Automatic or manual, which should you learn in
There is no universally right answer. There is usually a clearly right answer for you.
The licence difference
Pass in a manual and you can drive both manual and automatic cars. Pass in an automatic and you can drive automatics only.
That sounds restrictive and matters less every year, as more new cars, and nearly all electric cars, are automatic. You can also take a manual test later without redoing your theory.
Time and cost
Automatic learners often need fewer hours, because there is no clutch or gear work to master. Fewer hours can mean a lower total cost even when hourly rates are similar.
Manual takes longer to feel natural, and many learners find that time worthwhile for the flexibility it gives them.
Local driving
In stop start traffic around Wimbledon Broadway, Kingston town centre or Sutton High Street, an automatic is noticeably less tiring and frees your attention for observation.
On open Surrey roads around Esher, Cobham and Guildford, a manual gives you more direct control, which some drivers prefer.
A simple way to decide
Choose manual if you may need to drive a work van, a borrowed family car, or a hire car abroad.
Choose automatic if you are nervous, short on time, mostly driving in London traffic, or planning to drive electric. If you are still unsure, book one lesson of each and let your hands decide.
Written by Jude Driving Academy, teaching automatic and manual lessons across South West London and Surrey.