The Pros and Cons of Automatic Driving Lessons
It is said that learning to drive in a manual car is beginning to fall out of fashion and this is likely connected to the rise in electric vehicle ownership. Recent statistics showing the increase in the registration of automatic cars seem to back up the rising preference for these. In 2023 over 73% were automatics.
Recent data also shows that many of those training to be driving instructors chose to learn in an automatic vehicle instead of a manual, and there has been a marked increase overall in instructors teaching learners in automatics.
Should I drive an automatic?
If you are undecided about whether to get automatic driving lessons or not, this article should help.
The advantages of learning to drive an automatic
It’s easier
It can potentially be quicker and easier to learn to drive an automatic car and here’s why. Where automatic vehicles have only two pedals – brake and accelerator - and no gearstick to master, a manual has three pedals – brake, accelerator and clutch - and a gearstick to get to grips with.
Better concentration
Automatics allow you to concentrate more fully on the other aspects of driving such as road signs, speed, traffic awareness and hazard perception.
Bypassing clutch control
Some can find it difficult to master the art of clutch control, which is a crucial skill to have, especially for hill starts in manual cars. It is quite common, particularly in the initial stages of learning to drive a manual car, to stall the engine when clutch control is wrong. This can cause a certain amount of stress or embarrassment for learner drivers. Clutch control-related stress is eliminated when you learn in an automatic because the automatic gearbox selects the correct gear for you. This means you can completely forget about whether you are in the right gear or not and concentrate on everything else.
Physical advantages (for the car)
There are also one or two physical advantages to driving an automatic car. Because the vehicle has full control over gear changes, these tend to give a much smoother ride than a manual car. Modern automatic cars have a quicker and much smoother gear change.
Physical advantages (for the driver)
It must be said also that for drivers who suffer with knee or lower back problems, driving an automatic helps to eliminate the discomfort which can arise from repeatedly pressing down a clutch pedal in heavy traffic. This makes for a less tiring and stressful experience and allows the learner driver to concentrate on their instructor and on the road and to better enjoy their driving.
The cons of learning to drive an automatic
Automatic cars are undoubtedly easier to learn in and easier and simpler to drive but nevertheless there are some disadvantages to restricting yourself to an automatic driving license.
Reducing your options
If your licence is restricted to driving automatic vehicles only then what this means is that you cannot legally drive a car with a manual gearbox. To do so would entail further expense because you would have to pass a further driving test, and display ‘L’ plates again, to obtain a manual licence.
Higher insurance rates/car prices
A further disadvantage arises when you buy an automatic car and this is the higher cost of insurance. This is mainly because automatic cars are often more expensive to buy. The costs involved in repairing an automatic gearbox can be prohibitively higher than a manual gearbox. It is possible that after new petrol and diesel car sales are banned in 2035 and electric cars become more mainstream the costs of insuring an automatic may fall.
In conclusion, whether you learn to drive an automatic or manual car comes down to personal and practical preferences. Experienced and knowledgeable instructors can guide you to the right decision for you.
