(qlmbusinessnews.com . Wed 17th Sep, 2025) London, UK —
Automatic Vehicles Dominate Driving Tests: The Future of Driving in a Post-Petrol UK
A quarter of all driving assessments in Great Britain now involve candidates opting for automatic vehicles, a shift linked to the rising preference for electric vehicles (EVs) over traditional manual transmissions.
Data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) reveals that out of 1.8 million tests conducted across England, Scotland, and Wales last year, 470,000 were in automatic cars.
This move towards automatics is largely influenced by the impending UK ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, set for 2030, as explained by insurance giant AA. Given that EVs do not require manual gearboxes, the demand for manual driving skills is on the decline. Emma Bush, managing director at AA Driving School, commented that mastering manual driving is “becoming irrelevant to many.”
In Great Britain, passing a driving test in a manual car is necessary for a full driving licence. Those who pass their test in an automatic car receive a Category B Auto licence, limiting them to automatic vehicles only, whereas Northern Ireland has its own licensing system.
Bush observed an increasing comfort among drivers and learners with the prospect of an electric driving future. “As 2030 approaches, along with the ban on new combustion engine cars, the inclination to learn in an electric vehicle grows, anticipating that it will be their vehicle of choice,” she stated.
The restoration of the petrol and diesel ban to 2030 by the Labour government, following the last general election, has further encouraged this trend. This decision followed an earlier delay to 2035 by the former prime minister, Rishi Sunak. The appeal of EVs and hybrids isn't just ecological; their lower operational costs also play a significant role, according to Bush.
While EVs may present a higher initial investment compared to petrol, diesel, or hybrid vehicles, the gap in cost is diminishing. Owners of EVs also benefit from reduced fuel and maintenance expenses.
Sue Howe, proprietor of Sue’s Driving School in Swindon, championed automatic cars as “the way forward” amidst the automotive industry's pivot to electric models. She highlighted that automatics simplify the learning process for students by reducing the actions required during the test. Howe pointed out that newcomers to driving often face challenges with manual transmission, such as damaging the gearbox or clutch, or causing the car to stall due to nerves. She advocated for automatic transmission, suggesting it enhances road safety by allowing drivers to focus more on their surroundings rather than managing the vehicle.
The transition towards EVs and automatic vehicles marks a significant shift in driver attitudes over the past decade. Compared to 2012/13, when automatics accounted for just 6.12% of all tests, the proportion surged to 26% in the last recorded period of 2024/25, as shown by DVSA statistics. Projections by the AA suggest that by 2025/26, nearly 29% of all driving tests could involve automatic vehicles.
Additionally, the data indicated a growing number of men choosing automatics for their driving tests, increasing from 23.2% in 2012/13 to 39.1% last year. Though the pass rate for automatics was slightly lower than for manuals last year, the disparity has reduced since 2012, hinting at a broader acceptance and proficiency in driving automatic vehicles.
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