One in four driving tests in Britain are now taken in automatics, new figures reveal, and it’s all thanks to the rise of EVs.
The DVSA says out of the 1.8 million tests taken across England, Scotland, and Wales last year, around 470,000 were in automatic cars. That’s a massive jump compared to just over 87,000 back in 2012.
So, what’s behind the shift? Put simply, the UK’s ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and the fact that EVs don’t need gears. The AA says this has made learning in a manual “irrelevant to many,” with learners focusing on the cars they actually plan to drive.
Right now, if you pass in a manual, you can legally drive both manuals and automatics. But if you take the test in an auto, you’ll get a Category B Auto licence, which limits you to automatics only.
Driving instructors say learners aren’t too fussed; in fact, many prefer automatics because they’re easier. "It just makes life so much easier - it's less work for the driver to do so they can concentrate more time on the road,” says Sue Howe, who runs her own driving school in Swindon. She also points out that automatics are safer for beginners, as tiredness and mistakes are less likely without clutches and gear changes to worry about.
And with EVs becoming more affordable to buy and far cheaper to run day-to-day (fuel and maintenance especially), many learners are confident their driving future is electric.
The numbers back that up: in 2012, just 6% of tests were in automatics. Fast-forward to last year, and it’s 26%, with the AA predicting that nearly a third of tests in 2025/26 will be auto-only.
Interestingly, more men are joining the switch too, up from 23% of auto tests in 2012 to nearly 40% last year. While pass rates are still slightly lower for automatics, the gap with manuals has been shrinking fast.
