30/08/2026
Automatic driving tests hit record high as The AA calls for licence review
Automatic driving tests reached a record high in 2025/26, making up 29.4% of all car driving tests – up from around 4% in 2007/08. Automatic test pass rates also reached a new high of 44.6%, reflecting the growing popularity of automatic vehicles as the UK transitions towards electric vehicles.
Across AA Driving School and BSM, around one in four instructors now teach in automatic vehicles. While manual tuition remains the majority, the shift to EVs is also accelerating the move from manual to automatic learning.
As more learners choose automatic tuition, The AA has called for the Government to review the current licensing rules. Under the existing system, drivers who pass their test in an automatic vehicle must take another practical test if they later want to drive a manual car.
The AA believes it's time to explore whether drivers could instead gain entitlement to drive manual vehicles through additional training, while recognising that a manual licence still offers greater flexibility for work, vehicle hire and driving abroad.
As the learner market continues to evolve, instructors will remain at the heart of helping pupils choose the learning route that's right for their future driving needs.
