MrsBonzai84

Hello and apologies, I'm sure this gets asked a lot.
Has anyone taken their US driving test in an automatic car?
My husband is working in the US at the moment and has spoken to his colleagues who say this is possible but I wanted to check here to be sure.
In the UK I only hold an automatic drivers licence and the idea of learning to drive a manual (in 60 days for NC) is a worry, particularly when I rely on my car so much.
Thank you.

Vimto

I don't believe there is a notation on any state driving license stating Auto or Manual, I took my test in Georgia in an automatic and there is indication on my license

az2014

What makes you think you will have to take it in a manual car?

Nobody drives manual in the USA, automatics everwhere, a lot more than UK.

rpjs

Automatic is far more common here than manual.

MrsBonzai84

I was told (by the DMV) that there is no such thing as an Automatic licence and I incorrectly assumed this would mean I would have to take my test in a Manual. It is a great relief to know I won't have to, as stupid as it sounds.
Thank you.

Pulaski

Why would anyone want to take a test other than in an automatic?

As was said above, "a license is a license" in the US, there is no distinction between manual and automatic.
Never, as far as I remember!

MrsBonzai84

I'm definitely in the minority here in the UK but I've never understood why! That's great

Guindalf

You'd be amazed at how many people in the States that CAN'T drive 'stick' (manual)!

Most cars are auto and you pretty much have to special order a manual model. If you don't believe me, just watch The Amazing Race when the teams have to drive themselves somewhere in Europe or virtually anywhere else in the world. At least half of them always have problems.

There's no doubt that automatic is a lot easier to control and it's the added concentration required to change gears (and make sure you're always in the right one!) that makes it necessary to differentiate in the UK.

Pulaski

On the contrary, I have much more "control" over any of my manual vehicles than I would over an automatic. ..... I can also pretty much change gears in my sleep, it is pretty much, er, .... automatic.

Guindalf

...after how many years of practice?

I've driven manual cars since I was 17, but there is no way you can tell me that it's easier to learn or control for the casual, relatively inexperienced driver.

sir_eccles

Automatics free up a hand for distracted driving.

Pulaski

Exactly! I suspect that America would have fewer accidents and fatalities on the road if automatics were outlawed.

I also read an article that reported, unsurprisingly to me, that of all the unexplained/ uncontrolled "sudden accelerations" in recent years, not a single one had been in a vehicle with a manual transmission!

sir_eccles

And they swore up and down they were pressing the brake all that time. Call me a skeptic...

Pulaski

No! .... You're a sceptic.

dj6372

Harder to text and update faceshite and twatter in a 'stick'