When you are first learning to drive, you are immediately presented with one very important question before you even take to the road. The important question is, should you learn how to drive a car with a manual or an automatic transmission?

It is generally accepted that learning to drive on an automatic car can be much easier than learning to drive a manual car. However, there are many benefits to learning to drive a manual car. Although learning to drive on a manual car often takes longer, requires more driving lessons, and can be more difficult, having a manual driving licence as opposed to an automatic driving licence can open up many more possibilities to you. With a manual driving licence, you can drive either a manual or automatic transmission vehicle whereas with an automatic driving licence you are only allowed to drive vehicles with automatic transmissions. Why does this matter?

One reason why the type of driving licence you have is important is when you are looking to purchase your first vehicle after completing your driving licence certification. If you have a manual driving licence, you open yourself up to a much wider selection of available new and used vehicles for purchase. Because you can choose either a car with a manual or automatic transmission, you may be able to find a better deal on a new or used vehicle. This is just one of the many advantages of choosing to learn to drive on a manual car. However, learning to drive on a manual transmission vehicle can also have its own disadvantages. Let us take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of learning to drive on either a manual or an automatic car.

Manual transmission vehicle

There are many additional benefits that can come with choosing to learn how to drive on a manual transmission vehicle.

Pros:

• More buying options available: When you are first looking to purchase a new or used vehicle, if you have a manual driving licence, you may find that you have many more options with a much wider variety. Because you have more options, you may be able to find a better deal on a new or used car which can save you money. Also, often automatic cars tend to cost more in the first place since the gearbox and other components of the vehicle can cost more and consist of expensive parts. 
• Insurance may be cheaper: Automatic cars tend to have higher repair costs, therefore they can be more expensive to insure. When insurance premiums were compared side-by-side, almost every time, the automatic version of a particular car make and model came with higher insurance premiums than the manual version of the same car make and model.
• Better gas mileage: If a vehicle with a manual transmission is operated properly and efficiently, most often manual cars can achieve better gas mileage than their automatic counterparts.
• Able to drive any vehicle in the event of an emergency: If for any reason there is an emergency and you need to be able to drive someone to the hospital or away from danger, knowing how to drive a manual automobile could sometimes be the difference between life and death depending on how dire the situation is.

Cons:

• More driving lessons required: Having driving lessons facilitated by a professional driving instructor can be quite expensive. The main downside to learning how to drive a manual car is the fact that it takes longer to learn because of the need to learn how to change gears, use the clutch, and become more comfortable with the overall driving experience. Because of this, you may need to pay for more driving instruction which can add to the overall cost of obtaining a driving licence.

Automatic transmission vehicle

Automatic transmission vehicles can provide many benefits to learner drivers practising with a provisional licence. Automatic vehicles are easier to handle, faster to learn, and are getting more and more popular with learner drivers each year. However, you won’t be allowed to drive a manual transmission car if you pass the driving test with an automatic vehicle.

Pros:

• Easier to learn: When you are driving an automatic vehicle all you need to worry about is putting the car in drive to go, reverse to back up, and neutral to idol while out of gear. After that, it is simply accelerating, braking, and steering. This is much easier to learn than driving a manual vehicle where you need to know how to switch between the different gears, when you are supposed to move from one gear to the next, and how to use the clutch and gas pedals in unison to accomplish all the shifting you need.
• Less stressful: Automatic cars can be less stressful when you do not need to be concerned with shifting gears. Simply place the car in drive and away you go. The vehicle does all the work for you.
• Can be safer for some drivers: Shifting gears on a manual car can create time where both hands are not on the wheel as well it can require many additional movements that can distract the driver or put them in unsafe situations.
• Less wear and tear on the clutch: Using a manual transmission can put wear and tear on the clutch of a vehicle. This is especially true for new drivers who are slowly becoming more comfortable with shifting gears. An automatic transmission shifts gears properly every time which can help to reduce wear and tear on the clutch. It is not uncommon to need to replace the clutch of a manual vehicle at least once during its lifetime.

Cons:

• Only licenced to drive automatic cars: If you have an automatic licence, you are legally not allowed to drive manual vehicles.
• Higher insurance premiums: Insurance premiums for automatic vehicles are almost always higher than their manual counterparts. This is often due to the fact that automatic cars tend to have higher repair costs than manual cars.
• More expensive: Automatic cars tend to be more complex and involve many additional parts that a manual car does not need. Because of this, purchasing and owning an automatic car can be much more expensive than a manual car. Owning an automatic car can be more expensive due to the fact that regular upkeep, maintenance, and repairs all can cost more for an automatic vehicle in the end.