Is it easier to drive an automatic car? In theory, yes: When you don’t have to worry about changing gears, driving can feel much simpler and less distracting.
But this does not necessarily mean that automatic cars are “better” than manual cars. Because as we’ll see, the apparent simplicity of automatic cars can come at a price.
What Makes Automatic Cars Easier to Drive?
Automatic cars handle the gear change for you. All you have to do is choose your driving mode – Park, Reverse, Neutral, or Drive. The car will then choose the ideal gear for whichever speed you happen to be driving at.
Some automatic cars offer a choice between first and second gears. But first gear is only there to give you a little bit more control on hills and slippery surfaces. Beyond this, you can let the car handle all other gear choices.
Compare this to the experience of driving a manual car:
- Finding the biting point – the perfect balance between the clutch and the accelerator – every time you want to start moving.
- The need to know what gear is best for what speed, and to understand when it’s time to change gears.
- The process of changing gears: Clutch down, change gear, clutch up – but not too quickly, or you’ll stall! And you have to do this while keeping your eyes on the road and maintaining a steady speed and road position.
Yes, biting points and gear changes quickly become second nature for most drivers, but there’s no denying that the experience of driving an automatic is significantly simpler.
The Downsides of Automatic Cars
So if it’s easier to drive an automatic car, why does anyone bother with manual cars? For a few reasons:
- Automatic cars can cost more upfront than manual cars. The complex gear systems in automatic cars can make repairs a lot more costly, too.
- Some drivers just prefer the control that manual cars give them.
- Some might say that automatic cars are a little too easy to drive. If you don’t have to think about gear changes, your attention may start to drift on longer journeys.
- If you’ve been driving a manual car for years, then you may struggle with an automatic car at first. You’ll probably find that your foot tries to press down on a clutch pedal that isn’t there, while you reach for a gearstick that doesn’t need your input.
Read our full guide to the differences between manual and automatic cars.
Should I Learn in an Automatic or Manual?
If you’re just learning to drive, it may be best to learn to drive in a manual car. If you learn to drive and pass your test in an automatic car, you will only ever be qualified to drive automatic cars. If you get a licence to drive a manual car, then you will be qualified to drive both manual and automatic cars.
Reasons to Learn to Drive in an Automatic
Learning to drive a manual car will give you more flexibility and choice. However, there are some reasons why you might choose to learn to drive an automatic:
- You’re nervous behind the wheel, and you find it too stressful to think about gear changes on top of everything else.
- You struggle with coordination, so gear changes will always be problematic for you.
- You want to learn to drive quickly. There’s no guarantee that it’s quicker to learn to drive an automatic than it is to learn to drive a manual. But as most new drivers struggle with gear changes, it’s easy to see how learning automatic might streamline the process.
Read our full guide to learning to drive an automatic.
Manual or Automatic, We All Need Car Insurance!
Whether you drive manual or automatic, you’ll need car insurance!
At Go Girl, we specialise in driving down the cost of cover for careful drivers.
