Automatic only licence

rev_henry

I drive an automatic but have a manual licence. Been trying to get the wife to learn to drive for ages. Thus far it hasn't been a problem - we live in a city with decent enough public transport. However we are shortly moving to an area where it is less good, and it would be very useful if she could drive, not least of all it opens up more employment opportunities.

Obviously ideally one has a manual licence then chooses to drive an auto if one desires. However, her learning a manual would require us to spend a fortune on lessons as she couldn't practice in my auto, which would probably be more of a hindrance than practice.

So our thoughts turned to her getting an auto only licence and practising in mine. Insurance isn't an issue - when I did a quote it cost just £1 to put her on mine as a provisional (for a 2.7 V6 :rotfl: ).

I have no intention of buying a manual ever again, so I can't envisage an issue with us sharing cars or being able to drive each others in the future. This would also mean I would be forced to buy her large saloon cars forevermore. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.

However, what cons are there I haven't considered? Is insurance more for an auto only licence? Anything else?

rev_henry

Further to the last, this driving school sounds reputable!

'Suitable for a pupil who just requires a few hours practicing before the test.
ideal if
...
* Or have driven illegally and need a brush up on key skills and a quick test.'

AdrianC

rev_henry wrote: »

However, her learning a manual would require us to spend a fortune on lessons as she couldn't practice in my auto, which would probably be more of a hindrance than practice.

She could. Obviously, it wouldn't help her with her clutch control skills, but they're relatively quick to pick up anyway. It'd still help her with her road awareness and other vehicle control skills, though.

RichardD1970

I don't think only having an auto only licence is as much as an issue nowadays, there are a lot more auto/Semi Auto cars nowadays as the auto systems improve.

Gloomendoom

I haven't seen a true semi-auto available since the Citroen C-matic of the 1980's. There only seems to be a choice of full auto or manual available now.

The last semi-auto I drove was an Alvis Ferret scout car.

AdrianC

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I haven't seen a true semi-auto available since the Citroen C-matic of the 1980's.

The C-Matic (more '70s, than '80s, but...) was no more or less a semi-auto than any of the recent flappy-paddle offerings.

robbies_gal

i have an auto license i took tests years before in amanual and couldnt get the hang of it-i dont see a problem i cant drive most of my familys cars but ive never found the need to

took alot of pressure off me on my lessons

Gloomendoom

AdrianC wrote: »

The C-Matic (more '70s, than '80s, but...) was no more or less a semi-auto than any of the recent flappy-paddle offerings.

It was because there was no full auto option. You had to select the gear yourself but you didn't have to use a clutch to do it. If I am not mistaken, all the modern flappy paddle offerings have a full auto option if you want to use it.

spiro

I have heard that it's better to either teach someone to drive yourself or go the instructor route as a mixture can cause confusion when the instructor picks them up on something and you don't or vice versa.

missbiggles1

spiro wrote: »

I have heard that it's better to either teach someone to drive yourself or go the instructor route as a mixture can cause confusion when the instructor picks them up on something and you don't or vice versa.

The OP didn't say he was planning to teach her himself, just that he could take her out and let her practice while she was having lessons.

I think it's a good idea, it was how I got my own licence, in two months and at the age of 50. I then went on to take my manual test a couple of years later when I wanted to hire cars in other countries where automatics are less common.

It's good to be able to say that you passed your test first time - twice!

gilbert_and_sullivan

Nothing wrong with your thinking for your current circumstances Reverend re auto only if that suits you both.

Might be worth discussing with SWMBO what the future might bring before committing to auto only, eg might your wife need to drive for employment or voluntary work at some time in the forseeable future when only manual company vehicles might be available.

Auto doesn't mean lovely torque converter proper cars exclusively, there are some truly horrid front wheel drive contraptions from all sorts of european car makers with dreadful jerky unreliable gearboxes classed as automatic, it's ironically the Koreans who stick to proper auto boxes.