When BBC News asked what’s driving the decision to learn in a manual or automatic, it touched a question that every new driver in the UK now faces.
It’s no longer just about gears — it’s about cost, availability, and the changing future of motoring itself.
At Rated Driving, we see this dilemma play out daily. Learners must now weigh up practicality against progress: do you learn in a manual for flexibility, or go automatic to prepare for an electric-vehicle future?
The answer isn’t straightforward. But the trend — and the tension — are clear.
The Shift Underway
The UK is in the midst of a quiet but permanent driving revolution. According to the BBC, one in three cars on UK roads is now automatic, and one in four driving tests is taken in an automatic vehicle.
The reasons are simple:
The 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars means the next generation of vehicles will be mostly electric — and electric cars have no manual gearbox.
More drivers are choosing ease over tradition, especially in congested city driving.
But a shortage of automatic instructors means many learners simply don’t have the choice.
It’s a paradox. Learners are ready to embrace the future, but the infrastructure — instructor supply, test availability, and affordability — hasn’t caught up yet.
“I Had No Choice but to Learn Manual”
The BBC interviewed 22-year-old Caitlin Graham from Cumbria, who wanted to learn in an automatic to pass faster. But all available automatic instructors were more than 20 miles away.
So she went manual — reluctantly — and spent nearly a year getting her licence. Her sister, learning in Newcastle, passed in five months in an automatic.
Caitlin’s story mirrors what we often hear at Rated Driving: the choice isn’t about preference, it’s about availability.
In rural and semi-rural areas, automatic instructors are still scarce. Manual instructors outnumber them roughly 4 to 1 across most of the UK, and even more outside major cities.
For many learners, that means the future is automatic — but the present is still manual.
A Generation in Transition
Data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) shows that automatic tests have more than doubled in the past decade.
Yet manual still dominates the testing landscape.
Stewart Lochrie, Chairman of the Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council (ADINJC), told the BBC that while the trend toward automatics will continue, most instructors “are still teaching in manual cars.”
That’s largely an economic issue. Automatic and electric vehicles cost more to buy and run, so instructors charge higher lesson prices to offset the difference. Learners, in turn, gravitate back toward manual for affordability.
The result: a generational overlap — with today’s learners stuck between the car of the past and the future of the road.
The “Boxed-In” Debate
Passing your test in an automatic car comes with a catch. You’ll only be licensed to drive automatics for life — unless you later take another test in a manual.
This restriction leaves many learners feeling “boxed in.”
Manual drivers can drive any vehicle — manual, automatic, or electric — while automatic-only drivers are limited. For years, that’s been enough to steer most learners toward manual. But that logic is starting to shift.
Electric cars are changing the landscape.
As motoring journalist Maria McCarthy told the BBC, “These days when you hire a car or a van, most of them are electric. And how often do people even need to hire a manual vehicle anymore?”
It’s a fair point. For many modern drivers — particularly those in urban areas — the manual advantage is fading fast.
The Cost Divide
The financial difference between learning in manual vs automatic is becoming one of the biggest deciding factors.
According to market data gathered from Rated Driving instructors:
Manual lessons average £35–£45 per hour.
Automatic lessons typically cost £35–£50 per hour, depending on area and instructor experience.
That gap can add £200–£300 to the total cost of learning to drive — a meaningful sum for younger learners.
As Caitlin’s peer Cleo Moseley from Northumberland told the BBC, “Automatic felt like the easier option, but manual lessons were cheaper.”
Automatic cars also cost more to insure and purchase, further reinforcing the perception that manual is the “sensible” choice, even as automatics become the norm.
Pass Rates Tell a Surprising Story
One of the biggest myths about automatics is that the test is easier.
The data says otherwise.
The DVSA’s 2025 figures show:
Manual pass rate: 50.4%
Automatic pass rate: 43.9%
That’s a significant difference — and it highlights an important truth: removing gears doesn’t remove the challenge.
Learners must still demonstrate the same awareness, control, and observation skills.
As Lochrie notes, “People still need to make the right decisions at the right time, make the correct observations and drive at appropriate speeds.”
In other words, the gearbox might change, but the test — and the safety standard — remain the same.
When Accessibility Shapes the Decision
For some learners, the choice between manual and automatic isn’t about preference — it’s about ability.
The BBC featured David Robinson, a 29-year-old from Cardiff with dyspraxia, who chose automatic lessons because of coordination challenges.
“It just seemed like a better idea,” he said. “I didn’t want to have to balance the clutch, the brake, the accelerator, check the revs, and get into the right gear.”
David’s experience is a reminder that for many people with disabilities or learning difficulties, automatic cars make driving more accessible — and more achievable.
At Rated Driving, we work with many DVSA-approved instructors who specialise in adaptive teaching for learners with disabilities, helping them gain confidence safely and at their own pace.
Learners Are Thinking Long-Term
For 25-year-old Cleo Moseley, the decision to go manual wasn’t easy.
She admitted to the BBC: “Automatic cars are basically becoming the norm. But I don’t see manual cars being the majority five, ten, fifteen years from now.”
That foresight is exactly what many learners are wrestling with.
Choosing a manual licence may provide flexibility today, but it could feel outdated in a decade. Conversely, going automatic might feel limiting now but forward-thinking later.
It’s a generational crossroads — and every learner has to decide which side of history they want to drive on.
The Instructor Perspective
For instructors, the question isn’t philosophical — it’s practical.
Automatic and electric cars are:
More expensive to buy and maintain, especially due to battery costs.
Quieter and smoother, making for a calmer teaching experience.
Better suited to stop-start traffic, especially in busy cities.
But until electric car prices fall, many independent instructors simply can’t justify the switch.
As Lochrie of the ADINJC told the BBC, this will eventually change “as the price of EVs continues to decrease, and driving instructors begin to see the commercial advantages.”
At Rated Driving, we expect the tipping point to come between 2027 and 2029, when the cost of used EVs drops enough to make automatic fleets viable for instructors nationwide.
The Stigma Is Fading — Slowly
For decades, automatic drivers were seen as “less skilled” — a perception rooted more in tradition than reality.
But as the number of automatic-only licences grows, that stigma is disappearing fast.
Learners are realising that confidence, awareness, and safety matter far more than clutch control.
And as electric cars dominate the 2030s, that perception gap will all but vanish.
In fact, some driving schools are now positioning automatic lessons as the premium choice — the modern, eco-friendly route that aligns with the UK’s clean transport goals.
The 2030 Horizon
The government’s planned ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 will be the moment of no return.
From that point, every new car sold in the UK will be automatic by default — because every new car will be electric.
That doesn’t mean manuals will disappear overnight. The used-car market will remain full of them for at least another decade. But for new drivers entering the road system today, the manual gearbox may already be yesterday’s news.
By 2035, most driving schools will likely operate electric fleets — and automatic tuition will be the standard, not the exception.
Rated Driving’s Advice: Match Your Choice to Your Future
At Rated Driving, we don’t tell learners what to choose — we help them make an informed decision that fits their goals, budget, and lifestyle.
Here’s our practical guidance for 2025 learners:
Choose Manual if:
You want maximum flexibility to drive any vehicle type.
You live in a rural or semi-rural area with mostly petrol/diesel cars.
You’re on a tighter budget and want cheaper lessons and insurance.
You expect to use or share manual family vehicles after passing.
Choose Automatic if:
You plan to drive electric or hybrid cars in the future.
You value simplicity, comfort, and accessibility.
You drive mainly in urban traffic.
You have a condition affecting coordination or reaction time.
The key is to align your decision with the road ahead — not just the next few months.
Our View: The Future Is Automatic, But Manual Still Matters
The BBC’s article captures the tension perfectly: Britain is in the middle of a long-term handover between gears and grid.
Manual lessons still make sense for many, but the writing is on the dashboard — automatic will dominate the next generation.
At Rated Driving, we’re already preparing for that shift.
Our platform helps learners:
Compare manual and automatic lesson options in their area.
Find verified DVSA-approved instructors.
Book online 24/7, with transparent pricing and availability.
Whether you choose manual or automatic, your journey starts with confidence — and confidence starts with the right instructor.
Final Thoughts
- For Caitlin in Cumbria, the choice was made by geography.
- For David in Cardiff, by accessibility.
- For Cleo in Northumberland, by budget.
- And for Luke in East Sussex, by family cars.
Each learner’s story tells the same truth: there is no “right” answer — only the right choice for you.
The gearbox may change, but the goal stays the same: safe, confident, independent driving.
Whatever route you choose, make sure it’s through a verified DVSA instructor — and if you want to find one near you today, start here:
👉 Find a DVSA-Approved Instructor on Rated Driving
