Driving lessons in an automatic

[Shergill15]

I don't drive - took and failed 2 tests at 17. For various reasons haven't attempted it again. I'm about to turn 40 and whilst I have generally managed well without a car, some recent changes in circumstances have made me think it would make life easier in various ways if I could drive.

Several people have suggested that if I take lessons now I should do them in an automatic - they cite it being easier but also that manual cars won't be produced by 2030 or whenever it is.

I'm interested to hear if anyone has done lessons in an automatic and passed? Was it easier/would you recommend? Or has only being able to drive automatic been limiting in any way?

DH and I both got manual licences in our teens but as Londoners we never owned cars or drove until fifteen years later when DS was born. We had refresher lessons in manual cars but really struggled until we shifted to automatics at which point it became much easier. We’ve never had a problem buying reasonably priced second hand automatic cars.

Yes it would be very slightly restrictive to only have an automatic licence when it comes to borrowing other people’s cars but I reckon that in practice you don’t have a choice between a manual licence and an automatic licence: your choice is between an automatic licence and no licence at all because you might well never pass in a manual.

I passed in a manual and have driven manual for years. Our car is automatic and my work vehicle is manual. When we were looking for our car, all the ones we wanted (granted we were looking at estates) were automatic. I don’t think you’ll be missing out and you’ll find so many automatic cars. Given a choice, I’d rather drive our automatic. I’m not a nervous driver and I don’t struggle with gears but an automatic is just easier. The advantage of passing in an automatic straight away is that you won’t have that muscle memory of reaching for the gear stick as you approach a junction, which DH and I both do. And DH hasn’t driven a manual since we got our automatic nearly two years ago!

Manuals are very antiquated and as you say, they will become a thing of the past in a few decades anyway. I did a manual test because everyone said it was important to know how to drive both but I absolutely hated clutch control on hills and detested having to remember which gear to go in. I only ever drive automatics now.

I got my licence abroad, where automatics are far more common than in the UK. Our family had 2 autos, so I didn't see the point of learning in a manual, when I had no access to one to practice in.

Since getting my licence, I've then had the opportunity to practice in a manual, and now only use manual here in the UK. I never learnt manual from the start, but assume its more complicated to also tackle that.

I felt I got the basics of driving, checking mirrors, learning position on the road, indicators, speed etc without also worrying about stalling and gears. I do wish I'd had a few manual lessons though, because trying to be 'taught' by a boyfriend was a nightmare!

I passed in a manual (eventually) but we’ve had automatics for the last 20 years, we prefer them.

This thread has given me hope, currently in my 30s and don’t drive but I would like to learn soon. Thinking of going for automatic also. What are the prices like nowadays per lesson? I know it depends on area but on average?

Learned early 30s. Did two lessons in a manual and hated it, switched to auto and it’s great because you can just focus on the road. I’m still not a confident driver on fast roads but city driving absolutely fine (some people find the opposite I think it depends on where you learned).

The reason manuals will stop being produced (or fewer of them) is that manufacturers have committed to stop making petrol and diesel cars after 2030. Electric cars are all auto. Not sure about hybrids.

Go for it!

I’m dyslexic, and I found driving/learning in a manual so difficult I couldn’t do feet, gear stick and concentrate on the road all at once it overwhelmed me. I gave it a good try and learned and passed in an auto. Have had many many automatics since, never had an issue getting decent second hand ones though. Means I get from a to b so I don’t care if people say it’s not ‘real’ driving
Go for it op, I love my car and getting about I didn’t learn till 28 now 42