Manual or automatic: which should you learn in?

The key difference: your licence

Pass your test in a manual car and your licence covers both manual and automatic cars. Pass in an automatic and you can only drive automatics. To drive a manual later, you'd need to pass another practical test in a manual car.

Manual vs automatic at a glance

	Manual	Automatic
Licence covers	Manual and automatic	Automatic only
Learning	Clutch control and gears to master	No clutch or gears, so often quicker
Lesson price	Usually a little cheaper	Often a little more
Electric cars	Can drive them	Can drive them
The test	The same test, with the same rules and marking

Choose manual if…

• You want to be able to drive any car, including a family car or a cheaper used car.
• You might drive abroad or for work, where manuals are still common.
• You're happy to spend a bit longer learning.

Choose automatic if…

• You want to learn faster and focus on the road rather than the gears.
• You find coordination or nerves get in the way.
• You plan to drive an electric or hybrid car, which are automatic anyway.

The trend is towards automatics

Electric cars are all automatic, and more new petrol and hybrid cars are automatic too. More learners now choose automatic lessons, and more driving instructors offer them. If you're unsure, a trial lesson in each is a good way to decide.

Questions

Is an automatic driving licence different?

Yes. If you pass in an automatic, your licence only lets you drive automatic cars. If you pass in a manual, you can drive both.

Is automatic easier to learn?

Many learners find it quicker, because there's no clutch or gear changes to master. You can focus on the road, junctions and other traffic sooner.

Can I upgrade an automatic licence to manual later?

Yes, by passing a practical driving test in a manual car. You don't need to take the theory test again.

Are electric cars automatic?

Yes. Electric cars don't have a manual gearbox, so they count as automatics. Most hybrids are automatic too.

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