Elpasso Automatic

Fantastic experience: After wasting both time and money and losing confidence with Ultimate Driving, choosing Richard as my instructor was the best decision I could have made. From the start, he helped me regain my confidence and made sure I spent my entire lesson focused on driving. Richard is calm, patient, and highly skilled at teaching exactly what you need to pass the driving test. Whenever I made a mistake, he addressed it constructively and helped me learn from it. His approach is both outstanding and dedicated—he genuinely cares about helping you succeed. Richard is also flexible with scheduling and offers additional lessons if needed, ensuring you're fully prepared. Thanks to his excellent guidance, I passed my driving test on the first attempt, feeling confident and ready to drive safely. Thank you, Richard, for helping me become a safer, more confident driver :)

Fantastic experience: I was really anxious about learning to drive but Richard made me feel so comfortable, was patient with me when I made mistakes and massively improved my confidence in driving, highly recommend if you want to learn automatic

Fantastic experience: I Finally passed my test , I had the best driving lessons with Richard , He learned me how to pass the test and he built my confidence , I Can’t thank you enough Richard for being very patient and kind with me , I would love to give you 100 stars not just five stars , you’re a great instructor .

Fantastic experience: I passed my test today. I want to say THANK YOU to Richard Curtis ( EIPaso Automatic) for the big help! I want to share that“Ultimate Driving” thoroughly wasted my money and time. I had a very unpleasant experience with Will (one of Ultimate Driving's instructors. He talked for 20-25 minutes at least each lesson, and he didn’t pick me up on time most of the time. The worst one was that It took me to wait for him 20 minutes in the rain (not drizzle) without a message or a call in advance. Please don't choose Ultimate Driving. It is definitely useless!!

Fantastic experience: Great driving instructor, he’s patience and a good teacher. 100% would recommend as majority of the time you will be learning on the road with Richard.

Fantastic experience: An amazing driving instructor! I felt completely comfortable from the very first lesson despite being quite anxious behind the wheel before. Can’t recommend enough.

Fantastic experience: I’m really happy with my driving lessons with Richard.. I originally had driving lessons with another company and didn’t have the best experience, they tended to focus on talking rather than actually driving. With Richard it was very different, I spent the whole time driving and I felt very at ease and it helped me build my confidence quickly. I passed my test today, on my first attempt with only 3 minors. Richard helped keep me calm and feel at ease and he was very patient and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend Elpasso to anyone looking for automatic lessons. Thank you Richard for transforming me in to a safe and confident driver .

Fantastic experience: He is a very patient, helpful driving instructor.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Richard! Passed first time in under a few months :) great instructor

Fantastic experience: Maybe 5 stars is not enough…he deserves 50 stars and beyond and rightly so… My driving story begins with a challenging saga as below - After wasting a lot of money and losing all my confidence in driving - all thanks to Richard of “Ultimate Driving” (who was rude, unprofessional, theoretical and “ultimate talking”)… I met Richard Curtis (the other Richard - without a doubt “the better one”) from ElPaso Automatic. Richard Curtis (whom I will henceforth mention as “Rich” in this post) is one of the calm, cool, friendly, knowledgeable person with a great sense of humour. I couldn’t explain how highly I rate his knowledge & skills. He tried to make me teach through more practical lessons and allowed me to learn from my mistakes (which has helped me to learn quickly and precisely). He is a highly skilled instructor and because of him I have passed my exam as I have almost lost hope of passing the exam (as I got nervous when I thought about driving exam). I can’t thank him enough for all his help and support which he provided me according to my needs. He is one of the best instructors who was so patient and has encouraged me and gave self confidence and guidance and taught me with all his effort…that only left me with sincere gratitude and only praise for him. If anyone out there wants to pass properly and quickly with the right skills and be in right professional hand…Rich is surely the one for you. He takes away the “fear of driving” and subsequently the “fear of driving exam” and motivates you to learn quickly and properly through his techniques (which are immensely effective). Because of Rich I have become a much safer and confident driver. He goes above and beyond to ensure that his trainees are not just capable of passing exams but are also equipped with the real skills and knowledge needed to excel in real life driving with safety in mind. Should I have a magic wand in my hand…I would have definitely used it to guide the current struggling trainees to see my post and get help from Rich as he surely can help - “Rich is surely the best value for your money and your time.” I would highly recommend him to all budding learner drivers… (don’t struggle…approach Richard Curtis of Elpasso Automatic Newbury) Thank you Rich for everything and all the best to all who is reading this post for your upcoming driving exams

Fantastic experience: I want to express my immense gratitude to Richard, my instructor at El Passo automatic, for helping me pass my driving test. His hands-on approach, providing 100% in-car training, was outstanding. Richard’s dedication, expertise, and calm demeanor made each lesson enjoyable and stress-free. His in-depth knowledge of road rules and his ability to explain complex concepts clearly ensured I grasped everything effectively. Richard’s attention to detail, focus on safety, and emphasis on responsible driving were exceptional. I highly recommend El passo automatic to anyone seeking driving lessons. Thank you, Richard, for your exceptional guidance and support!

Fantastic experience: Richard is a fantastic instructor with endless patience, great humour and a wealth of driving knowledge. I enjoyed every lesson. I passed today thanks to El Passo

Fantastic experience: Got me off all people a pass first time This geezer can teach

Fantastic experience: Richard was great . Recommend him

Fantastic experience: HE IS THE BEST OF ALL, SO RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY.

Fantastic experience: Richard is the best instructor. Very recommending!

Fantastic experience: Richard carried me. Passed!

Negative experience: Very unprofessional ...Wont recommend

Fantastic experience: Superb driving instructor. Very calm and reassuring and got me through my test 1st time.

Fantastic experience: Not only did my son pass first time with only the lessons from Richard and no practice in between he really enjoyed the experience. Highly recommended and thank you

Fantastic experience: Richard is very helpful and I have passed my test successfully. Thank you very much!

Fantastic experience: Great driving instructor. Teaches you how to pass the test, helped me pass first time. Very flexible with times and clear communication.

Fantastic experience: Richard has taught both of our children to drive and is definitely the best instructor! His calm and friendly manner put the learner at ease. He gives a lot of encouragement, is very positive and puts confidence their way eliminating any anxiety. I would highly recommend him!

Fantastic experience: Really good driving instructor. Richard was amazing for driving practice and showing me the test routes. He was very calm and removed a lot of pressure from driving, which is of course very important when learning.

Negative experience: Terrible service

Fantastic experience: I would highly recommend going through Richard for your lessons. He is patient, understanding and relaxed. He assists you when you are anxious and provides a heap of knowledge and insight into driving itself and how to pass your test. I am now a confident and independent driver and I couldn’t thank him enough. He is flexible and willing, always going the extra mile in order to accommodate your needs. Absolutely brilliant. Thank you Richard!!!

Fantastic experience: I'm not normally a review writer - but Richard's approach to instruction was so spot on for my son that I had to! Thanks El Passo for the great job :) your relaxed but confidence inspiring style was exactly what he needed.

Fantastic experience: Great driving instructor, no hesitation in recommending - my daughter Emily passed first time, delighted. Richard has a calm and relaxed approach which really helped to install self belief and build confidence in her driving ability. He has a great sense of humour coupled with being an easy conversationalist which really helped her to relax. Richard shared knowledge throughout and was really flexible in providing additional lessons / support in the run up to her test. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: I'm so glad that I chose Richard as my driving instructor. He is the best driving instructor I had!! He helped me rebuild my confidence and he made the whole process so easy and smooth sailing. He is just what you need from a driving instructor. He is very calm, encouraging and helps pupils build confidence in their own ability. He is extremely professional and knowledgeable. He provided so many tips and strategies for how to pass my test and for how I can be a better driver. He has a natural ability to teach and is a great communicator so you are in safe hands. He also didn't string me along - when I was ready to pass my test he told me so and did everything he could to find a slot for me. I passed 1st time and I can't thank Richard enough for all his help and support.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Richard! He enabled me (with no prior experience) to pass my automatic driving test with less than 20 hours of lessons. He is an extraordinary instructor and made the whole process so easy and enjoyable. He is really relaxed and laid-back, but is also highly professional and makes sure you learn absolutely everything you need to know about driving safely. He inspires confidence and truly enables you to learn so much in such a short amount of time. He has excellent communication and organisation, and makes a great effort to fit around your schedule and the timeline for when you want to pass. He surpassed all my expectations for an instructor. I am so glad that I went with him!

Fantastic experience: Extremely good with nervous people and very good at communicating in a professional manner. Very efficient and can't fault in any way. I passed first time with only one minor thanks to this man's time and effort. Thank you soo much.

Fantastic experience: Really glad we chose Richard, he's just what you need from a driving instructor. Speaking from experience, his calm manor will help even the most anxious feel comfortable and build confidence in their own ability. From the off his lessons are full of professional knowledge, tips and strategies for how to drive safely and properly. He has a natural ability to engage with the young and the not so young(!). Lessons are made all the more enjoyable by Richards sense of humour and interesting conversation! Never a dull or boring moment and no more lessons than you need to pass your test. Taught son No.1, who passed 1st time, will be ringing again for son No.2.

Fantastic experience: Very flexible with the time of lessons and good prices.

Fantastic experience: Passed first time with 5 lessons, all those hrs me behind the wheels on the road - Not sitting in a parked car by the side of road :p. Richard is the best instructor in Newbury. He is very calm and composed, always boosts your confidence(a must to pass). Best part is he will never drag your learning curve just to mint money. Thanks you so much Richard for agreeing to give me lessons and freeing up slots for my last minute requirements.

Fantastic experience: Excellent Driving Instructor, Motivator, Planner and above all great Individual, who got me over the line. English is not my first language, but still he managed to accommodate and very importantly his calmness helped me big way. Get on Richards' Elpasso and you are assured Driving License. He is the best in Newbury !!!

Fantastic experience: Richard helped me so much, I passed with no minors! Very good instructor, calm and patient. I was a nervous driver to begin with but he was easy to talk to and very knowledgeable.

Fantastic experience: Quality instructor, the best in the area. Puts you at ease straight away. Knows every little detail you need to pass your test and makes every lesson enjoyable. I would recommend him to anyone. El passo all the way!

Fantastic experience: Richard put our son, Charlie, at rest from the onset. I believe his first words to him were along the lines of ‘here are the keys, you drive off from here, what’s the worst that could happen, a little smash?….and that’s not going to happen’ - we had taken Charlie out a few times as lockdown measures meant no formal lessons until April. So, his first lesson was just after April 19th and he has passed by 1 July. That is a great result. Thank you Richard for your time and patience and humour! We have 3 more children to get through this delightful ordeal - something which is normally deemed a stressful thing was made so much easier. Recommend highly and without any reservation. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: Richard was amazing at helping my son pass his test.He really helped his confidence as well as his skills. He gave brilliant advice as well as being a nice person. Thanks so much!

Fantastic experience: I went with Richard at Elpasso after a less than satisfactory time with Red driving school. From the start i found him easy to talk to, very professional, didn't let me have any more lessons than he thought i needed. He told me to book my test which I took today, I passed first time with 7 minors. Great teacher, would recommend him to anyone.

Fantastic experience: Would highly recommend Richard to anyone. He is calm, patient and spot on! Richard was brilliant and he knows every little detail you will need to know. Fitting loads into each lesson and putting you through your paces, talking you through each bit to make you feel like you have made progress and accomplished something. I passed with no minors.

Fantastic experience: I passed first time with only one minor fault thanks to Richard! Top dude!

Fantastic experience: Richard was very professional and would very happily recommend. Very pleased, thank you.

Fantastic experience: Has a great attention to detail and was also very friendly and easy to talk to, would definitely recommend to anyone!

Fantastic experience: Great instructor, highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Richard is a great driving instructor and I highly recommended him.

Fantastic experience: I’ve attempted to learn to drive a few times with different instructors but I’ve never felt that comfortable or relaxed with them. This lead me to stop attempting to learn for many years! However it got to the stage where I HAD to learn and I came across Elpasso, Richard is the best instructor I’ve ever had; amazingly patient, calm, with the odd joke thrown here and there. He got me to a stage where I stopped panicking every time I got in the car, I felt in control of the car and eventually my nerves went away. I never thought I’d pass my test but today I passed FIRST TIME with Richard’s amazing help and support! I can not recommend him enough! :)

Fantastic experience: We were so lucky to find Richard. He is really efficient and thorough. My son passed first time after only a handful of lessons. Also Richard was very helpful and managed to fit lessons in, even at a short notice. The atmosphere was friendly, the lessons enjoyable. Elpasso is absolute legend. Couldn't recommend more!

Fantastic experience: Passed first time, thank you so much!

Fantastic experience: Brilliant Instructor! Very relaxed, flexible and professional. Passed with 2 minors within 6 months having only one lesson a week. Highly Recommended!!

Fantastic experience: Great Instructor, Knows everything you will need to know and very easy to learn from and made me pass first time easy.

Fantastic experience: Richard offers a Extremely good service , he Has a very comforting and relaxed approach to teaching while being equally very knowledgeable and thorough. He’s flexible to teach when it suits you and has a open mind so is easy to get on with .10/10 would recommend

Fantastic experience: Fantastic driving instructor, I would recommend to all. Able to adapt to the needs of the student. Calm easy going manner that helps learner feel at ease and gain good driving skills.

Fantastic experience: Richard’s calm approach to teaching made me feel comfortable from the start and was exactly what I needed to pass my test. Thanks for all the help ! Much appreciated.

Fantastic experience: Knew all the test routes really well, wasted no time parked up talking through things. A good laugh and a calm presence to drive with! Passsed first time! A cool dude :)

Fantastic experience: Richard was brilliant, created a safe and enjoyable learning experience. Passed first time, would definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: Richard is such an amazing instructor. I passed on my first attempt this morning. He creates a very relaxed and calm environment whilst learning and I felt I had all the support possible. Would recommend Richard to anyone wanting driving lessons.

Fantastic experience: Great instructor, relaxed environment with professional teaching. Passed first time.

Fantastic experience: Richard is a knowledgeable and competent instructor with great availability. I had nightmares with a different driving school but this was easy...my only regret is I didn't swap faster. He helped me to get a 1st time pass in a few weeks. Thank you so much! :)

Fantastic experience: Highly recommended I pass my test in first attempt my work had mix shift but Richard adjusted his timing I would highly recommend him thx Richard you are the best

Fantastic experience: Thanks to Richard, I finally passed my test today! When I first started, I was anxious and unsure due to bad experiences with previous instructors but Richard was fab! So patient and positive - couldn’t have done it without him! Totally recommend El Passo!

Fantastic experience: Pass first time with 2 minors. Knowledgeable, patient, punctual - a quality driving instructor based in Newbury, UK. I would recommend Richard to anyone looking for a practical, hands-on approach to learning to drive. After trying several driving schools in Newbury, I found Richard (ElPasso) to have the best approach. You will not be sitting at the side of the road having lectures and discussing notes. You will be in a car, actually learning how to drive and to read the road. This is a highly effective means of learning to drive, minimising the number of lessons required and having confidence in your ability to drive. I primarily learnt through two hours lessons fitted after work. Thanks to Richard for being flexible and fitting me in around his family schedule. We then changed to a weekly hour session to fine-tune and finesse in the lead up to my test. Lessons were organised at the beginning of each week, fitted to both of our availability. £35 per lesson is competitive with other schools in the area. A thoroughly enjoyable couple of months learning to drive with Richard. Thanks Rich.

Fantastic experience: A professional and patient instructor who can really get you up to speed quickly, especially that he knows all exam tips and tricks which really made great difference and also can quickly and easily identify your points of weakness and work on them as quickly as possible, taking you to the exam with the least no. of required classes. I highly recommend him to anyone.

Positive experience: very happy with my lessons, good price and was very flexible with arranging lessons to fit around school and work, passed first time no complaints

Fantastic experience: Richard was very patient and supportive through all the silly mistakes. Also he is very knowledgeable about all the rules in general and the exam trick points in specific. He also makes you feel very confident that you will pass the test. I do recommend Richard Elpasso for all new and experienced drivers if they want to have happy and successful lessons to get the UK driving licence.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic driving instructor, highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Great driving instructor definitely would recommend, 4-5 lessons 1 minor passed first time I have already referred my brother who says the same and friends, reliable and honest and brilliant at his job.

Fantastic experience: Richard was an amazing driving instructor; he simplified difficult driving techniques and was totally attentive to my individual needs esp my dyslexia. He made me feel totally comfortable and relaxed and was able to be very flexible with my restricted availability. I honestly couldn’t fault him or his abilities as a driving instructor. Would recommend to anyone and everyone

Fantastic experience: Richard has been an amazing driving instructor. Affordable lessons and he has good patience. I found parking quite challenging, Richard was helpful and we kept trying until I got perfect. Great advice for the driving test and really supportive. I can't recommend Elpasso enough!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Richard very professional. Flexible time with driving Lessons.

Fantastic experience: Very Very happy with the service. I came down to Newbury for work, I did my lessons and passed with Richard first time and I couldn't have ask for a better instructor. He was amazing! Very patient, calm and extremely knowledgeable. He doesn't just teach you to pass the test but to also be a good, confident and safe driver. Best driving school ever!! I highly recommend.

Negative experience: With hindsight, will I use Richard again? NO See positive, negative points & lessons learned below: +a good instructor - very quick to get the student to drive. +available weekends +great value for money: only £35 per hr or £315 for 10 hours +honest: when he let us down (more information below), he refunded the unused lessons immediately. +he has now (11/4/19) provided photographic evidence (by text) that he is a qualified instructor. -Not enough experience, compared to other instructors (See lessons learned below). -I could not find him in the DVSA list of registered instructors & he refused to provide his instructor reg number "not necessary" when booking the driving test (The DVSA can confirm, if I had only known). - Limited availability for driving test: only 8.10 am or 12.38pm (In my opinion this vital information should be made available ">prior<" to booking the driving test). -unreliable: £511 after & only 10 days to the test, having used up all our 5 test booking changes trying to find a suitable (to Richards) day & time he has let us down "good luck in finding another instructor" only because I communicated the difficulty in finding cancellations because of his lack of availability & that I wish I had not changed the booking (29/4/19) to an earlier day, as per his advice. We were happy with this date. Lessons learned: -ask your instructor for his availability prior to booking the driving test. No point texting available cancellation times to check if suitable, when the instructor may only have specific times available. -ask your instructor for his / her experience (how many years). It may not be that relevant if a good instructor. -the practice test booking can be changed a maximum total of 5 times. -there are many phone apps that greatly assist in finding earlier bookings (cancellations by other learners). Some better than others. I started using "testi" first, soon to realize that it is best to use two apps simultaneously. I "personally" like "CancelChecker". I paid for the full version. -cancellations are snatched really quickly. Not enough time to confirm if suitable with the instructor that may be unable to confirm straight away. - possible to check with the DVSA email / phone / website, to ensure that your driving instructor is qualified if he / she does not appear in the website list. I have not officially confirmed with DVSA if it is a requirement for driving instructors to appear. -The DVSA offers helpful advise: "Find driving schools, lessons and instructors".

Fantastic experience: Highly trusted. Very good instructor with good passion.

Fantastic experience: He is the best

Fantastic experience: Richard was amazing. He was reliable, great communication and honest. He's clam nature really relaxed me which meant I could to pay attention to what he was teaching me. Hes definitely man of his words, I did more driving than sitting on the side of the road taking me about how I should do things. Great teacher! Thank you for all you have taught me to PASS and of course the laughs too, which helped. I would recommend Richard!

Fantastic experience: Reliable, available at short notice, professional