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One in three driving tests will be automatic by 2027
One in four driving tests in Great Britain were taken in automatic cars last year, reflecting a shift driven by the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel car sales, DVSA data shows.
- The proportion of driving tests conducted using automatic cars increased from 6.1% in 2012/13 to 26% in 2024/25 across Great Britain.
- This increase follows upcoming legislation banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, which encourages learners to choose electric vehicles without manual gearboxes.
- Driving instructors and industry experts say automatics reduce the complexity of tests and improve road safety by lowering driver fatigue and mistakes caused by nervousness.
- Emma Bush of AA Driving School highlighted that as the 2030 deadline for banning new combustion vehicles approaches, an increasing number of learner drivers are choosing to train in electric cars, which they intend to use exclusively, while forecasts indicate that by 2026/27, one-third of driving tests may be taken in automatic vehicles.
- The shift toward automatic tests signals a broader industry change to support learners and instructors during this transition and reflects changing attitudes toward driving and vehicle technology.
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8 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources8
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Center, 40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center, 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 20%
C 40%
R 40%
Factuality
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