Automatic driving information

midlandsmissus

Hi I'm in Canada at the moment where everyone drives automatics. Tried them out myself and loved it.
I want to do an automatic test when I get back to Ireland but I can't find information anywhere.
Are there any books/websites on the rules of the road when driving an automatic?
Do you have to do the same maneuveres as in a manual test?
Thanks for any help!

Gary ITR

midlandsmissus wrote: »

Hi I'm in Canada at the moment where everyone drives automatics. Tried them out myself and loved it.
I want to do an automatic test when I get back to Ireland but I can't find information anywhere.
Are there any books/websites on the rules of the road when driving an automatic?
Do you have to do the same maneuveres as in a manual test?
Thanks for any help!

I would advise you to get a few lessons here in an auto.

You would have to do all of the same manoeuvres yes

metrovelvet

If you have a manual licence in Ireland you dont need to take another test to drive automatic.

midlandsmissus

metrovelvet wrote: »

If you have a manual licence in Ireland you dont need to take another test to drive automatic.

I don't.
I'm just driving in over here with a driver with me, on an Irish provisional. They said it was ok.
Anyway Ive failed a test already in manual at home, I have a nightmare of a time with them, I just cut out all the time, absolutely hate gears.Automatics are SO easy to drive, they're a gift! Just want to find some more info on doing it in Ireland. Are there any resources?

Alanstrainor

midlandsmissus wrote: »

I don't.
I'm just driving in over here with a driver with me, on an Irish provisional. They said it was ok.
Anyway Ive failed a test already in manual at home, I have a nightmare of a time with them, I just cut out all the time, absolutely hate gears.Automatics are SO easy to drive, they're a gift! Just want to find some more info on doing it in Ireland. Are there any resources?

Just so you're aware, an Irish "leaner Permit" is not valid outside of the Republic of Ireland.
The test is not that different when driving an Auto. The only manoeuvre that's not included in the Auto test, that is done in a manual is the hill start.

davej

Also note that if you pass your test in an automatic, you are not licensed to drive a manual !

Just out of interest, what is the procedure if you are fully licensed to drive an automatic but want to start driving manuals? Do you need to get a new learners permit and possibly do the theory test (even though you have a full automatic license) ?

davej

ArseBurger

If you obtain your license by doing the test in an automatic car your license will be for automatics only.

This will bite you on the ass in later life as automatics tend to be more expensive. Both to purchase and in upkeep - servicing, fuel efficiency, etc...

Personally and in my opinion, testing should only be done under manual. If you can't handle a manual and concentrate on the road at the same time - giving a person an automatic only license is neither doing them or the people they're driving around any favors.

metrovelvet

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Just so you're aware, an Irish "leaner Permit" is not valid outside of the Republic of Ireland.
The test is not that different when driving an Auto. The only manoeuvre that's not included in the Auto test, that is done in a manual is the hill start.

I took the auto test about 7 years ago in Ireland and they did the hill start. I said to the test guy " this kind of takes the fun out of it doesn't it.?"

metrovelvet

ArseBurger wrote: »

If you obtain your license by doing the test in an automatic car your license will be for automatics only.

This will bite you on the ass in later life as automatics tend to be more expensive. Both to purchase and in upkeep - servicing, fuel efficiency, etc...

Personally and in my opinion, testing should only be done under manual. If you can't handle a manual and concentrate on the road at the same time - giving a person an automatic only license is neither doing them or the people they're driving around any favors.

This isnt true anymore.

You can get second hand ones very reasonably and the fuel efficiency is fine. As for engine size, yes a lot of them are 1.4 or above but you can get micras in 1.0 and I have a corrola in a 1.3. Servicing and upkeep are the same cost as a manual.

I hate driving manual and cant see why anyone would when you can drive an automatic so its no disservice to me, except when wanting to rent a car in Europe, then they charge through the roof for a rental, but I suspect this has far more to do with getting money out of yanks then it does anything to do with the maintenance or cost of the car.

not14talk

Second hand Autos are very hard to find, I recently went around to ALL of the deanships in the town looking for one for my mother and one dealer had an Auto. Even when looking online for the car I wanted to get there was only 4 available in Ireland but when I put in manual there were hundreds.

If I was you, I would definitely do your test in a manual and then after that you can get an Auto. Just say if you go off to Europe and want to rent a car but they only have manuals what are you going to do as your licence restricts you from driving a manual.

Also manuals are so much fun to drive IMO.

The-Game

metrovelvet wrote: »

I took the auto test about 7 years ago in Ireland and they did the hill start. I said to the test guy " this kind of takes the fun out of it doesn't it.?"

A friend of mine done the test in an auto 2 years ago and still had to do the hill start. its a walk in the park but there is no difference between the manual and auto test.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

midlandsmissus

ArseBurger wrote: »

If you obtain your license by doing the test in an automatic car your license will be for automatics only.

This will bite you on the ass in later life as automatics tend to be more expensive. Both to purchase and in upkeep - servicing, fuel efficiency, etc...

Personally and in my opinion, testing should only be done under manual. If you can't handle a manual and concentrate on the road at the same time - giving a person an automatic only license is neither doing them or the people they're driving around any favors.

I don't think this is true at all. Manual and automatic are so far apart, if you can't handle one it has no bearing on how you handle the other.
I can drive an automatic absolutely no problem. I don't see why people would drive a manual - they are so much more complicated.

I asked a driving instructor why they didn't just make all cars automatic as they were so much easier and he said 'men like gearsticks and want to do it themselves'. I don't know if that's true or not, but it's definitely guys who more find the idea of an automatic 'beneath them' maybe?

I personally couldn't be less interested in manual cars. I'll be getting an automatic of a family member so no cost there.
So there are any resources: books, cd roms for automatic cars? Do you get a hill start or not? If anyone has done their test in an auto could you please tell me what it was like.

Wishbone Ash

davej wrote: »

Just out of interest, what is the procedure if you are fully licensed to drive an automatic but want to start driving manuals? Do you need to get a new learners permit and possibly do the theory test (even though you have a full automatic license) ?

The driver would have to apply for another Learner Permit as their Full Licence is restricted. Then then would be legally obliged to be accompanied by a person who holds an unrestricted B licence and has held it for at least two years.

There is no requirement to do the theory test again (unless it has expired by more that 5 years) as there is no differentiation between manuals and autos..

metrovelvet

I learned to drive in the US and was prepared for my US test but my father died that week, so there went that.

I eventually took my test in Ireland for an automatic only license, as I have no interest in driving a manual. My father had taught me manual and I could drive it for a little while, but I way prefer automatic, especially in traffic, approaching rounfabouts, hills, pretty much on every circumstance, including parking.

The irish test in an automatic is ridiculously easy, far easier than a US test where they take you out on the highway and make you overtake, and make you parallel park. The Irish test makes sure you know the rules of the road, your three point turn, how to reverse around a corner, start on a hill. But universally where the catch people is on checking mirrors. Always appear that you are checking your mirrors.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

metrovelvet

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

NY State. I didnt actually take the test, just did many many rehearsals for it. I can see how in NY parallel parking would be unique, maybe Boston also.

From what I remember, in NY State you didnt have to reverse back in a straight line fr 2 car lengths. I think we also had to do a 3 point turn, a U turn. But they are sticklers for a couple of things, one is checking mirrors, as I already said, and making sure you never take your hands off the wheel and always keeping them in the 10 and 2 position, even when indicating Also, when you overtake, they look at you to make sure you have quickly looked over your shoulder for your blindspot. Also sticklers for FULL stops at the stop sign.

You drove in California? Wouldnt like to meet you on the road! Scariest drivers, next to New Jersey drivers, ever.

Tom1991

metrovelvet wrote: »

Also, when you overtake, they look at you to make sure you have quickly looked over your shoulder for your blindspot. Also sticklers for FULL stops at the stop sign.

Thats exactly why people are tested to make sure that you drive like that on the road.Stop means stop what else would you do at a STOP sign.looking over your shoulder is a must .its reckless driving not to do that

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

EmieC

metrovelvet wrote: »

I learned to drive in the US and was prepared for my US test but my father died that week, so there went that.

I eventually took my test in Ireland for an automatic only license, as I have no interest in driving a manual. My father had taught me manual and I could drive it for a little while, but I way prefer automatic, especially in traffic, approaching rounfabouts, hills, pretty much on every circumstance, including parking.

The irish test in an automatic is ridiculously easy, far easier than a US test where they take you out on the highway and make you overtake, and make you parallel park. The Irish test makes sure you know the rules of the road, your three point turn, how to reverse around a corner, start on a hill. But universally where the catch people is on checking mirrors. Always appear that you are checking your mirrors.

Hi Metrovelvet,

I am going to California on a graduate visa in November and will be doing my driving test in an automatic here in Dublin before I go. Does the United States accept an Irish automatic license?

I know that they accept full manual licenses but I'm worried there will be a restriction on an automatic license (even though they all drive automatics over there!)

I rang the RSA but they said this is a question they can't answer. All I wanted to know was if on my licence it would say 'Only in Country of Issue' like it does on my learners permit.

Thanks in advance!

dennyk

EmieC wrote: »

I am going to California on a graduate visa in November and will be doing my driving test in an automatic here in Dublin before I go. Does the United States accept an Irish automatic license?

Holy necromancy, Batman! But yes, if it's a full automatic license, it will allow you to drive in California as a visitor. No state in the US has any concept of an "automatic" license; all car licenses allow you to drive both automatic and manual cars there.

However, note that if you are taking up residence in California (which is the case if you will be there for longer than six months), you must obtain a California driver's license within 10 days. You cannot exchange your Irish license for a California one; you must sit a driving test there to obtain a California license. The nature of the test in CA is very similar to the Irish one, though the roads may be much larger and busier than you are used to here, and of course there will be few if any roundabouts, and you will have to drive on a freeway (motorway) as part of the test. Just make sure you learn the rule differences before taking the test and get plenty of practice and you should be fine.

biko

Old thread from 2009 locked.

Bringing up old threads means the information in them may be outdated, don't do it ok? Starting a new thread is usually the best may to do things.