Electric vehicle boom drives more learners to take driving tests in automatics

A rising number of learner drivers in Great Britain are taking their driving tests in automatic cars as the spread of electric vehicles reduces the demand for manual gearboxes, government and industry figures show.

Data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) indicate that 470,000 of the 1.8 million driving tests carried out across England, Scotland and Wales in 2023 were taken in automatic vehicles, about one-quarter of the total. Drivers who pass in an automatic receive a Category B (automatic) licence and are not permitted to drive manual-transmission cars unless they later pass a manual test.

Industry groups and market data link the trend to the growth of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which typically do not require multi-speed gearboxes. The AA’s driving school managing director, Emma Bush, said learners are increasingly choosing to learn in electric or automatic cars because they expect to drive such vehicles in future.

“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,” Bush said, noting that lower day-to-day running and maintenance costs for EVs and hybrids are influencing learner preferences.

The shift is also visible in the wider fleet. Analysis from Solera cap hpi shows automatics accounted for 29.3 percent of the UK’s passenger cars in 2024, up 118 percent since 2014. The number of automatic cars on British roads rose to more than 15.5 million in that period, while manual registrations increased more modestly.

Policy timelines have reinforced the market trend. The Labour government reinstated a 2030 deadline for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars after having been delayed under the prior administration. The approaching ban has been cited by motoring groups and industry analysts as a factor in the demand for EV-capable training and vehicles.

The DVSA figures cover England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland issues licences separately. The agency’s data also underline the licensing consequence for learners: passing a test in an automatic car restricts drivers to automatic vehicles unless they take and pass a separate manual driving test.

Market observers say the upfront cost of electric models remains higher than many petrol or diesel alternatives but that price gaps are narrowing. Lower running costs, including savings on fuel and some maintenance, have been highlighted by drivers and instructors as drivers increasingly plan for an electric-powered future.

Automotive and training providers will monitor whether the trend toward automatic-only passes alters driver skills and training demand. For now, government statistics and industry reporting show a clear movement toward automatic vehicles among learner drivers as electrification advances and policy deadlines approach.