Driving test with an automatic?

Hi everyone,

My husband is in the process of buying a car--but neither of us have our UK drivers licenses yet.  A British friend of ours said that we might be able to take a lesser driving test for out licenses if we were licensed to drive only an automatic car--has anyone heard of anything like this?  I'm not sure exactly what he was saying but I thought that if it might mitigate some of the horror of the driving test, it might be worth trying to check out.

We both are comfortable driving manual, it just happens that the car we're getting is automatic. 

Also, we both consider ourselves quite good drivers--is the UK practical test really _that_ hard (once you learn the driving laws here)?  Do you HAVE to take lessons?  Has anyone passed without taking lessons (no one we know has, but then most of our friends are either British or Canadian and so don't face the same testing regulations)? 

Thanks,

Jade

There's no difference in the test, I'm afraid. If you pass in an automatic, then you're licensed to drive only automatics. You will not be licensed to drive a standard. But it's the exact same test - theory, hazard and practical.

The test is difficult, but it's not unheard of for people to pass without lessons. Still, I'd recommend having a few. If you have lessons with an instructor who uses a manual car, you can take the test in that car -- that way you'd be licensed to drive both manual and automatic. That might be your best bet, unless you have no intention of ever driving a manual.

If you are both comfortable with manual, and might buy a manual car in the future, I would take the manual test. It's true that if you pass the automatic test, you can legally only drive automatic cars.

I'm currently learning manual driving so that I can take the manual test. I figure I might as well just bite the bullet, so I don't have to worry about my options for buying/driving cars in the future. It can be frustrating, but it's something I've wanted to learn for a while.

I'm taking lessons now and plan on taking my practical test very soon. I am not taking the lessons to learn to drive, but to learn how to pass the exam. The examiners are looking for specific things, and just learning the road rules is not enough IMHO. You may do just fine though.

Like you, I can drive a manual, but have an automatic at the moment. I will be taking the test in my instructor's car, which is a manual. It does not seem worth it to me to just have the license for an automatic.

Good luck!

Darn.  I was hoping that there was some easy out 

A question for those of you taking the test/driving with a manual--do you have any trouble shifting with your left hand?  And I know this is probably a stupid question, but is the clutch pedal still on the left?  I feel like I'd really have a hard time shifting with my left hand for some reason....

Anyway, thanks for the info!

Jade

A question for those of you taking the test/driving with a manual--do you have any trouble shifting with your left hand?  And I know this is probably a stupid question, but is the clutch pedal still on the left?  I feel like I'd really have a hard time shifting with my left hand for some reason....

I remember suddenly realising before moving over that I would have to shift with my left hand. I rang my husband (my DF at the time) and said "you mean, not only do I have to drive on the wrong side of the road, sit on the wrong side of the car...but I have to shift with my left hand?!?!" In the end shifting with my left hand wasn't a problem. It was a bit odd that you had to push to go into first but overall not difficult. Also for me personally driving on the other side of the road wasn't difficult, the only big adjustment with driving for me was getting used to the narrow roads. I would personally recommend a few lessons, I don't think I could have passed the test without them. Like others mentioned, it isn't to teach you to drive but to teach you the little things they will be checking. These things include checking your mirrors constantly, and using your hand brake at traffic lights.

Yes, the pedals are in the same position as are the gears. I am having a bit of an adjustment phase with the left hand, but it's doable. 

do you have any trouble shifting with your left hand? 

I think most people soon adapt to conditions.  Having learned to drive in Britain in a RHD car, the first time I ever drove a LHD manual I was very conscious of shifting with the "wrong" hand to begin with,  but after a day or two I didn't even think about it that much.   Just don't get too annoyed when you forget once or twice and try to shift gears with the door handle!    (I did that just recently -- I've had LHD here for years, and had to drive a friend's RHD Land Rover.  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 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!!

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'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!

I also agree that it's not the other side of the road that is hard to get used to, but the narrowness of the roads.

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.

Same here.

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.

Another question: is anyone out in west London?  I'm in Uxbridge and I'd love a recommendation for a good driving instructor.  Friends who have taken driving lessons tell us that a good instructor makes all the difference, but none of them have taken lessons recently enough that their instructors are still around.  Any ideas?

Thanks again,

Jade

I took lessons in my own car with Tim from Wycombe Driving School. If you are interested, their number is 0800-849-6468. He charged me 24 pounds for a hour lesson. I had a really hard time finding a school that taught with an automatic car. The only solution was for me to have lessons in my own car. I took lessons with him in December 2006.

I think that I also will plan on taking the test in our automatic

I will really recomand to download the test route for your center  and try to pratice on that road as much as you can..

See the link below ..Try to put  zip code
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/atozdtcinfo.asp?cat=38


Also find a center high Practical Test Pass Rates  see  the link below..
http://www.2pass.co.uk/passrates.htm
 

My Wednesbury  Driving Test Centre had 34% , the roads are not to easy..
I am going to Wolverhampton Driving Test Centre with 44% .. I did pratice today and the roads
are much nice and wide..

So compare the passing rate and the roads.

Kal..