Calls for automatic drivers to drive manual without second test

Rather than another full practical driving test, King said the assessment would focus on "clutch control, the hill start, smoothness and understanding the gears".

He believes it could also be carried out by an approved driving instructor (ADI) rather than a DVSA examiner.

“It would not be trying to replicate the full driving test," he said.

IAM RoadSmart's head of policy, Nicholas Lyes, agrees that any conversion route should be assessed by an ADI. He also suggests using a scoring system rather than a simple pass or fail.

"There wouldn't need to be a theory test, nor would the assessment necessarily be a pass or fail," he said. "If they're getting ones and twos, that would suggest they're okay to drive a manual. If they're getting threes and fours, that would indicate they need further practice."

Whether a German-style system would work in the UK is unclear.

While Sutcliffe believes the current system “is archaic and needs an overhaul”, he thinks that “the AA is trying to define a framework on something that needs a lot more design, thought and industry engagement”. 

Sutcliffe believes policymakers should first decide the overall objectives of a conversion course before deciding how it should be delivered. He said it could use a "blended learning approach", combining technology with “practical skills development”.

"It's not about saying we need five hours of training at this point," he said. "We need to understand what we're actually training. Is it the way the vehicle is operated by the driver, or do we simply need to understand the differences in the way the vehicle behaves and what those impacts are on the driver and safe use of the vehicle?"

Sutcliffe believes this is already becoming more relevant as drivers move between petrol cars, hybrids and electric vehicles, each of which can behave differently. 

“Each automatic car is very different, “he explains. “An EV behaves differently from a petrol automatic. For example, if the car has regenerative braking, how is that different to driving a manual car and how does it affect the student driver and then onwards as a newly qualified driver when the real-world driving experience is gained?”

What happened in Germany?

Many of those questions have already been explored in Germany, which introduced its B197 licence in 2021. The system allows learners to take their practical test in an automatic car before qualifying to drive a manual after ten 45-minute lessons and a practical assessment.

The ADAC – Germany's equivalent of the AA – said some of the lessons can also be completed on a simulator.

According to Ulrich Chiellino, head of its transport department, the scheme has proved popular because "the practical test is taken in an automatic vehicle yet the licence granted still covers manual-transmission vehicles".

He also claimed there have been no notable issues with road safety or driving standards linked to the system.

"Young drivers generally face higher risks. Increased driving experience lowers the risk of accidents, regardless of whether a manual or automatic transmission is used," he said.

"The dual training approach has proven effective," Chiellino continued. "Comprehensive training on a manual vehicle is usually more cost-effective and pass rates do not differ significantly."

King said the cost depends on which route a learner takes, "so both could be true. If you learned in an automatic, you might need five fewer lessons than a manual learner. But then you needed a conversion course and you would need at least those five lessons to convert."

For now, however, the UK government has no plans to change the system. A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said there are currently no plans to change driving test rules, despite the growing number of drivers choosing to learn in automatic cars. However, the DfT added that it keeps these decisions under review.

Lyes believes the current licensing system “still serves an important purpose” but it should remain under review as the vehicle fleet changes.

He said “the trend is definitely moving towards automatic transmission” and that there will come a point “where effectively there will be equalisation between the automatic and the manual licensing approach”, and at that point “we should be in a position to make changes if they’re required”.