Can you pass in an automatic car?
While it restricts the range of cars you can drive, some people find it easier to learn and subsequently pass their test in an automatic as it takes away a lot of the aspects of learning to drive some people struggle with, like clutch control and using the gears.
Because there's less to master in an automatic car, some learners may find it quicker to pass their test. And the quicker you pass your test, the less money you'll spend on driving lessons. But lessons in an automatic car might be more expensive than learning to drive in a manual.
The short answer is no - you can't drive a manual car with an automatic licence. However, you can drive a semi-automatic as long as there is no manually-operated clutch pedal fitted.
However, there's less to get to grips with when you take automatic driving lessons. This means many learners are able to pass after just 20 hours of lessons, as long as they also get some private practice.
Technically, you can drive with two feet on a driving test—no law states otherwise. Doing so shouldn't cause you to fail your test. However, driving instructors and examiners will tell you that driving with two feet is a terrible idea.
To expand further on it, according to the RAC, a learner needs approximately 45-hours to be test-ready. In most cases, that would be approximately 22 or 23 driving lessons (taken in 2 hour intervals).
Three in ten current learners have opted to go automatic
Our recent survey of 500 learner drivers also indicates that we're set to see these numbers rise further still as three in ten (39%) current learners plan to take their test in an automatic car.
For most drivers, learning in a manual is better. You'll be able to drive cars with both types of gearbox. If you pass in an automatic you won't be able to drive a manual. On the other hand, if driving an auto will make the difference between a pass and a fail then go for it!
Yes it is recommended by the majority of industry users and even some physicians. Without the extra stress of clutch, gearbox and shifting automatic cars are a better option as it eases the stress on the mind.
Can Driving Examiners Change Their Mind? No, the examiner's decision is final. You can however appeal your driving test result, but if you are successful, you will receive a free retest and not a test pass.
What should you not do in an automatic?
- Avoid Using the Neutral Gear while sliding the vehicle down a slope. ...
- Avoid Using Neutral while the car is at a stop light/traffic. ...
- Avoid changing gears while the car is moving. ...
- Avoid Coasting in Neutral. ...
- Avoid doing Launches.
While most driving instructors agree that it is easier to teach a learner driver in an automatic car, it may surprise you to learn that pass rates are typically lower for automatic car candidates. Between 2010 and 2019, the national average for driving test pass rates was between 46-47 percent.

Rolling through a stop is one of the most common and dangerous mistakes you can make while driving. Do this on your road test and you'll be rewarded with an automatic fail – no exceptions.
Taking the automatic driving test
The driving test procedure for an automatic is exactly the same as a manual. A learner driver that is prone to stalling due to lack of clutch control may find that they stall more during the test due to nerves and stress.
For example, if you make another vehicle slow down, swerve or stop, you'll instantly fail your driving test. A typical example of this is misjudging the speed and distance of traffic on the roundabout, then pulling out and forcing another vehicle to slow down to avoid a collision.
no hitting the kerb does not mean instant fail. i hit the kerb, just bearly on the turnabout and i still managed to pass they'll be looking more at your observation and how well you can control your car at slow speeds. You could have had more lenient tester. The tester can give you a Grade 3 fault if you hit the kerb.
When driving an automatic car, you would mostly use the right foot only for braking or accelerating in normal driving conditions; as you would in a manual vehicle. If you need to do some manoeuvring, it is ok to use both feet lightly; left on the brake and right on the gas.
Because an automatic has no clutch, you don't need to use your left foot. Simply use your right foot for both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal. The reasoning behind this is that it's safer.
Automatics are easier to drive than manual cars: as the name says, they do a lot of the work for you. So it's not surprising that people with a manual driving licence can also hire and drive automatic cars (but not vice versa).
You will face many potentially dangerous obstacles during the test, so with a combination of anxiety, nerves and stress (all while you're sitting next to the examiner) it's certainly not easy for anyone. People fail for a multitude of reasons, and passing requires experience and practice, hard work and determination.
Is it more expensive to learn in an automatic?
Taking automatic car lessons is often more expensive than taking lessons in a manual car. Choosing to learn automatic means you'll be paying more for your driving journey before you've even got your licence.
When it comes to pass rates, we've noticed a significant variation between males and females, with males having a 53.4 per cent average between April 2020 to March 2021 per-attempt pass rate compared to 48.6 per cent for females.
A South Korean woman this week signed up to take her driving test once again - after failing to earn a license the first 771 times. The woman, identified only as Cha, first took the written portion of the exam in April 2005, said Choi Young-cheol of the Driver's License Agency in the southwestern city of Jeonju.
Automatic car cons
It can be more expensive to buy than a manual-equipped car. The transmission has more moving parts, leading to higher repair costs. It's not as fun to drive — though this is subjective. A transmission with lots of gears might shift too often.
It is easier to learn to drive an automatic car compared to manual cars. This is because the manual car requires several driver inputs to drive the car.
Manual vehicles are more difficult and tiresome to drive in stop-and-go traffic. C. Manuals require precise control to prevent the vehicle from stalling when driving on hilly roads.
Automatic transmissions offer effortless driving compared to manual transmission. People in the US and Canada prefer driving long distances, which is why automatic transmission comes in handy, hence its popularity.
One should start driving fast only when you feel comfortable and can drive the car confidently. You can start increasing your driving speed in a gradual manner. Start with small increments in your regular speed and get used to driving faster before you increase your speed even further.
But these days, fewer and fewer people are driving cars with stick shifts in the United States. According to CarMax, 96 percent of Americans drive automatics.
No. The examiner knows nothing about you except for your DVLA number and your name, the only thing he or she cares about or wants to know is how well you drive. There may be a general conversation about if you've done it before or not but that will have no bearing on the test itself.
Does the Examiner tell you if you failed?
The examiner will always tell you clearly and openly why you failed plus you will get a copy of your driving test report emailed to you or your instructor. It's essential you discuss the reason (or reasons) for your fail with your driving instructor as soon as possible so they can be put right straightaway.
Generally speaking, most examiners will initiate some kind of conversation to put you at ease during your test. It's not intended to be a method of distraction—just a way to help you relax a little and get rid of those test day nerves.
If you drive an automatic, you need to shift to “P” and engage the parking brake to park the car. There are however, two different types of people in terms of the sequence of action. Some shift to “P” first, and then engage the parking brake, while some engage the parking brake first, and then shift to “P”.
You may accelerate and brake and at the same time and this will make the car to lose control. The best practice is to set your left foot on the dead pedal or let it rest while using the right foot for both acceleration and braking.
Even if you get points taken off for not successfully parallel parking your car, as long as you don't hit a car or the curb too forcefully, you should still pass your test.
- Be on time. ...
- Have a lesson beforehand. ...
- Check you have everything you need. ...
- Use your instructor's car. ...
- Take your instructor along for reassurance. ...
- Ask your examiner to repeat, if you need. ...
- Don't assume you've failed. ...
- Choose where you want to take your test.
- Trust the Instructor. ...
- Take the Mock Test. ...
- Take the Examiner as Your Friend Rather than Enemy. ...
- Keep Your DMV Driving Test a Secret. ...
- Breathing Exercises. ...
- Go Early. ...
- Don't Skip Meals. ...
- Don't Do Too Much on the Material Day.
Late afternoon or evening driving tests
As with the early morning tests, these times may be subject to rush hour and depending on your opinion, are best avoided.
- Never coast down a hill while in neutral. ...
- Stop the vehicle completely before changing the gear. ...
- Don't launch your vehicle. ...
- Never put your car in neutral at a signal.
Just like you do in a manual: press the go fast peddle down with your foot until you exceed the speed of the vehicle you are trying to overtake.
Can you drive a manual car if you pass in an automatic UK?
You can start learning to drive a manual car at any time. You don't need to apply for another provisional licence. You must follow all the usual rules when you're learning to drive in a manual car. This includes displaying L plates.
Driving comfort
One of the best advantages of driving an automatic car is the convenience it offers. Thanks to the clutch-pedal-less operation and the fact that you don't have to shift gears manually.
The golden rule of overtaking: Do not attempt to do so if you can't see ahead. This means you shouldn't be heading towards curves, corners, or sudden changes of elevation. Signs or road marking will usually be present indicating you're in an unsafe location to attempt an overtaking maneuver.
N – Neutral. D – Drive. 3 – Third gear 2 – Second gear 1 – First gear. O – Overdrive (if equipped)
The same way as an auto. Keep your foot on the accelerator (gas) and you will keep going forward. If you need to stop, apply the footbrake and clutch, come to a stop, apply handbrake (parking brake), put gear in neutral, take feet of brake and clutch.