Why many learners still choose manual
A manual licence is the most flexible licence you can get: pass in a manual and you can drive both manual and automatic cars. It's useful if your family car is manual, if you'll hire cars or vans, or if you simply want full control of the car.
Manual vs automatic: the honest comparison
| Manual | Automatic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price with SQ | £70 / 2 hours | £70 / 2 hours |
| Licence covers | Manual and automatic | Automatic cars only |
| Learning curve | Clutch and gears to master | Fewer controls |
| Car choice | Any car | Automatic cars only |
| Hills | Hill starts to learn — great on Greater Manchester's hills | Hill hold does it for you |
What manual lessons include
Finding the biting point, moving off without stalling, choosing gears, hill starts, clutch control in queues and manoeuvres, and independent driving. Stalling is normal — we practise somewhere quiet until it clicks.
Taking your test in a manual
You take your test in an SQ manual car at a Greater Manchester centre, with a warm-up lesson first. Pass, and you're licensed for manual and automatic cars.