Only Automatic Driving School

02/06/2026

🏓 HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO YAT P**N! 🚗💨

alk about a smash hit performance! Today, professional table tennis star Yat P**n officially traded her transit passes for total driving freedom after passing her driving test at the Gosforth Driving Test Centre! 🎉

Yat travels all over the UK for her sport, represented Japan in the World Championships last year, and just dominated by winning a massive national competition this year! Having her driving licence is an absolute game-changer, giving her the ultimate freedom to get to her next big match with ease. 🏆

A massive shoutout to her incredible instructor, ADI Mandy! When it comes to getting a first-time pass, it looks like Mandy really knows how to serve up a winner, keeping her students on the right track without any spin! 🏓💥

We are so incredibly proud of you, Yat! Safe driving, and we can’t wait to see you keep crushing it on the world stage! 🌍🚘

Want to serve up your own driving success?If you want to learn to drive in North Tyneside, let us help you ace your test!👉 Contact us today at onlyautomatic.com/contact

02/06/2026

🎉 ANOTHER FANTASTIC PASS IN BLYTH! 🎉
A massive congratulations to Amber, who passed her driving test at Blyth Driving Test Centre with ADI Mandy! 🚗💨
This is a wonderful family tradition, as Amber followed right in her brother's footsteps, who also passed with Mandy 18 months ago. Talk about keeping it in the neighbourhood! 🏡✨
This new licence is going to be a total game-changer for Amber, making it so much easier to get to work and enjoy her social life. Amber does amazing work supporting disabled children at a local school, and we know this freedom is so well-deserved.

🌟Brilliant result, Amber! Safe driving, and well done to both Amber and Mandy! 🥳🥂🚦

Want to get on the road in North Tyneside? Whether you are a neighbour or from further afield, we can help you pass too!👉 Get in touch today at onlyautomatic.com/contact

01/06/2026

🚗 Big congratulations to Harpal from London! 🎉

We’re buzzing to share that Harpal passed his ADI Part 2 test today — and he absolutely smashed it! 💪

What’s the Part 2 test?
For anyone new to instructor training, the Part 2 is the driving ability test for becoming an Approved Driving Instructor. It’s an advanced driving exam where you’re assessed on car control, road procedure, anticipation, and eco-safe driving. It’s a tough 60-minute drive with zero room for serious faults. Harpal handled it with ease.

A massive shoutout to Instructor Trainer Stu 🙌 Stu leads all of our training and also supports candidates from other driving schools. He’s on fire — in the last 2 weeks alone, Stu has helped 5 candidates pass their Part 2 and Part 3 tests. That’s what we call results!

Thinking about a career change or want expert training to boost your chances? Get in touch with us. And don’t worry — if you’re already training with another school, we 100% insist you honour that commitment. We’re here to help the industry, not poach.

Well done Harpal — good luck with your career as an ADI. The roads need more instructors like you! 🛣️✨

01/06/2026

🚗 ZERO FAULTS AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT! 🚗
Huge congratulations to Lynden Gooch! 🌟The Huddersfield Town professional footballer and former Sunderland AFC fan favourite has just smashed his UK driving test at Hartlepool Driving Test Centre! 🏆
Many of you know Gooooch and have seen him driving around for years, wondering how that was possible. Born in the USA, Lynden had been legally renewing his international driving permit since passing his American test years ago. Like many professional athletes, finding the time to sit the official UK test was almost impossible—until today!
Being the professional he is, Lynden did the responsible thing. He sought out a few guidance lessons with ADI Peter at Only Automatic Driving School to get test-ready.
A clean sheet with ZERO FAULTS is incredibly rare, but Lynden’s standard of driving is exceptional. He just needed a few minor tweaks!
💬 A note from Peter:"He has been an absolute joy to accompany on this short but ultimately rewarding adventure. We’ve certainly had a few laughs, and together, we even solved all of the issues with modern football (I wish!)."🎭
The Ultimate Test Drama!
What makes this perfect pass even more legendary is the drama right at the start. As Lynden pulled out, he was greeted by a motorist driving the WRONG WAY down a dual carriageway! On his actual test! 🤯 While anyone else would have been completely unnerved, Lynden kept his cool like a true pro.
Well done, Lynden! An incredible result. Safe driving, and we hope to see you soon in Milan (you might just have to pull a sicky for that trip! 😉✈️).

29/05/2026

🚗💨 HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO JAKE! 🥳🎉
What an absolutely incredible day in Sunderland! Jake didn't just pass his driving test... he passed with a completely CLEAN SHEET! That’s right, ZERO faults! 🙌🤩

He was convinced he’d messed it up during the drive, but the examiner turned around at the end and told him it was a "lovely drive"! Talk about a plot twist!

ADI Peter is bursting with pride right now. Learning to drive with Only Automatic Driving School pays off, and getting a clean sheet is a massive achievement. 🏆👏

The timing couldn't be more perfect either. Jake can now fully relax because he is jetting off to Alicante tomorrow morning for a well-deserved holiday! ✈️☀️🌴 What a perfect end to the week!
When he gets back, the adventure really begins. All that's left to do is get that SEAT insured, and the open road is his to explore! 🚙💨

Want to be like Jake? We offer premium automatic driving lessons in Sunderland, North Tyneside, Durham, Washington, Houghton le Spring, and all surrounding areas!
📅 Book your lessons today: onlyautomatic.com/contact
Have an amazing holiday, Jake, and massive congratulations again from Peter and the whole team! Drive safe out there! 🥂🎓🎈

28/05/2026

🎉 Huge congrats to 17 year old Lily from Durham City! 🚗💨

She SMASHED her driving test first time with only 3 minors! 👏

Another brilliant pass for ADI Andy, who said:
"She was a super confident driver, and took to driving very well"

Ready to start your own journey? If you want lessons in the North Durham area, look no further!

We cover: Durham, Washington, North Tyneside, Houghton le Spring, Sunderland, Seaham and surrounding areas.

📍 Coming soon: ADIs covering South Shields and the Middlesbrough areas... Watch this space 👀

Book your automatic lessons today 👉 onlyautomatic.com/contact

28/05/2026

Big congrats to Nazir! 🎉

Proof that belief + great instruction = results. As a civil engineer, Nazir knew a driving licence would open up new sites, projects, and opportunities — so he made it a priority.

He backed himself, put his trust in instructor Rubel, and brought determination, courage, and hard work to every lesson. The payoff? He passed his practical driving test with only 2 minor faults. That’s a fantastic achievement and another proud pass for Rubel!

Nazir, enjoy the freedom of the open road. You earned it 👏

Learning to drive in the North East?

If you’re in Durham, North Tyneside, Washington, Sunderland, Houghton le Spring or nearby and want calm, supportive automatic tuition like Nazir had, Rubel and the team have got you.
📲 Book in: onlyautomatic.com/contact

28/05/2026

🥳🎉 MASSIVE CELEBRATION ALERT 🎉🥳

We are absolutely buzzing to announce that Rabia - one of our brilliant Only Automatic Driving School PDI instructors - has smashed her Part 3 today and is officially a fully qualified ADI!

Instructor Stu is bursting with pride, and honestly the whole Only Automatic team is on cloud nine. Seeing our PDIs succeed is why we do what we do.

This is the final, make-or-break exam to become a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor. It’s a 60-minute in-car assessment where an examiner watches you deliver a real lesson to a pupil. You’re judged on your teaching skills, risk management, lesson planning, and ability to adapt on the spot. No pressure, right?

Thinking of turning your driving skills into a career? Here’s the honest breakdown of what it takes to become an Approved Driving Instructor in the UK:

The process to qualify:
• Check you’re eligible: Held a full UK licence 3+ years, 21+, and no more than 6 penalty points.

• Apply for a DBS check: You’ll need an enhanced criminal record check to get your PRN number.

• Pass the 3 ADI qualifying tests:
1. Part 1 Theory: Hazard perception + multiple choice. Pass rate is around 50% so it needs proper revision.
2. Part 2 Driving Ability: Advanced driving test with very little room for error.
3. Part 3 Instructional Ability: You’ll be assessed teaching a real pupil. This is where most people find it toughest.

The stresses nobody tells you about:
• Time pressure: Most people train while working another job. Balancing study, training sessions, and Part 3 prep is a lot.
• Financial outlay: Tests, training, car adaptations, and franchise fees add up before you earn a penny.
• Test anxiety: Each part has strict standards. If you fail Part 2 or 3 three times, you go back to square one.
• Learning to teach: Being a great driver ≠ being a great teacher. You’re learning patience, lesson planning, and how to handle nervous pupils.
It’s challenging, but also one of the most rewarding careers if you love driving and helping people gain independence.

Want to become a driving instructor with support all the way?
Train with Only Automatic Driving School and we’ll guide you through every part, from DBS to passing Part 3.

👉 Start here: onlyautomatic.com/contact

28/05/2026

5 years for John from Norton, the last pass for me at Middlesbrough Driving test centre. We're now hopefully about to have another instructor joining us from that area.

John, a huge bloke from Norton, a great laugh and a lovely family man.

24/05/2026

🚗 Failed Driving Test in Sunderland! Friday 12:28 PM | Dashcam & Examiner Feedback

We’re dedicated to helping you master your driving skills and ace that practical test. 🚦
Today we're looking at a Sunderland Driving Test recorded on a Friday at 12:28 pm.
It’s a great watch because there were absolutely zero minor driving faults recorded—which proves the candidate had fantastic control of the car! However, the test ended in a fail with one serious and one dangerous fault.
But don't worry! We believe in learning from every drive. Let’s break down what happened so you can avoid these common traps on your big day:

🚴 Getting Too Close to a Cyclist (Serious Fault)

Space is safety! During the drive, the candidate got a little too close to a cyclist.
What to remember: Always give cyclists plenty of room (at least 1.5 metres when overtaking). Remaining highly cautious around vulnerable road users is crucial, and it’s a strict legal requirement to give them the same respect as any other vehicle.

🚶 Pedestrian Crossing Mishap (Dangerous Fault)

This is a classic case of overthinking the road ahead! Approaching a junction, the candidate's mind wandered to the next obstacle, causing them to completely miss pedestrians at a zebra crossing, leading the examiner to step in and brake.
What to remember: Concentration is everything! It's so easy to get caught up thinking about what’s coming up next, but you must stay completely in the moment. Legally, pedestrians have priority the moment they step onto a zebra crossing, and a lapse in focus here can be incredibly dangerous.
Every test is a stepping stone to becoming a safer, more confident driver. Keep practicing, stay focused, and you've got this! 💪
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🚗 Failed Driving Test in Sunderland! Friday 12:28 PM | Dashcam & Ex...