Pere Navarro, head of the Dirección General de Tráfico, supports automatic gearboxes. He says, "the future is the automatic gearbox, even to help the electric car." Navarro’s backing comes as Spain prepares changes that could make manual gearboxes a thing of the past for many drivers.
Half of all new cars sold in Spain are now automatics, a figure Navarro cites as evidence that drivers have already changed their habits. Some drivers value the control of a clutch; others prefer the ease of automatics. Automatics have become mainstream.
Under current Spanish law, drivers who pass their test in an automatic car can only lead automatics. To lead a manual, they have to return to driving school and pass another practical test; drivers caught driving a manual without the required qualification face sanctions. That is set to change. Under the European Union’s Directive (EU) 2025/2205, Spain will let people with automatic-only licences lead manual cars after a seven-hour extra course, without taking a second full exam. Spain has until November 2029 to put the rule in place.
Navarro says automatics make the driving test less stressful. Without a clutch, learners need not worry about stalling the engine. They can focus on the road, which may improve their chances of passing. This could speed up the shift to automatics, especially since electric cars only use automatic gearboxes.
The rule change also reflects developments in the car market and the push for more electric vehicles. Independent Spanish media reported that the share of electrified passenger cars in Spain reached 21.8% in the first half of 2026, a 37.9% year-on-year increase. That growth is closely linked to the growing use of automatic transmissions, since electric vehicles are inherently automatic. The EU wants to harmonise standards across member countries and remove extra steps for drivers.
Some drivers have concerns about the reliability of automatics and their maintenance costs. Recent advice from mechanics stresses the need for regular checks as automatics become more common.
Spain’s plan to make it easier to switch between automatic and manual licences responds to new technology and changing habits. With half the market already automatic and electric cars on the rise, manual gearboxes may soon be rare. The DGT’s move brings new rules to a sector that usually changes slowly. For Spanish drivers, the road ahead may look smoother and more automatic.
