- Surge in automatic-only driving tests.
- Shift away from manual transmissions.
- Electric vehicles driving change.
The number of learners scheduling automatic-only driving tests has increased by 269 percent over the past decade, according to a new report, as more drivers prepare to transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
Shift in Driving Test Preferences
The maximum number of automatic-only driving tests conducted increased by nearly fourfold from 87,844 in 2012-13 to 324,064 in 2022-23, according to the most recent data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Despite the fact that practical drivers continue to prefer manual transmissions, a recent analysis reveals that one in every five tests is now for an automatic-only license.
Ten years ago, only one in every twenty driving examinations utilized automatic transmissions.
TrackDays.co.uk, which analyzed driving test registration data, stated that the change in demand for automatic-only licenses signifies a “mental shift among motorists seeking to get behind the wheel.
Dan Jones, operations manager, states, “Manual transmissions are becoming increasingly common in EVs; therefore, many learners will question the utility of learning to drive a manual vehicle, given that the cars they will likely be operating in the future will almost certainly have automatic gearboxes.”
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Additionally, the dataset unveiled a demographic transition regarding the preference for automatic-only tests between the sexes, with males booking 36% of tests in 2022-23, which is just over one-third.
However, this has only increased in the past three years; for the previous seven years, it remained stagnant at approximately a quarter of the total appointments.
A “change in perception,” according to Dan, could have impacted booking trends.
“Our society is considerably more fast-paced than it was even five years ago,” he elaborated.
Automakers Embrace Automatic Transmissions
Automatic vehicles appear to be considerably more appealing to individuals who wish to travel promptly due to their hassle-free operation.
The numbers, however, refute the notion that passing an automatic driving test is simpler than doing so while operating a vehicle with a manual transmission, contrary to what novice drivers may believe.
According to data from the DVSA, the mean passing rate for automated driving examinations in the fiscal year 2022-23 was 42.7 percent.
When compared to the average pass rate for the United Kingdom (combined auto and manual examinations), which stood at 48.4%, it becomes evident that students perform better when taking manual examinations.
Insurer Direct Line predicted a year ago that due to the increasing popularity of automatic vehicles, the last individual to pass their driver’s license in a manual vehicle may not be able to do so until 2027, just four years from now.
Can the shift to electric vehicles explain the surge in auto tests?
Demand for driver’s licenses is currently being driven by the EV revolution and the impending prohibition on sales of all but electric cars beginning in 2035, according to TrackDays. However, recent studies have revealed that the number of new vehicles available for purchase with a manual transmission is already considerably lower.
A study published by CarWow in October 2022 found that less than one-third of newly introduced vehicles in dealerships have manual transmissions.
200 (67.1 percent) of the 298 new models that were available for purchase at the time were exclusively sold with automatic transmissions.
That left only 98 vehicles (32.9 percent) for drivers who prefer to manually shift gears.
Several automobile manufacturers, including Mercedes, Genesis, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lexus, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Subaru, and Volvo, exclusively offer automatic transmissions for their entire model lines.
Only two automakers—Abarth and Seat—offer manual transmissions with every vehicle they sell discovered this. However, Abarth has recently expanded its lineup to include the Abarth 500e, which is exclusively available with an automatic transmission.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders maintains official data indicating that automatic vehicles comprised less than a quarter (24 percent) of all new car registrations in 2011. By 2021, that percentage is projected to increase to 62.4 percent.
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