Manual driving lessons

If you’re looking for lessons in a manual, search for instructors near you today.

To a certain degree, it’s your decision. Although the scales might be tipped for you. If you intend to drive a parent’s car after you’ve passed your test, say, and they drive a manual car, then it makes sense to learn in one too.

The important thing to bear in mind here is that, if you pass your test in a manual car, it means you’ll be licenced to drive both automatic and manual vehicles. On the other hand, if you pass in an automatic, that’s all you’ll be licenced to drive. And if you decide later that you want to drive a manual, you’ll have to take the driving test again.

Manual cars are more common. They’re also cheaper, on average, in most respects. So they’re cheaper to buy, to repair, to insure… For the most part, they’re even more fuel efficient.

Even if you think you’re only likely to drive an automatic, it can be quite limiting. For instance, when choosing a new car, or if you need to hire a vehicle, you’ll only be able to choose automatics. Being able to drive a manual gives you greater choice, and means you might not paint yourself into a corner.

The essential difference between manual and automatic transmission is how gears are changed. In a manual, you do this yourself using the clutch pedal and a manual gearstick. Most manuals have four to six gears, and also reverse.

An automatic makes your gear changes for you. You have to put it into reverse yourself, and there may be other performance gears, for example. But there’s no clutch pedal to think about, and you rarely have to change gear yourself.

There’s a steeper learning curve with manual cars. You have to master clutch control, and shifting through the gears can take a lot of concentration to begin with. Not least because you have to accelerate, brake and steer too. To begin with, it can seem like a lot to think about. But trust us - you get used to it pretty quickly.

You’re also more likely to stall in a manual. This is when the engine cuts out, usually because the driver has made an error. This can feel stressful as a learner driver. But it happens, and even people who’ve had their licence for years still do it now and again.

It certainly might do. On average, people who learn in an automatic will pass after fewer lessons. So learning in a manual can take longer, and hence be more costly.

However, we think that putting in the extra effort is worth it. Because driving a manual tends to be cheaper, you should recoup those extra lessons in almost no time. And you’ll have lots more options when it comes to buying, borrowing and hiring cars. So - although the choice is yours - we think taking lessons in a manual car will be better in the long run.