Manual or automatic is one of the first choices you make before starting. The difference is not just in the lessons, but above all in what ends up on your licence. Read what each choice means and answer five questions to see which suits you.
What is the difference?
In a manual car you work the clutch and pick every gear yourself. An automatic does that for you: there is only an accelerator and a brake pedal, and the lever puts the car in drive (D), reverse (R), neutral (N) or park (P).
Manual: learn it all, drive anything
Working the clutch, changing gears and watching the traffic at the same time asks a bit more of you at first, and usually a few extra lessons. In return, a manual licence lets you drive any car, automatics included. Useful when you borrow your parents' car, rent one on holiday or have to drive a van for work.
Automatic: a calmer lesson, code 78 on your licence
With no clutch or gears, your hands are free and your head is clear for what happens on the road. Many learners pick it up faster and with less stress. If you take your exam in an automatic, code 78 goes on your licence and you may only drive automatics. That is less of a limitation every year: in 2010 four out of five new cars were manual, by 2020 more than half were automatic. Electric cars always are.
Want to drive manual later? Here is how
Got an automatic licence but want to drive a manual car after all? You fill in a new health declaration with the CBR and take the practical exam again, this time in a manual car. No new theory exam is needed; you just show the examiner your current licence. Passed? Then you apply for a new licence at your municipality, and as soon as you have it you can drive any car. If you fail, your automatic licence simply stays valid.
Which one suits you?
Five short questions and you see our advice straight away. You can always start over.
Our advice
Manual probably suits you best
Automatic probably suits you best
Either works fine
You keep every option open: a manual licence lets you drive any car. It usually takes a few extra lessons, but you never have to come back for more.
You learn faster and with more calm, because all your attention goes to the traffic. Keep in mind: your licence will then be valid for automatics only.
There is no clear winner. Talk it through in your first lesson with your instructor and decide based on how it goes.