More learner drivers in Great Britain choose automatics as electric vehicles reshape demand
DVSA data show roughly one in four driving tests were taken in automatic cars as learners and instructors point to the rise of EVs and simpler controls
One in four driving tests in Great Britain was taken in an automatic car last year as learners and instructors increasingly favour vehicles without manual gearboxes, according to government data and industry figures.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said about 470,000 of the roughly 1.8 million driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales were conducted in automatics. To qualify for an unrestricted Category B licence a candidate must pass their test in a manual car; passing in an automatic issues a Category B (restricted to automatic transmission) licence. Northern Ireland issues its own driving licences.
Industry figures said the shift is being driven by the growing adoption of electric vehicles, which typically do not have multi-speed gearboxes. Emma Bush, managing director of the AA's driving school, said learners are "becoming confident with the idea of their driving future being electric" and that knowledge of manual gears is "irrelevant to many".
The move away from manuals has accelerated over the last decade. DVSA figures show 87,844 automatic tests in 2012/13, about 6.1% of all tests that year, rising to 479,556 automatic tests in 2024/25, roughly 26% of tests in the most recent complete period. The AA forecasts that 29% of driving tests will be taken in automatics in 2025/26.
Driving instructors say automatics can make learning easier for novices. Sue Howe, owner of a driving school in Swindon, said automatics involve "a lot less to do", reducing the chance of stalling or damaging a clutch and allowing learners to concentrate on road awareness. Howe added that reduced driver fatigue in automatic cars could have road-safety benefits.
The DVSA data show changes in the demographics of those choosing automatics. In 2012/13 about 23.2% of learners taking automatic tests were men; last year that share rose to 39.1%. The overall pass rate for automatic tests remains slightly lower than for manual tests, though the gap has narrowed since 2012.
Policy decisions are shaping the transition. The UK government has committed to a 2030 deadline for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, a move reinstated by the current administration after a previous postponement to 2035. Insurers and driving organisations say the prospect of an all-electric new-car market is persuading learners to train in vehicles they expect to drive after qualifying.
Cost considerations are also a factor. While electric vehicles can have higher purchase prices than comparable petrol or diesel models, proponents note lower day-to-day operating costs for fuel and maintenance, and a narrowing price gap in new models.
The choice to train in an automatic has lasting consequences for drivers: those who pass only in an automatic remain restricted to automatic vehicles unless they later take a practical test in a manual car. Driving schools and industry bodies said they are adapting training fleets and teaching approaches to reflect demand, while warning that some learners may wish to obtain manual licences to preserve flexibility.
The trend marks a technology-driven shift in how new drivers are trained and licensed, reflecting broader changes in vehicle design and government policy intended to accelerate the move away from internal-combustion vehicles.