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Original poster

Daughter leaning to drive in an automatic

122 replies

Areallyboringperson · 22/10/2023 20:04

We Have an electric car. It’s an automatic (obvs). My daughter will soon be 17. We either:

Get her driving lessons so she can get a licence which allows her to drive a manual;

Buy a small manual run around for her to learn in; or

Just let her learn in our automatic and then she’ll only have an automatic licence.

I’m thinking option 3 but is this unfair on her?

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 22/10/2023 22:18

I’m in the U.S. and learned on a manual transmission over 40 years ago but haven’t driven one in 30 years. Unless you’re buying a high end sports car like a Porsche, you can’t buy a car with a manual transmission here. It’s interesting that they are still so common in the UK.

gooddayruby · 22/10/2023 22:21

Have you checked how much it will be to put her on your insurance? Thousands I imagine

KeepLosingThings · 22/10/2023 22:23

I spent ages learning on a manual but then never drove one and the next time I tried, several years later, I had no recollection of how to do it anyway

SquashPenguin · 22/10/2023 22:25

If I was learning today I’d still learn a manual. Yes EV vehicles are becoming more common etc, but you’d think manual was being phased out by the end of 2023 the way people are carrying on!

I have a company vehicle, as does everyone else at work. There isn’t one automatic on the fleet of over 100 cars and vans, and 3/4 of the fleet are less than two years old.

Throwhandsupintheair · 22/10/2023 22:27

Most cars will eventually be automatic so no need to learn manual.

thenightsky · 22/10/2023 22:29

I have dyspraxia and took my test in an auto back in 1985 when it was unusual. Never had an issue since. Always found decent 2nd hand cars to buy. Hired cars in USA and EU with no issue over the last almost 40 years.

DD has dyspraxia and dyslexia and took her auto test about 10 years ago and has also been fine with hiring or buying decent cars ever since.

Non-issue.

Conkersinautumn · 22/10/2023 22:29

If you learn manual it keeps some driving jobs open, maybe not a career your children might have any interest in, but it doesn't take more effort to learn manual for most people, probably costs the same and keeps more options open

Unithorn · 22/10/2023 22:30

MissConductUS · 22/10/2023 22:18

I’m in the U.S. and learned on a manual transmission over 40 years ago but haven’t driven one in 30 years. Unless you’re buying a high end sports car like a Porsche, you can’t buy a car with a manual transmission here. It’s interesting that they are still so common in the UK.

I think it depends a bit on where you live really. I live in the countryside, lots of narrow roads and changes of speed; on paper automatic should be better but i hate it. Had an automatic car for several years and the difference to me personally was quite stark, but absolutely acknowldge many find them easier and better. I've only been to the US a few times but the roads tend to be wider, longer, less need to change gear continuously anyway aside from in traffic? I dunno probably a different reason but just thinking out loud.

SpareHeirOverThere · 22/10/2023 22:31

Automatic.

There is no point to learning a manual now; the days of being unable to rent an automatic car are long since over. In many places, that's all you can rent. I've rented cars in 9 different countries in the last 2 years: they all offered automatics for the same price or cheaper than manuals.

It won't 'limit her life choices', or cost more for insurance, or mean she is somehow a less skilled driver.

KimberleyClark · 22/10/2023 22:32

SquashPenguin · 22/10/2023 22:25

If I was learning today I’d still learn a manual. Yes EV vehicles are becoming more common etc, but you’d think manual was being phased out by the end of 2023 the way people are carrying on!

I have a company vehicle, as does everyone else at work. There isn’t one automatic on the fleet of over 100 cars and vans, and 3/4 of the fleet are less than two years old.

Only learning in an automatic isn’t nearly as limiting as some people are making out either.

Unithorn · 22/10/2023 22:33

SpareHeirOverThere · 22/10/2023 22:31

Automatic.

There is no point to learning a manual now; the days of being unable to rent an automatic car are long since over. In many places, that's all you can rent. I've rented cars in 9 different countries in the last 2 years: they all offered automatics for the same price or cheaper than manuals.

It won't 'limit her life choices', or cost more for insurance, or mean she is somehow a less skilled driver.

Insurance is higher for automatic cars. The price difference can be quite big for a new driver for vehicles, not an issue if parents buy you one though I suppose!

randomsabreuse · 22/10/2023 22:33

5 years ago I'd have said manual for sure. Now I'd just go for the automatic as hybrids/electrics are very much going to be the majority, especially in hire cars/car club type situations.

Only point for manual is if you plan that she will have her "own" car rather than sharing the one you have, in which case manual gives more cheap purchase options

123deepbreath · 22/10/2023 22:36

I'd just ask her to consider what job role she wants, some emergency services need a manual due to most vehicles they use being a manual gearbox, if she doesn't want to do anything work related to driving then completely up to her!

SpareHeirOverThere · 22/10/2023 22:38

Unithorn · 22/10/2023 22:33

Insurance is higher for automatic cars. The price difference can be quite big for a new driver for vehicles, not an issue if parents buy you one though I suppose!

Show quote history

We just insured a teen with an automatic DL - it was not more expensive than having a manual DL. Depends on the car, perhaps? I think EVs can be more expensive to insure.

PerfectYear321 · 22/10/2023 22:40

If I had the choice I would only drive automatics but they are not as common in older cars so having an automatic licence restricts you unless you're only buying newer cars.

I taught both my kids to drive and would recommend it. They both passed first time with one fault each.

SinnerBoy · 22/10/2023 22:43

I'd say get her to do her test in a manual, then she can drive what she likes. We have a manual and I prefer them, the only person I know with an automatic is disabled, I often drive for him and whilst it's a nice car to drive, I'd rather have a manual.

Obviously, that's only my personal choice and I think it's because I only had motorbikes for 15 years...

You could take her out in yours, to gain experience and confidence, then book a few lessons in a manual. If she doesn't like it, go back to automatic, but having a manual licence will make her more versatile.

LateOnTheBandwagon · 22/10/2023 22:49

Just had a quick Google and 70% of cars in the UK are manual (assuming you are in UK) although around 50%.of cars sold last year were automatic. So we will eventually probably be all automatic. However, that's not going to happen for quite a long time. An automatic licence does definitely have the potential to limit some opportunities (jobs, hire cars especially in other countries, borrowing friends' cars being examples). I would say, if you have the finance freely available,.buy the small manual and go for the full licence.

gotomomo · 22/10/2023 22:50

Having a manual licence gives them choice. Anyway it's just as easy to drive a manual, we have one of each here and much prefer my manual and it's half the price to insure. My dd also has a manual, auto would have been £2k more

BrideToBe2313123 · 22/10/2023 22:54

LuluLemony · 22/10/2023 22:13

What would she prefer to do?
Also, it makes me laugh when people say oh don't learn in an automatic, then you won't have the option of a manual! I don't think people who learn automatic are trying to drive a manual, automatic cars are widely available.

I don't think cars are the issues but other vehicles. I learnt manual because I wanted the option of being able to hire and drive vans, have driven some farm utility vehicles etc.

If she's sure that she'll never want to do this fair enough!

jannier · 22/10/2023 23:01

Automatic cars are more expensive to buy and to insure

ZaphodBeeblebroxArthurDent · 22/10/2023 23:02

Can I ask a stupid question? Why do EVs have to be automatics? Why isn't there a choice? I hate autos, have only driven manuals, and would never want an auto car. Ever.

I'm only in my 40s with hopefully another 30+ years of driving left in me, but don't want an auto forced on me. I always specify a manual loan car when mine is in for a service too.

Unithorn · 22/10/2023 23:04

SpareHeirOverThere · 22/10/2023 22:38

We just insured a teen with an automatic DL - it was not more expensive than having a manual DL. Depends on the car, perhaps? I think EVs can be more expensive to insure.

Show quote history

It's the vehicle that makes it more expensive because they're more expensive to repair rather than the license type (although there's some debate about whether that also affects it).

Unithorn · 22/10/2023 23:07

ZaphodBeeblebroxArthurDent · 22/10/2023 23:02

Can I ask a stupid question? Why do EVs have to be automatics? Why isn't there a choice? I hate autos, have only driven manuals, and would never want an auto car. Ever.

I'm only in my 40s with hopefully another 30+ years of driving left in me, but don't want an auto forced on me. I always specify a manual loan car when mine is in for a service too.

Because of the way they work gears aren't necessary. In a petrol/diesel car even if you have an auto the car still needs to work up through the gears at appropriate speeds. Electric cars don't have to do that, so it's not that it works the same as an automatic as in it does all of that for you, it just doesn't need to do it at all.

Passepartoute · 22/10/2023 23:07

ZaphodBeeblebroxArthurDent · 22/10/2023 23:02

Can I ask a stupid question? Why do EVs have to be automatics? Why isn't there a choice? I hate autos, have only driven manuals, and would never want an auto car. Ever.

I'm only in my 40s with hopefully another 30+ years of driving left in me, but don't want an auto forced on me. I always specify a manual loan car when mine is in for a service too.

Why do you hate automatics? Have you ever driven one for any length of time?

Passepartoute · 22/10/2023 23:10

DSis started learning with a manual but the instructor was dreadful and really put her off; also she is slightly dyspraxic, which didn't help. She swopped to learning on an automatic with a loverly fatherly ex-police driver who helped her get back her confidence, and she did fine then. It's never restricted her in any way having a licence for automatic cars only