Drivers in the UK who pass their test in an automatic car currently face a further practical test if they later want to lead a manual. The RAC wants to rethink that requirement: automatic-licence holders could upgrade after one hour of focused practical training instead of taking another manual driving test. The proposal would change the current licensing process. It is not the route to manual entitlement under today’s rules.
The RAC’s proposal comes as the UK’s new-car market shifts towards electrified vehicles, many of which use automatic transmissions. In a bulletin published on 22 October 2026, the Office for National Statistics reported that electrified vehicles accounted for 60% of new-car registrations in September, up three percentage points from August and eight points year on year. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 27% and plug-in hybrids for 20%. Conventional hybrids made up 12%, while petrol and diesel cars accounted for 36% and 4%, respectively. These figures cover new registrations, not the whole vehicle fleet or the used-car market.
The same bulletin reported that new vehicle registrations rose 10% year on year in September and 4% compared with August. Fleet registrations made up just over half of the total and increased 9% year on year, while private registrations rose 12%. That provides context for the licensing debate, as fleet purchases include more hybrid and battery-electric vehicles. But the registration figures do not show how many manual cars remain available in the used market or quantify any rental-fleet shortfall.
Under the current UK licensing structure, passing the practical test in an automatic results in an automatic-only entitlement, commonly marked with restriction code 78. The restriction means the holder cannot lead a manual car on public roads. A driver who passes in a manual generally gains entitlement to lead both manual and automatic cars; the reverse does not apply. The distinction reflects the extra controls assessed in a manual vehicle, from clutch and gear operation to moving off safely.
To gain manual entitlement under the existing process, an automatic-licence holder must arrange and pass a practical test in a manual car. A lesson or informal assessment alone does not change the licence restriction. The driver must complete the upgrade procedure and have the entitlement changed before driving a manual independently. The licensing structure sits within the UK’s statutory road-traffic regime, including the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The RAC proposal would replace the current state practical test with a short, accredited training module. Under the plan, a 60-minute session with a certified instructor would cover clutch control and gear changes, followed by practice with hill starts and avoiding stalls. The instructor would then issue a digital certificate for the licence to be updated. Recognising instructor certification in place of the existing test would require a formal change to the licensing and test structure, not just a change to teaching guidance.
Supporters say the change would better reflect a market where electrified vehicles are increasingly prominent. Critics, including some road-safety groups and examiner associations, warn that mastering manual driving in heavy traffic or emergencies may take more than an hour’s practice. They argue that stalling at a busy junction or roundabout could create safety risks, and suggest a longer training period or an instructor assessment before an entitlement is upgraded.
This debate raises broader questions about how driving regulations should adapt to changes in vehicle technology. As automatic transmissions become more common in new cars, the RAC’s plan aims to balance practical training with a more streamlined route to licensing for drivers who need the flexibility to use a manual vehicle.
Recent cases have highlighted the consequences of strict driving rules and enforcement across Europe. For example, a record-breaking fine for extreme speeding in Switzerland reignited debate over how driving laws should evolve alongside changing technology and driver habits.
The UK government has yet to respond formally to the RAC’s proposal. Until the rules change, automatic-only licence holders must pass the manual practical test and have their entitlement updated before driving a manual car on public roads.
