MMS Driving School teaches both, across Coventry and the surrounding towns, in dual-controlled cars with DVSA-approved instructors, from £37 an hour with no deposit.
The quick answer
| Automatic | Manual | |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | No clutch, no gear stick | Clutch + gears you operate |
| Licence you get | Automatic cars only | Manual and automatic cars |
| Often suits | Nervous learners; those who want fewer things to juggle | Anyone wanting maximum choice of car |
| Time to test-ready | Often quicker (fewer skills to master) | Usually a little longer |
| Our cars | 2023 Audi A3, 2019 Toyota Yaris (autos) | Toyota Yaris, Toyota Aygo (manuals) |
What's actually different
In a manual car you control the clutch and change gear yourself, matching the gear to your speed. It's a skill that takes a few lessons to feel natural, and it's the traditional way most UK learners have driven.
In an automatic car the gearbox changes for you. With no clutch or gear changes to think about, you can put more attention on observation, steering, road position and hazards - the things the driving test actually assesses. Many learners find this a calmer place to start.
Learn more about each on our automatic driving lessons and manual driving lessons pages.
The licence is the deciding factor
This is the part that matters most. If you pass your test in a manual car, your full licence covers both manual and automatic cars - you can drive, buy, borrow or hire either type for life. If you pass in an automatic, your licence covers automatic cars only; to drive a manual later you would need to take another test in a manual car.
So the real question is: do you need or want to drive manual cars in future? If yes, learn manual. If you're happy driving automatics - and more new and electric cars are automatic every year - automatic is a perfectly sound choice.
Cost and time
Both start from £37 per hour at MMS, with no deposit and the same block-booking savings (a full ladder is on our prices page). The cost difference usually comes down to how many lessons you need. Because an automatic car has fewer controls to master, some learners reach test standard in fewer hours, which can make the automatic route a little cheaper overall - though this varies from person to person, and we can't promise a pass or a timescale.
Which one suits you?
Choose automatic if: you feel nervous about the clutch, you want fewer things to coordinate while you build confidence, you mainly plan to drive automatic or electric cars, or you want to focus on getting road-ready sooner.
Choose manual if: you want the freedom to drive any car, you might need a manual for work, or you'd simply prefer to keep every option open.
Still unsure? Your instructor will help you decide at your first lesson, and - if you'd prefer - you can learn either type with a female driving instructor or with instruction in Hindi, Urdu or Persian.