Maybe so. Many more new drivers choose an auto only licence, they cannot be bothered with gearchanging. Plus EVs are all one pedal go, another stop, not too much to learn there. Which is good as the laptop menu screen can require three finger taps to switch the subscriber only heated seats on. Here are some thoughts on the rise of the auto and the death of gear-shifting;
The rise of automatic-only driving lessons reflects a wider shift in how we think about cars, with convenience increasingly taking priority over traditional driving.
Vehicle Data Global (VDG) has warned that the manual gearbox could be heading towards extinction, predicting that manual cars may become obsolete on UK roads by 2030.
However, founder of GAP insurance provider ALA Insurance, Simon England, says the story is more complicated, with manual cars likely to remain a valuable option for many drivers well beyond 2030.
He comments, “Calling manual cars obsolete ignores the reality that, by 2030, many manual cars will still have years of life left in them. We have to ask whether we’re overlooking the value of cars that are easier to maintain, cheaper to repair and still perfectly capable.”
“For many younger drivers, the manual car is still the most affordable option,” he notes. “Taking away that option could make car ownership harder, leaving first-time drivers with fewer affordable cars to choose from.”
“And that’s before considering the environmental impact of what happens to all those perfectly usable cars,” he adds.
Simon also points to several reasons why learning to drive a manual could prove valuable, even as they become less common on UK roads.
“If later in life you move to automatic, you keep that intuition for how a car responds, but learning manual builds an instinctive connection with the car that comes from constantly adjusting, anticipating and responding.”
“When many of those micro decisions are removed during the learning process, it’s easier to become a more passive driver,” he says.
The proportion of driving tests taken in automatic cars has more than quadrupled in a decade, rising from 6.9% in 2014/15 to 26% in 2024/25, according to the DVSA.
While the practical differences between manual and automatic cars are narrowing, a manual licence continues to offer greater flexibility, while reducing the risk of being caught out by unforeseen circumstances.
“You never know when you might need to drive someone else’s car in an emergency, whether that’s taking over if the driver becomes unwell, helping a family member who needs assistance, or simply needing to use a vehicle that isn’t your own,” Simon explains.
The restriction is also a legal consideration. Drivers who hold an automatic-only licence but drive a manual car can face a fine of up to £1,000 and between 3 and 6 penalty points.
“Having a manual licence means you’re not restricted by the type of car you can drive, and with around 70% of cars on UK roads still manual, automatic-only drivers wouldn’t have that same option, even in an emergency,” he adds.
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