For decades, the UK has been a stronghold of manual transmission cars. Learning to drive often meant mastering clutch control, gear changes, and hill starts. But in recent years, automatic cars have surged in popularity, and the rules around learning and licensing have started to shift.
If you’re considering learning in — or switching to — an automatic car in the UK, here’s everything you need to know.
Why Automatics Are on the Rise
A combination of factors is driving the trend toward automatic vehicles:
- Electric cars – Nearly all electric and hybrid vehicles are automatic, and with the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars looming, more drivers are naturally moving to automatics.
- Ease of driving – Automatics remove the stress of clutch control, gear changing, and stalling, making city driving and traffic much smoother.
- Resale market – The used car market now has far more automatics available than ever before.
In fact, by 2023, more than 50% of new cars sold in the UK were automatic, a huge shift from just a decade ago.
Driving Licence Rules for Automatic Cars
Learning to Drive
- If you pass your test in a manual car, you’re licensed to drive both manual and automatic.
- If you pass in an automatic car, your licence will be restricted to automatics only. This is called a “Category B auto” licence.
This means:
✅ You can drive any automatic, including hybrids and EVs.
❌ You cannot drive a manual unless you retake the test in a manual car.
Changes and Flexibility
- In the past, many avoided learning in an automatic due to limited choice and stigma. Today, it’s increasingly normal, especially among younger drivers preparing for an EV future.
- Driving instructors are also shifting, many now offer automatic lessons as demand rises.
Advantages of Learning Automatic
- Simpler to learn – Many learners find they pass faster since they don’t need to master gears and clutch control.
- Safer in traffic – No stalling, smoother stop-start driving.
- Future-proof – With the rise of EVs, learning in an automatic makes sense long-term.
Potential Downsides
- Licence restriction – If you ever need to drive a manual car (e.g., for work, rental abroad, classic cars), you’ll need a manual licence.
- Tradition & cost – Some still see manual as the “true skill” of driving, and automatic cars can be slightly more expensive to buy and maintain.
- Test availability – In some areas, there may be longer waits for automatic driving tests as demand grows.
The Future of Driving in the UK
The shift to automatics is unstoppable. With EVs set to dominate by the mid-2030s, manual cars will likely become a rarity on UK roads. For learners today, choosing an automatic licence is less of a limitation and more of a logical step toward the future.
In fact, by the time today’s learner drivers are experienced motorists, manual cars may be as niche as driving a classic car is now.
Final Thoughts
If you want to pass your test quickly, enjoy a more relaxed driving experience, or prepare for the electric car era, automatic is the way to go. Just be mindful of the licence restriction if you ever need to drive a manual.
Whether you’re a new learner or a manual driver thinking of switching, automatic cars are no longer just a convenience, they’re becoming the UK standard.