To book automatic driving lessons for DD

[driedapricots101]

Everyone I tell reacts as if we're mad, yet surely it's only a matter of time before all cars are automatic? It's like learning Russian with no intention of using it surely?!

You don't need learner insurance if you book with instructor. And you can add a learner to your own insurance for pennies, if not free if you want them to practice in your car.
There are specialist young people insurers with much more favourable rates and it doesn't make a huge difference whether you have automatic or manual license. Even better rates with a black box.
I also have a cheap old automatic car. They do exist.

They exist, but very hard to find.

Especially with the second hand/“cheap” car market booming.

i have an ancient fiat. Nearly 10 years ago it cost me 5k second hand. Last MOT it needed a fair bit of work due to wear and tear. I looked at replacing it, but cars the same age, with bigger mileage were going for 5k still.

my dc’s mates are all driving now and as we live quite rurally parents are trying to source cheap cars. It’s not easy.

an automatic is even harder to find. You may get an old top of the range one, but they are expensive to insure. Finding a group 1 automatic affordable for a teenager is rare.

Why limit your DD from the outset?

Yes, cars will mostly be automatic eventually but that isn't now. Unless there is a reason then why not go for manual?

DD learnt last year and I thought she'd have to learn automatic because of ADHD and a processing issue but I recommended she try manual first. She smashed it (not literally 🤣) in a manual.

Insurance for an auto license is traditionally more expensive as well.
whilst I understand your logic (that all will be autos) I don’t think we are there yet. Not unless your budget is infinite for cars and insurance for the next few years to support that. Decent second hand autos are very very hard to come by and their price reflects that

My oldest is only 12 but 100% both my kids will be learning in an automatic.

It's easier, safer and all cars will be auto eventually.

Honestly I don't believe that all cars in 10 years time will be electric. They are absolutely pants for the environment overall- yes your air is cleaner but the electricity comes from somewhere and they really aren't the future. Not sure if hydrogen powered models that are being developed are automatic or not but no I wouldn't book my child automatic lessons unless they couldn't cope with a manual - why would you deliberately handicap their driving license??

When we bought our car, it was about 4k on top for automatic. Yes you can get cheap old automatic cars but they will still be more expensive than the same version in manual, and as others have said insurance is more as well.
A friend was driven into recently and needed a courtesy car. There were no automatics available at all; she'd have been completely stuck if she only had an automatic licence.
It's just so much more expensive I don't understand why anyone would limit themselves and not learn in a manual

I'm just doing automatic only now at 40, due to anxiety. I'd get her to do manual if she can. I found manual too much to take in. It's not for everyone but it's much harder to get a cheap automatic car. So on that basis I'd prefer manual.

Automatic makes sense for those who are older learners and have had difficulty getting to grips with driving, or sometimes those with neurodiversity traits which might make managing gears more tricky.

Getting a manual licence just gives more options. Of course, you can still choose to buy and drive automatic. But what about if you need to drive work cars or hire cars, or share a car with a partner in future…..many of these will still be manual.

Unless there’s a good reason to learn in an automatic, go for manual to keep options open.

I thought all cars would soon be automatics when I passed my driving test in 1997.

turns out they are not.

dont assume

All very well having a conscience, but do they have the money to back it up? Second-hand hybrid and electric cars aren't that common (and might have buggered batteries), so they'll need to be able to afford to buy and insure a much newer car.

When my daughter is of age to learn to drive, ( only 2 years to go) she will be having lessons with automatic cars only, due to electric vehicles being the way of the future.

I learnt on auto as my parents only had auto cars (this was in a different country where they are much more common, and your license automatically becomes a full one allowing you to drive a manual after a year or two). When I moved to the U.K. my DH persuaded me that we should buy a second hand manual and that I'd be able to pick it up after an hour or two of practice. It took many, many, many more hours than that (plus a lot of shouting on both sides!).

I can do it now but I still think the gear changing is super annoying - when you are dealing with a tricky three lane round about with traffic lights or heavy London traffic, there is enough to concentrate on without also having to waste a portion of your concentration on changing up and down between first and second all the time.

I would, but my daughter will want to drive horse boxes - which are manual.

It is worth considering if your child may have reason to need a manual license, even potentially, in the future.

It's less of a clear-cut choice than it used to be, but I would still learn to drive manual at the moment unless it really is the difference between passing your test or not.

It just gives you more options being able to drive a manual, especially when it comes to buying cheap cars for first time drivers, hire cars, courtesy cars etc.

Not strictly true.

While it's true that of brand new car registrations in the UK, about 60% are automatic. But of the entire car "population" out there, a bit over 70% of them are manual.

I've never driven an automatic, and none of my family currently do either. I'm certainly not opposed to them. My best friend has an automatic and swears she'd never go back to manual now. Another good friend with dodgy knees also swears by his automatic.

I have always driven automatic cars and have no interest in driving a manual car - DH, too. I do not have the patience for them!

Agreed, it’s usually other factors that will cause a fail. Autos will certainly be easier initially, though.

I passed my first test abroad, where TBH it was easier, but had to take a U.K. test after a year back here. Thought I’d have zero trouble - was already a confident driver. However, I took a few lessons to be on the safe side, and the instructor (ex police) once made me do a hill start over and over.
I couldn’t understand it - I thought I was doing it perfectly.
Eventually he said, ‘You didn’t look over your shoulder. That would be an instant fail.’

He was definitely worth the money! I did pass.

See when you learn manual it becomes muscle memory and you do it without even being aware.

I struggle with automatics as once I hear the engine hit a certain note I reach for the gears. Completely subconscious and I find it really frustrating to hear the engine, know it needs changing up and nothing happens for ages!

I also struggle with breaking as again I completely subconsciously depress the clutch. When I first started I kept using my left foot without realising and ended up stopping in the middle of a dual carriageway before I figured I had my foot on the brake not the clutch.

if I practice it becomes more natural as with anything.

I have always preferred automatic and have owned only automatics for myself for more than twenty years.

However, in the last 12 months alone:

• had to drive a rental van to move some large furniture. Manual only;
• my father died abroad and I spent over ten weeks there in several trips sorting stuff out. I could have rented an automatic each time, but his manual car was just sitting there;
• while my own car was on a recall I got given a courtesy car, manual only;
• I was chaperoning on a school trip and the teacher rolled her ankle, meaning I had to drive the (manual) minibus back;
• my wife's manual car broke down a long way from home and she had to leave it there. It was much easier for me to go and retrieve it and ferry it home.

I passed in a manual so I have a manual/automatic license. I drove a manual briefly before going over to an automatic, never again will I drive a manual.

To those who say “just in case of an emergency, you can drive both/what about if you want to drive abroad” I’ve never been in a position where I have been forced to drive a manual before and I’ve driven abroad, with the preference being automatics in those places.

My only peeve is that automatic cars are much more expensive and tricky to fix if the gearbox goes wrong. I’d like the security of being able to drive both. I learnt in a manual and I think it’s a half decent skill to acquire, albeit not being very necessary in this day and age.

Learning in a manual and having the option to drive auto seems the most sensible to me, but that’s obviously because I’ve never just had an auto license so I wouldn’t know if there are any implications. As in, when I’ve needed a courtesy car, I was given an auto. If you drive auto and they only have a suitable manual available when you need one, you won’t be able to drive it.. but that’s unlikely to happen I guess 🤣

I'm in two minds. I totally agree with you that as new petrol (and diesel) cars are phased out in the next decade there's absolutely no need to have a manual licence.

I have had an automatic car for 7 years now and won't go back to a manual, but I enjoy it when I do. The only manuals I drive are either hire cars or courtesy cars, but those are becoming more and more auto too.

So, I agree it makes sense, but I (clinging on to the past) would say it's a shame to miss out on the ability to drive a manual.

I think it is limiting, manual cars will always exist.
I know i'm a petrol head and so are all my friends, but some came to it later in life and wouldn't be able to own the fun cars they have had if they couldn't drive manual.

My horse lorry is also manual so i wouldnt be able to drive that, when i hired a van recently, manual was the only option.

Just seems daft to restrict. who says when they can afford to buy their own car, that they'll always be able to find an auto in their price range too? My SIL has an auto only licence and it was a pain to find an auto car sub £4k

I passed my test in a manual car many years ago but hated driving and never drove again. Finally decided to try again a couple of years ago and already had my licence but knew I needed a lot of refresher lessons. Decided to go auto this time and am so glad I did. Auto is so straightforward, I honestly don’t know why anyone would want a manual car. All hybrids are auto and increasingly all new cars will be. Highly recommend auto, so simple to manage and the driver can just focus on driving safely without changing gears and all the malarkey.