Despite Lower Pass Rates Than Manual, Automatic Driving Tests have
Doubled in Five Years
Automatic Gear box
New
research carried by Uswitch car
insurance experts has revealed that the number of driving tests
taken in automatic cars has more than doubled over the past five years,
highlighting a significant shift in how learners are approaching driver
training.
According to the
findings, 41% of automatic learners chose this route because they believed
it would be easier than learning in a manual vehicle, while 37% felt they
would learn quicker. A further 31% already had access to an automatic car at
home.
However, the research
suggests that perceptions around ease and speed may not translate into improved
test outcomes. Uswitch noted that automatic driving test pass rates in 2025
were 10% lower than manual tests.
The study also explored
some of the practical concerns experienced by automatic-only licence holders.
The most commonly reported disadvantages included:
- Limited choice
when buying used cars, 36%
- Missing out on
manual driving skills, 28%
- Higher vehicle
purchase costs, 28%
- Restrictions when
borrowing friends’ or family members’ vehicles, 25%
- Higher
maintenance costs, 24%
For
instructors and trainers, the findings also point towards ongoing market
changes within the training sector itself. Uswitch found that automatic driving
lessons cost an average of £5.05 more per lesson than manual tuition,
potentially increasing the overall learning cost by around £224.94 for a
typical learner.
The report highlighted
that only 25% of instructors at major driving schools AA and BSM were teaching
in automatic vehicles as of January last year, although the number of automatic
instructors has increased by 76% since 2022.
The research also
examined attitudes towards automatic-only licences. More than half of
respondents, 56%, said they felt negatively judged by other motorists because
they only drive automatics. Meanwhile, 19% said they regretted
learning in an automatic vehicle, although 35% would consider learning
manual driving skills in future.https://www.afzal-driving-lessons.co.uk/driving-lessons-driving-schools/driving-school-near-me
Despite this, many
automatic drivers believe their experience leaves them well positioned for the
future transition towards electric vehicles. With almost all EVs using
automatic transmissions, 74% of respondents felt learning in an automatic had
prepared them well for driving electric vehicles.
Uswitch insurance expert
Leoni Moninska said: “It’s important to research the pros and cons to decide
what’s best for your situation, but there are a few key factors to think
about.”
