AA proposes one‑hour conversion for automatic licence holders in the UK

The Automobile Association (AA) has urged the UK government to allow drivers who pass an automatic‑only driving test to operate a manual car after completing a one‑hour conversion lesson provided by driving schools. AA president Edmund King said the current rule – which requires a separate manual test – forces drivers to wait up to 22 weeks for a manual slot, despite most automatic licence holders quickly developing competent road skills.

Data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show that 29.4% of all tests in the last financial year were taken in automatic cars, a record high driven by the rise of electric vehicles that lack a conventional gearbox. The Department for Transport has responded that, for safety reasons, a full manual test remains required and it has no plans to change the rule.

The AA argues that a short conversion course would be a pragmatic solution to the backlog while still ensuring road safety.