electric car with a green number plate and a roof sign that says we mean business.

But here's the thing — it's not just about how it looks. The MG4 is genuinely one of the best cars you could ever learn to drive in.

Because it's fully electric, it's whisper quiet. The acceleration is smooth and instant — no revving, no over-clutching, no kangarooing away from a junction. And because it's automatic, there's no stalling. Ever.

For nervous learners especially, that last point changes everything. So much of driving anxiety comes from the fear of getting something mechanically wrong in front of other drivers. Take that away, and people relax. When people relax, they actually learn.

I cover Harrogate, York, Knaresborough, Ripon, Wetherby and the surrounding villages — and yes, I come to you. Pick-up and drop-off is included with all my lesson packages.

Pay As You Go lessons start from £45 for a full 1 hours if you just want to try it out.

Drop me a message if you'd like to know more — I'm always happy to have a chat before you commit to anything. 🚗

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

Rural roads don't come up in the driving test — and that surprises a lot of people.Your test takes place on familiar loc...
02/06/2026

Rural roads don't come up in the driving test — and that surprises a lot of people.

Your test takes place on familiar local routes, mostly towns and suburbs. Roundabouts, junctions, housing estates. That kind of thing. But a quiet country lane like this one? Chances are you won't see one during your actual test.

Which means plenty of newly qualified drivers head out on their own for the first time and suddenly face something they've never really practised. No pavements. Hedgerows right up to the edge. Bends you can't see round. Oncoming vehicles taking up more of the road than you'd expect.

It's one of the reasons I cover rural roads as part of my lessons here in Harrogate and York. The villages I teach in — Knaresborough, Ripon, Wetherby, Haxby, Copmanthorpe — they're all connected by roads that look exactly like this. Beautiful on a summer evening. A little less forgiving if you're not prepared.

Learning to read the road ahead, adjust your speed before a bend, and position yourself correctly — these things matter just as much as parallel parking.

If you'd like to build real confidence across all kinds of roads, not just the test route, I'd love to help.

Drop me a message and we'll have a chat. 🌿

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

That smile says everything. 🎉Pass certificate in one hand, P plate in the other — leaning against the MG4 like she owns ...
01/06/2026

That smile says everything. 🎉

Pass certificate in one hand, P plate in the other — leaning against the MG4 like she owns the road. This is one of my absolute favourite moments in this job, and I never get tired of it.

This is what all those lessons build towards. Not just passing a test — but walking away knowing you can actually do it.

What I love about this photo is how relaxed she looks. No white knuckles. No "I can't believe I survived that" face. Just pure, well-earned joy.

That's what I want for every single learner who gets in my car.

Automatic lessons in the MG4 make such a difference — no stalling, no clutch panic, no hill-start dread. You spend less mental energy on the mechanics of the car and more on actually driving well. And that shows up when it counts most — on test day.

If you've been putting off booking lessons — or you've had a knock to your confidence in the past — I'd love to have a chat.

Drop me a message, or comment below with a 👏 if you remember the feeling of passing your test. When was yours?

📞 07726 772774
🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

🎉🚗 FIRST TIME PASS ALERT 🚗🎉A massive congratulations to Jayne on passing her driving test FIRST TIME! 🥇👏What an incredib...
27/05/2026

🎉🚗 FIRST TIME PASS ALERT 🚗🎉

A massive congratulations to Jayne on passing her driving test FIRST TIME! 🥇👏
What an incredible achievement and so well deserved. Your hard work, determination, and confidence behind the wheel have truly paid off — we are extremely proud of you here at DriveAuto1st!

Thank you for choosing us to be part of your driving journey. We wish you many years of safe and happy driving ahead! 🚘✨

At DriveAuto1st we pride ourselves on delivering:
✅ Automatic Driving Lessons
✅ Friendly & Professional Tuition
✅ Patient & Reliable Instructors
✅ Electric Vehicle Driving Lessons
✅ Beginner to Advanced Tuition
✅ Refresher Lessons
✅ Confidence Building for Nervous Drivers
✅ High First-Time Pass Rates

📍 Areas Covered:
• Harrogate
• York
• Surrounding Areas

📞 Book your lessons today and start your journey to passing with confidence!

🌐 driveauto1st.co.uk
📧 [email protected]

🥇

Address

Hookstone Chase
Harrogate
HG27DD

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 8am - 6pm

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