One in four driving tests across Great Britain are now conducted in automatic vehicles, fresh data reveals, as motorists embrace electric cars and turn their backs on manual transmissions.
Statistics from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) demonstrate that 470,000 of the 1.8 million driving tests undertaken in England, Scotland, and Wales last year were completed in automatic vehicles.
Insurance giant AA suggested the shift stems from Britain’s prohibition on new petrol and diesel car sales taking effect in 2030, given that electric vehicles don’t require manual gearboxes, the BBC reported.
Emma Bush, managing director of AA’s driving school, remarked that understanding manual car operation is becoming “irrelevant to many”.
Securing a full driving licence for Great Britain requires candidates to pass their examination in a manually-operated vehicle.
Should the test be completed in an automatic car, the motorist receives a Category B Auto licence, limiting them to operating vehicles with automatic transmission exclusively.
Northern Ireland administers its own driving licences separately.
Ms Bush observed that drivers and learners are “becoming confident with the idea of their driving future being electric”.
“As we head closer to 2030 and the ban on the sale of new combustion cars, more and more learners will want to learn in an electric vehicle as that’s all they will plan to drive.”
Drivers have just 82 models to choose from if they’re looking for a car with a manual gearbox, new data has discovered.
It represents a decline from 192 models available in 2015, with the number of manual gearbox cars from the UK’s top manufacturers falling steadily each year since. Today, manuals account for only 29 per cent of new model offerings, according to data from automotive marketplace CarGurus.
CarGurus also spoke to 2,000 drivers about their preferences for analogue and technological features in cars.
It found that 35 per cent of those aged over 65 were most likely to miss manual gearboxes, compared to 26 per cent aged between 18 and 24. Whereas, 22 per cent of people would miss having three pedals aged between 25 and 34.
Also, the survey found that the number of new cars available with manual gearboxes have dropped by 57 per cent since 2015. A total of 82 models are on sale with three pedals, compared to 192 one decade ago.
Chris Knapman, CarGurus UK editorial director, said: “With an increasing number of new cars being fully electric, and the market’s general push to larger and more premium vehicles, it is no great surprise to see the decline of the manual gearbox continuing in the 12 months since we last conducted this study. Increasingly, an automatic gearbox is no longer a luxury that buyers must pay extra for, but an expected standard feature.”
He added: “There is some good news for those who do still value the additional layer of interaction that comes with a manual gearbox, however. Drivers can still buy a new car with a truly great gear-change like the Honda Civic Type R and Mazda MX-5. Or, of course, they can look to the used market, where manuals are in plentiful supply.”
After last year’s general election, the Labour administration committed to reinstating the petrol and diesel prohibition to 2030, following former prime minister Rishi Sunak‘s decision to delay it until 2035.
The reduced daily operating c The cost benefits of EVs and hybrids also appeal to many motorists, Ms Bush noted.
While EVs can carry a significantly higher upfront price tag compared to petrol, diesel, or hybrid vehicles, this price difference is steadily shrinking.
Furthermore, EV drivers can anticipate substantial savings on both fuel and maintenance expenses.
Sue Howe, who runs Sue’s Driving School in Swindon, informed the BBC that automatic transmissions represent “the way forward” as the automotive industry transitions towards electric vehicles.
According to Ms Howe, automatic cars can simplify the driving test for learners, explaining “there’s just a lot less to do”.
Novice drivers may “wreck a gearbox and a clutch”, Ms Howe observed, noting that anxiety might lead them to stall or cut out the engine.
She also highlighted that this shift benefits road safety since “people are less tired” when operating an automatic vehicle.
“It just makes life so much easier – it’s less work for the driver to do so they can concentrate more time on the road.”
Motorists’ perspectives on EVs have transformed dramatically in little more than ten years.
According to DVSA statistics, 87,844 driving tests were conducted in automatic vehicles during 2012/13, representing 6.12% of all examinations.
This number soared to 479,556 in 2024/25, the most recent period with complete data, accounting for 26%.
The AA forecasts that 29% of all driving tests will be undertaken in automatic vehicles during 2025/26.
DVSA data also revealed that increasing numbers of men are choosing to sit their tests in automatic cars.
During 2012/13, men comprised 23.2% of candidates taking automatic tests, but this proportion rose to 39.1% last year. The pass rate for automatic vehicles was marginally lower than that of manual cars last year, although the difference has lessened since 2012.
