AIBU to think learning automatic is enough for a new (unconfident, adult) driver?

Yes I passed doing automatic at 29, recently. Required minimal hours, not too much to think about and got me where I needed to be. Only issue I found was I didn’t have a lot saved for a car (£2,000) so the choice was limited, automatics seem to sell more expensive than manual

I learned auto about 15 years ago and my first car cost £1200. I've had several cars since which have all been cheap and never paid more to fix them than my husband's manual. If you look on Autotrader for used cars you'll see that there are now more autos available than manual.

On the one occasion I hired a car they had plenty of autos. I also work somewhere with pool cars and we pretty much don't have manuals left anymore. The only time you'd have an issue is if you really needed to borrow a friend's manual car, or if you wanted to drive ambulances or police cars for a living (although these are increasingly autos too!).

The idea that driving automatics limit you isn't true. It wasn't all that true 10-15 years ago.

I drove an automatic for years, but then I moved to Spain where most cars are manual and automatics are about 20% more expensive to buy or rent. I now drive a manual (which I like and there’s less traffic here so it’s not an issue) so I’m glad I learnt in a manual. It’s no harder than an automatic either really.

It’s easy for you. We all have different skills and abilities. You seem to be lacking in the empathy department. Showing a bit of empathy is so easy I just don’t understand how someone can’t do it.

Driving an automatic is slightly less accessible than a manual but more accessible than not driving at all. DH and I can both drive manual (we have one manual and one automatic), we both prefer driving the automatic. When buying both cars we didn’t really pay much attention to the transmission because we can drive both but the manual is the commuting car and so is in stop start traffic and we’d both prefer it was automatic. I don’t think our DC will learn manual and I think when we replace the manual, we will have a serious conversation about whether we deliberately look for an automatic.

Couldnt she learn in an automatic and then just retKe the test in a manual... I'm sure it's not that hard to get to grips with the gears once you're confident on the road...

I’ve driven manual cars for 40 odd years but recently switched to electric. Much prefer it and it is the future

I drove an auto for about 10 years. Much preferred it to manual. Sadly I can’t drive atm for medical reasons, but if I’m cleared to go back on the road it’s auto all the way.
Many learners use auto now, in fact DS who failed twice on manual may just try for an auto license when he gets back to it at some point! it seems to be harder to find a manual instructor now anyway.

Absolutely. I learned in an automatic in my 30s after several unsuccessful attempts at learning in manuals when younger. I would never have finally learned to drive if I hadn’t switched to auto. It does limit you car choice somewhat but so do lots of factors. Hybrids are also automatic (I have a self charging hybrid which is very fuel efficient for the driving I do), so wouldn’t need to be a fully electric car. DH who has had a manual license since he was 18 - and was initially against me learning auto only as “limiting” - has been converted to the use of automatics since I’ve had mine and he went for a hybrid for his car this time too. For me it was definitely a case of driving in an automatic or never driving at all, which is significantly more limiting than only driving automatic.

It can be a bit limiting but I guess you will probably just buy an automatic and drive that and if you have to hire a car it will be automatic. You don't sound like you are going to be wanting to drive umpteen different cars and vans when you pass so I would probably do the automatic test.

I see it's not you but same applies

It is not easy for alot of people . Stop being a smarty pants.

What a silly statement....the Americans or Canadians dont appear to have a problem !

My son is learning to drive in an automatic. He really struggled with gears in a manual and it was knocking his confidence. His driving instructor has said that generally more new drivers are going auto. After 30 odd years of driving manual cars I’ve recently bought an automatic and will never got back to manual. It’s so much easier!

But why do you think everyone should learn to drive manual?

I mean, I did learn to drive manual and I agree that it really isn't that difficult, but I don't feel that having learned to drive a manual car made me a better driver or improved my life in any way.

If someone learning to drive finds it easier to have one less thing to think about, then what's the issue exactly?

I learnt in an auto 15 years ago and I can honestly say its the best thing I ever did...never been a problem either .

Automatic cars are brilliant. Our EV is and before that we had a 2016 Sharan which had been my dad's previously. He had kicked himself for not getting an automatic sooner as it helped so much driving with less than perfect mobility and gave him new freedom. I couldn't believe how great it was to drive having been only in the clunky older automatics before.

Our DDs both learned manual but that's more to do with the choice of instructor than anything. I don't think learning auto only would be too restrictive today.

Because it’s not necessary.

Unless you have a disability then I think everyone should learn to drive manual. Driving and changing gear is so easy I simply cannot fathom how someone couldn't do it. If you can't change gear you shouldn't be driving.

My husband has had an automatic only license for 30 years. It's fine. You just buy automatics!

I have a manual license but got used to driving automatics while living abroad in a country where everyone drives automatic. That was more than 25 years ago and I would never go back to manual now!

I haven't ever found it to be a problem. Sure, automatic cars are slightly more expensive and your options are a bit more limited when buying, but not to the extent that I've ever found it to be a problem - I would have gone back to manual if I had needed to.

Given that the future with electric cars is clearly auto in any case, then I wouldn't be worried about someone only having an automatic license. Far better to be able to drive something than nothing at all!

I wanted to learn automatic in the first place but let myself be bullied into doing manual. Did all my lessons in a manual and was completely test ready. No problems with the gears. I then failed my test due to a completely flukey gear error. Given the insane backlog on driving tests, I decided to do my second attempt in an auto and passed easily.

So that’s another thing to weigh up- driving tests are not easily available. If she doesn’t enjoy gears in the first place, does she want to spend time getting good at them but still have that extra element that could set her learning time back by 2+ months each time if you have some bad luck or nerves on the day.

100% go auto. Manuals are slow disappearing. EVs are the future and even a lot of new petrol/diesel cars are only been made as autos these days- we have a petrol mini as a little run around and even that only came as an auto! Yes there will be a bit less choice on the second hand car market but not to point where it will actually cause you problems, there are plenty of second hand autos for sale. Then yes you’d have to pay more for a hire car but if you’re a non driver in your 30s you’re probably not doing the type of holidays that need a hire car and as for work, you’ve likely found a career that doesn’t need you to drive so that isn’t a concern either, besides all of the fleet cars at my work are electric and automatic which can’t be uncommon these days. And I doubt you’re a classic car enthusiast or anything like that if you’ve left it this long to learn! There really is zero need to learn manual- I haven’t driven one since 2017 and probably never will again, just because the opportunity is unlikely to ever present itself.

Our neurodiverse daughter struggled with a manual but was great on an automatic passing her license first time.

I don’t know why people act like a manual is needed … she’s been non driver all her adult life makes sense having an automatic license is better than no license at all.

Absolutely learn automatic.
I deeply regret the years I took to pass my test in a manual. Got an automatic and never looked back.

It is time men around her stopped making learning to drive harder for her.

Automatic first, manual later if she feels like that.

Automatic is fine. She can always attempt to upgrade later if it really causes difficulties.