If you’re just starting to think about learning to drive, one of the first decisions you’ll face isn’t about instructors or test dates — it’s whether to learn in an automatic or a manual car. It’s a bigger decision than it might seem, because the licence you end up with, the car you drive afterwards, and even how quickly you pass can all depend on it. Here’s what the latest figures say, and how to work out which route makes sense for you.

Automatic driving is growing fast

Ten years ago, automatic tests were a small minority. DVSA figures show automatic passes made up just 5.1% of all driving test passes in 2012/13. By 2021/22 that had risen to 13.4%, and by 2022/23 it had climbed again to 16.94%. Industry forecasts from the AA suggest that by 2025/26, automatic vehicles will account for around 26% of all test passes — more than one in four.

The reason isn’t hard to find: the UK’s shift towards electric vehicles. EVs don’t have a clutch or gears, so as more manufacturers go electric-only, learning in an automatic increasingly reflects the car you’ll actually end up driving day to day.

What the pass rate figures show

Nationally, the overall driving test pass rate for 2024/25 was 48.7% across 1.84 million tests — the highest it’s been since 2017/18. That’s a useful benchmark regardless of which transmission you choose, since it shows how much preparation and quality instruction matter.

Automatic tests have historically had a slightly different pass profile to manual tests, partly because automatic learners are, on average, newer to driving overall and the automatic test pool has been smaller. What’s changed in recent years is the volume: with automatic testing becoming far more common, that gap has been narrowing as instruction and test familiarity catch up with demand.

The case for learning automatic

Learning in an automatic removes an entire layer of complexity. There’s no clutch control, no biting point, no stalling at junctions or roundabouts, and no need to change gear while also checking mirrors, judging speed, and reading the road. For a lot of learners — particularly those who find manual coordination stressful — that means lessons can focus purely on roadcraft, hazard awareness, and confidence from day one.

It also tends to suit a few groups especially well:

• Nervous or anxious learners who want one less thing to think about
• People returning to driving after a long break
• Anyone planning to drive an EV or hybrid, where there’s no manual gearbox to learn anyway
• Learners who simply want to pass and get on the road as efficiently as possible

The trade-off is the licence itself. An automatic licence only lets you drive automatic vehicles — if you ever need to drive a manual car (some hire cars abroad, certain work vehicles, a friend’s car), you won’t legally be able to unless you take a manual test as well later on.

The case for learning manual

A manual licence covers both manual and automatic cars, which is why it’s traditionally been the default advice — it keeps your options fully open. Manual cars are also generally cheaper to buy and insure, and second-hand manual cars are still more widely available in the UK than automatics, though that’s changing as EV numbers grow.

Manual driving does take longer to feel natural for most learners, and stalling or clutch control can knock confidence early on. But once it clicks, you’re not restricted to any particular type of car for the rest of your driving life.

So which one should you choose?

There’s no universally “right” answer — it depends on what you want out of driving:

• If your priority is passing with less stress and you’re not fussed about ever driving a manual car, automatic is usually the faster, calmer route.
• If you want maximum flexibility for the future — different jobs, different cars, driving abroad — manual keeps every door open.
• If you already know you’ll be driving an EV or automatic-only car long-term, there’s little reason to make learning harder than it needs to be.

Learn automatic with SAMZ in Edinburgh

At SAMZ Automatic Driving School, automatic is all we teach — it’s not an add-on to a manual-focused business, it’s our entire approach. Our DVSA-approved instructors specialise in structured, patient, automatic-only tuition across Edinburgh, Leeds, Livingston, Bathgate and Falkirk, whether you’re a complete beginner or coming back to driving after time away.

Take a look at our full range of automatic driving lesson packages, from a single Flexible Start Session right through to our Ultimate Start-to-Finish Programme, or check where we teach to find a location near you. If you’d rather talk it through first, get in touch and we’ll help you find the right starting point.

Sources: DVSA driving test pass rate data via PassRates.uk; AA Driving School automatic test trend data.