Learning to drive a manual car ‘could be obsolete by 2040’ with instructors ‘to give automatic-only lessons
EXPERTS have warned that learning to drive a manual car could become “obsolete” by 2040, as automatic-only lessons have surged.
Gen Z could be the last generation to use traditional transmissions, with sales on the slide.
Specialists from Adrian Flux, one of the UK’s largest car insurance brokers, have now predicted that manual driving lessons could cease entirely by the end of the next decade.
Data from the DVLA has already shown a 270% surge in learners taking their tests in automatic cars since 2013.
Over 324,000 did so in 2023 alone, while Adrian Flux found that 61% of young drivers were opting for auto-only tests.
This has been accompanied by a decline in sales for manual cars, with 62% of new cars sold being automatic, compared to just 24% in 2011.
It is possible to achieve a driving licence using only an automatic car and you are allowed to use them for your practical test.
However, this will only qualify you for a Category B Auto licence, meaning you are entitled to drive vehicles of up to 3,500kg, with up to 8 passenger seats, but only if it has an automatic transmission.
In order to achieve a full Category B licence, allowing you to drive any car under the weight and capacity limit, you would need to take the test again in a manual car.
There is no auto-only licence for LGVs, HGVs and buses, largely because automatic versions are quite rare.
Gerry Bucke, General Manager at Adrian Flux, expressed concern as to what this could mean for future drivers, especially classic car lovers.
He said: “We urge the government and DVSA to ensure that there is a future for the timeless classic cars through creating options for manual learning, even in an automatic landscape.
“These vehicles are not only a means of transport but a source of passion and community for many.
“We want to ensure future learners have the opportunity to pursue their love for classic vehicles.”
However, he added that “some demand” for manual cars will likely remain well into the future, if not among new drivers.
It comes after we revealed the best used cars to buy in 2024 for less than £10,000 – and most are manual