Driving an automatic

JackKelly

What is the situation about driving an automatic car? I have a provisional license and might be able to get my hands on an automatic car for cheap.
Whould I be able to get a license in it, or can you only do a test for a manual license. Obviously I would only be able to drive automatics, but that wouldn't bother me for the moment.

Wishbone Ash

TimAy wrote: »

What is the situation about driving an automatic car? I have a provisional license and might be able to get my hands on an automatic car for cheap.
Whould I be able to get a license in it, or can you only do a test for a manual license. Obviously I would only be able to drive automatics, but that wouldn't bother me for the moment.

Your provisional licence will cover you for either but if you pass the test in an auto you will be entitled to a restricted licence only which restricts you to driving automatics.

ray900

If you're already able to drive reasonably well, and have no real problems with using a manual, I don't think I'd recommend buying an automatic. I've been driving my mother's automatic car for five months, but I'm doing my test (tomorrow) in an instructor's manual car. Driving an auto is just so easy and undemanding, and It's taken me a hell of a lot of practice and lessons to get back into the swing of changing gears.

dwaned

I love automatics and I'm driving one at the moment but they are heavy on fuel!!
Just because you drive an auto it doesn't mean you can only get an auto license, with a couple of lessons in a manual and hire a school car for your test you can still obtain your manual license... wouldn't recomend doing a test just for an auto.

JackKelly

yea, I understand the importance of being able to drive a manual,but I wasn't planning on buying a car as I can't really justify it. But I may be able to get hold of an automatic from a relative.
I can't drive at all, but I'd probably be willing to learn in a manual anyway, while driving an auto.

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you could get a full lisence in an auto

Thanks

Our man in Havana

I assume if you have a full licence restriced to autos, you must obtain a new provisional and sit the test again in a manual to have the licence upgraded to unrestricted?

ambro25

TimAy wrote: »

I'd probably be willing to learn in a manual anyway, while driving an auto.

You can do that.

TimAy wrote: »

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you could get a full lisence in an auto

You can obtain/pass/get a full license in an auto, as in 'not a provisional license anymore'.

You cannot get a full license in an auto, as in 'a license to drive any car' - with your full license obtain/passed in an auto, you would only be entitle to drive autos.

If you obtain/pass your full license (on the day) in a manual, then you obtain/pass/get a full license, as in 'not a provisional license anymore' and 'a license to drive any car' (manuals and autos, to your heart's content).

Not meaning to be preachy, just trying to help

And as an aside, based on your earlier comment :

I wasn't planning on buying a car as I can't really justify it

You just don't know what tomorrow's got in store for you, so why limit yourself to autos 'forever more', just because of a punctual opportunity? [/friendly advice]

coolshark

TimAy wrote: »

What is the situation about driving an automatic car? I have a provisional license and might be able to get my hands on an automatic car for cheap.
Whould I be able to get a license in it, or can you only do a test for a manual license. Obviously I would only be able to drive automatics, but that wouldn't bother me for the moment.

Hi

I'm a driving instructor. You can do your test in automatic car but yes you will only be licenced to drive an automatic car. You will not have a full licence or licenced to drive a manual car. I'm not sure if insurance is cheaper or more expensive for automatic cars.

eddiem74

Bond-007 wrote: »

I assume if you have a full licence restriced to autos, you must obtain a new provisional and sit the test again in a manual to have the licence upgraded to unrestricted?

Anyone ? I'd also be interested in your thought's.

Wishbone Ash

Bond-007 wrote: »

I assume if you have a full licence restriced to autos, you must obtain a new provisional and sit the test again in a manual to have the licence upgraded to unrestricted?

eddiem74 wrote: »

Anyone ? I'd also be interested in your thought's.

Yup!

eddiem74

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Yup!

And do you need to do the theory test again too ? Or does ur full-auto license cover you for that?

Wishbone Ash

eddiem74 wrote: »

And do you need to do the theory test again too ? Or does ur full-auto license cover you for that?

Now there's a question! :eek:

If the previous provisional licence hadn't elapsed by more than 5 years then I would think not. If it did it could probably mean having to do the theory test which would seem a bit odd! I'm very much open to correction on that.

Either way, the theory test isn't such a big deal and can be arranged fairly quickly and easily passed.

Our man in Havana

Either way, the theory test isn't such a big deal and can be arranged fairly quickly and easily passed.

It would be a waste of €36 and the time to get there etc.

Wishbone Ash

Bond-007 wrote: »

It would be a waste of €36 and the time to get there etc.

Money well spent if it focuses the mind on motoring and safety matters. €36 wouldn't even get me a half tank of diesel but I take the point in relation to taking time off work etc.

S.I.R

so im going to apply for my provisional leisense but im going to get my full leisense as soon as i can after that and im wondering what transmittion in a car i should go for ?

ive been around and was thought to drive by my dad + other family members in manual cars... but id like to try an auto as i get lasyer by the day...


so the question is , should i go auto or manual... ??

ejvilla

If you buy an automatic and use it for your test you will only be licensed to drive automatic cars. If you use a manual for your test you can drive either.

I would advise that you get a manual. You'll have plenty of time for automatics when you've passed your test, your parents can take you off their insurance and you can practice in your own car.

I know some people that argue driving an automatic first will aid you in getting used to road positioning, etc. I think you're as well off using gears from the start...


Laziness isn't a good enough excuse, especially when you haven't gotten your license yet.

S.I.R wrote: »

so im going to apply for my provisional leisense but im going to get my full leisense as soon as i can after that and im wondering what transmittion in a car i should go for ?

ive been around and was thought to drive by my dad + other family members in manual cars... but id like to try an auto as i get lasyer by the day...


so the question is , should i go auto or manual... ??

Wishbone Ash

Thread merged.

S.I.R wrote: »

so im going to apply for my provisional leisense

Learner Permit!

Alanstrainor

ejvilla wrote: »

I know some people that argue driving an automatic first will aid you in getting used to road positioning, etc. I think you're as well off using gears from the start...

Yeah, my dad told me the same when i was learning and i got insured on an auto for a month just to get the handle of the road positioning and general driving minus the gears. IT WAS USELESS, i found that when i finally got out in a manual it was so different any "experience" goes out the window, autos are incredibly easy to drive when you start out so i found that i didn't really learn anything by going auto first then manual.

BDW

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Learner Permit!

I got punched in the face with one of them in january damned 6 month wait

On topic do lessons and rent an instructor car if you can because some day in the future you might be given a company car or be renting a car and the company only has manuals or something and you'll think damn you automatic licence

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Bonbon12

Started driving a year ago with my father giving me his old automatic.

Had a test in Janurary but no way was I doing it in the automatic for the reasons mentioned above! So swapped cars with my mothers for a month of manual practice and... failed. 8 grade2s but 6 under one hedding, specifically use of Clutch and Gears, which is a fail.

Wasn't that dissappointed as it was a fair kop. Wasn't up to scratch on changing gears and he clearly saw that. I had gotten lessons but only a few days beforehand.

Reapplied that same day and had my 2nd test last week. Borrowed a manual transmission car again, got more lessons and passed. Not one mark on clutch and gears!

Was very tempted to just do the 2nd test in the auto but I knew I'd be kicking myself in the future. It just take practice and patience.

jiminho

what are the disadvantages of getting an automatic.

im in desperate need of a car but my parents do not have the time to teach me.

secondly i dont have the time or patience to learn how to drive a manual. everyone around me seems to be failing their tests and i just want a quick route to driving.

i dont have the money to be paying for a manual under a prov license so i need to get off it as quick as possible.

i cant reiterate the lack of time i have. unless there is a driver instructor who can teach me how to drive at like 9o'clock at nite only 3 nites a week.

wata ye tink is auto de way 2 go

Alanstrainor

jiminho wrote: »

what are the disadvantages of getting an automatic.

im in desperate need of a car but my parents do not have the time to teach me.

secondly i dont have the time or patience to learn how to drive a manual. everyone around me seems to be failing their tests and i just want a quick route to driving.

i dont have the money to be paying for a manual under a prov license so i need to get off it as quick as possible.

i cant reiterate the lack of time i have. unless there is a driver instructor who can teach me how to drive at like 9o'clock at nite only 3 nites a week.

wata ye tink is auto de way 2 go

Personally i'd always recommend learning to drive a manual. The rational being that once you know that you can drive any car. Have you got your learner permit already? If not, you will still have to wait 6 months before yo ucan sit a test.
I dont understand your rational tbh, you'll still "not have time" driving an automatic car, it wont change the fact that you can't find time for lessons. Once you get past the first few hours of drivng, manual transmissions should be second nature.
So in short, i would recommend a manual of learning in an auto.

timmywex

The reason people fail wont be because they drive an auto.

Manuakls arent that hard to learn, you'd have the hang of it after a lesson or two, id say get lessons and do the test in a manual so your not restricted but you can drive an auto the if you want