Automatic or manual: which is best to learn in?

More and more learners are unsure: do I learn in an automatic or in a manual car after all? Both lead to the same goal — your category B licence — but there are a few important differences worth knowing before you choose. In this article we lay them out honestly.

The difference in short

In a manual car you decide when to change gear and you operate the clutch. In an automatic, shifting happens by itself; there's no clutch pedal and you keep your attention fully on the road. That difference in operation largely determines how the learning feels.

The advantages of automatic

• You often learn faster, because you don't have to concentrate on the clutch and gears.
• Less chance of ‘stalling’ and more calm in busy city traffic.
• Handy if you want to get on the road quickly or if shifting gears gives you a lot of tension.
• More and more cars — and virtually all electric cars — are automatic.

The advantages of manual

• With a manual licence you're allowed to drive both manual and automatic cars.
• Handy if you later want to drive a (often cheaper) second-hand manual car or borrow lots of different cars.
• You have full control over your gears, which some people actually prefer.

Important to know: code 78

Under national regulations, anyone who takes the practical exam in an automatic receives a licence with code 78. That means you may only drive automatics — driving a manual is not allowed with code 78. If you later want to shift gears after all, an additional course is needed. If you pass your exam in a manual car, you may drive all passenger cars, automatic and manual alike. Factor this into your choice, especially if you don't yet know what kind of car you'll be driving later.

What suits you?

There's no ‘best’ choice that applies to everyone — it depends on your goals, your budget and how you feel behind the wheel. Not sure? Feel free to run your situation by us; we're happy to think along with no obligation, so you make a choice you'll be glad about later.