Driving test with an automatic?

Also remember if you take the test in a automatic that is all you are allowed to drive.
You are not allowed to drive a manual.
 However if you take the test in a manual you can drive both a manual and a automatic.
One of the fun rules of the DVLA.

I have an automatic here and plan to take the test in an automatic. I have no desire to drive a manual unless it's an emergency - which I can do if need be.

I think that I also will plan on taking the test in our automatic--I'll just avoid having to drive a manual unless it's some sort of dire emergency.  I didn't learn to drive a manual at all until about three years ago, and since then that's all I've driven--but I suspect that with all the other adjustments I'll have to make to British driving, I'll be a better driver if I don't have to worry about shifting.

But you do realise that if you have an automatic only licence, if you drive a manual it will be illegal, even if it is an emergency? If you'd like to be able to drive a manual later on, you'll have to take the test with a manual... to me it would seem simpler to just take the manual test in the first place.

I'm going for the automatic test, almost 95% sure. It took me ages to learn how to drive an automatic in the states, and I don't think I could cope with learning all the new laws, driving on the small roads, roundabouts etc and learning a manual on top of that. To be honest, by the time my husband and I get our own car here (he doesn't drive) we'll probably be moving back to the US soon after anyway.

I had my first manual lesson last week. My instructor was very good... but compared to being 15 years old with my mother clutching the door handle with white knuckles and wincing I was bound to have a better experience.

I have a strong motivation to get my license in the next couple of months so I decided to just suck it up and go for the automatic test. I figure the pass rate is so low that my chances of passing are increased by going for what I know. Not to mention, if I pass or fail this test at least I will know what the testers are looking for when I have to take it again. I do want to learn how to drive a manual so I will continue taking lessons and go for the test later if I decide to. I don't have a need to drive at the moment but I hate the thought of not being able to legally drive when I want.

But you do realise that if you have an automatic only licence, if you drive a manual it will be illegal, even if it is an emergency? If you'd like to be able to drive a manual later on, you'll have to take the test with a manual... to me it would seem simpler to just take the manual test in the first place.

Look, if it's a dire emergency, the least of my concerns is going to be whether or not it's illegal. I mean, honestly. What will the authorities do should they even find out? If it's a genuine emergency and they want to play hardball, so be it I guess.

I set off fine, consciously making sure to use my left hand, but he thought it was hilarious when we got a little way down the road and I accidentally whacked my right hand into the door!)

I did that when we first came over, also reaching over the left shoulder for the seat belt!!

Ah.....  That's not a problem I've ever had!   

I've never driven a manual in the US, so shifting with the other hand was one thing that I didn't have to adjust to over here. I imagine it will be weird if I ever drive a manual in the US though!

Only for a day or two until you adjust though.    It's really not much different from getting into a different vehicle and having to remember that, say, the headlight dimmer is on the column whereas on your last car it was on the floor, or that the parking brake is between the seats instead of under the dash.  You'll most likely reach for the wrong place a time or two at first, but you'll soon adapt.

Look, if it's a dire emergency, the least of my concerns is going to be whether or not it's illegal. I mean, honestly. What will the authorities do should they even find out? If it's a genuine emergency and they want to play hardball, so be it I guess.

I think the charge would be "Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence."   That covers people on learner's permits driving unaccompanied, driving a vehicle which is heavier than that for which you are licensed, or a whole range of other violations.

There is actually a defense of necessity in English law, i.e. saying yes I broke the law but only because I had no reasonable alternative at the time, but I think it really has to be an absolute dire emergency with no other possible course of action for that to be accepted. 

But as you say, you have to weigh up the chances of anyone ever finding out in that odd emergency, and could always plead the "ignorant American" if it ever went to court, with mitigating circumstances that even though it's no longer valid in the U.K. you were fully licensed to drive manual and indeed could have done so perfectly legally for your first year here.