A notable shift is occurring in driving tests across Great Britain, with new data indicating that one in four tests are now conducted in automatic vehicles. This trend reflects a growing preference for electric vehicles (EVs) and a reduced reliance on manual gearboxes.
According to figures released by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), approximately 470,000 out of the 1.8 million driving tests administered in England, Scotland, and Wales in the past year were performed using automatic cars.
The AA has attributed this trend to the impending 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK, as EVs inherently do not require manual transmissions.
Emma Bush, Managing Director of the AA’s driving school, commented that the ability to drive a manual car is becoming “irrelevant to many” prospective drivers.
It is important to note that a full driving license for Great Britain necessitates passing the test in a vehicle equipped with manual gears.
Individuals who pass their driving test in an automatic car receive a Category B Auto license, which restricts them to operating vehicles with automatic transmissions exclusively.
Driving licenses in Northern Ireland are issued separately under distinct regulations.
Ms. Bush noted that drivers and learners are “becoming confident with the idea of their driving future being electric.”
“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,” she added.
Following the recent general election, the Labour government has committed to reinstating the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel car sales, reversing the previous government’s decision to postpone it to 2035.
Ms. Bush also pointed out that the reduced day-to-day running costs associated with EVs and hybrids are a significant draw for many drivers.
While the upfront cost of EVs can be higher than that of petrol, diesel, or hybrid vehicles, this price gap is gradually diminishing.
Moreover, EV owners can anticipate savings on both fuel and maintenance expenses.
Sue Howe, owner of Sue’s Driving School in Swindon, remarked to the BBC that automatic vehicles represent “the way forward” as the automotive industry increasingly embraces EVs.
For learner drivers, Ms. Howe suggests that automatic cars can simplify the testing process, as “there’s just a lot less to do.”
Inexperienced drivers are prone to “wreck a gearbox and a clutch” in manual cars, Ms. Howe explained, adding that nervousness can lead to stalling or engine cut-outs.
She also asserted that this trend positively impacts road safety, as drivers in automatics are “less tired.”
“It just makes life so much easier – it’s less work for the driver to do so they can concentrate more time on the road,” Ms. Howe stated.
Driver attitudes toward EVs have undergone a rapid transformation in recent years.
DVSA data reveals that in 2012/13, 87,844 driving tests, or 6% of the total, were conducted in automatic cars.
By 2024/25, the most recent period with complete data, that number had risen to 479,556, accounting for 26% of all tests.
The AA anticipates that 29% of all driving tests will be taken in automatic vehicles in 2025/26.
DVSA figures also indicate a growing preference for automatic tests among male learners.
In 2012/13, men constituted 23% of learners taking automatic tests; by last year, this figure had increased to 39%.
While the pass rate for automatic tests was slightly lower than that for manual tests last year, the difference has narrowed since 2012.
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