Learning To Drive An Automatic Car

Once only popular with elderly drivers and those unable to drive a manual car, automatic cars are now increasingly common.

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Not only are they easier (and more relaxing) to drive than a manual, in some cases they can be better on fuel and can cost less to maintain.

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How do automatic cars work?

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In an automatic car, instead of the driver selecting the correct gear, the car changes up and down the gears automatically.

In place of the gear stick, there is a selector. This looks a little like a gear stick, but instead of having R,1,2,3,4,5 (and, on some cars, 6), it will usually have P, R, N, D, 1, 2, 3, although exact markings can sometimes differ.

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P = Park This is the gear you should select when securing your vehicle.

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R = Reverse This will lock your car into reverse gear.

 

N = Neutral When the car is in neutral you will not be able to move forwards or backwards, but the car won’t be secure unless you apply the handbrake too. You should select neutral when waiting at a standstill in traffic or at traffic lights in order to avoid unnecessary fuel consumption.

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D = Drive You should select this gear for driving. When in drive, your gears will automatically change up and down depending on your speed and the incline of the road.

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1,2,3 are, as you might expect, first second and third gear. Although you might not use these often, they allow the driver to lock the car into gear if needed. This can be useful when driving in adverse weather conditions like snow and ice, or when tackling a particularly steep hill!

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So, why learn to drive in an automatic car?

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Although the ratio of automatic to manual learners in the UK is relatively small, there is still a very large number of people choosing to take their driving lessons in automatic cars, and this could be for any number of reasons.

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Automatic vehicles are much easier to drive for, for example, elderly and disabled people. Whilst getting used to the clutch is stress-free for some learners, many struggle to get to grips with the gears, and, in such cases, switching to an automatic car may well be the answer.

 

Automatic cars allow drivers to concentrate on aspects of driving other than clutch control and gear changes. It simplifies the learning process, making it much easier to get to grips with.

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It’s up to you!

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Every learner driver is different, and whether you want to learn to drive in a manual or automatic car is a decision which only you can make.

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