Classic cars face total extinction: Driving test updates threaten to take them off roads
As more motorists buy vehicles with automatic gearboxes, a car insurer has warned that the next generation of drivers may not know how to use manuals.
The vehicle insurance provider Adrian Flux has noted that a growing number of learner drivers are avoiding cars with manual gearboxes.
Using official DVLA data, the company noted that, from 2013 to 2023, there has been a 270 percent rise in the number of driving tests conducted in an automatic car.
Gerry Bucke, General Manager of Adrian Flux, noted that, whilst demand is changing, care should be taken so new drivers should still be able to learn how to use a manual model.
He advised: “Whilst automatic cars become more popularised, it’s important to acknowledge that there will still be some demand for driving manuals.
“We want to ensure future learners have the opportunity to pursue their love for classic vehicles.”
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According to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), in 2021 62 percent of new cars in the UK were ordered with an automatic gearbox.
Part of the reason why more motorists are shifting away from manual models is due to the rise in electric vehicles with no longer need conventional gears.
As a result, Adrian Flux has noted that Gen Z, those born between 1998 and 2025, could be the last generation to learn in manual cars.
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Whilst learning to drive an automatic car will still allow motorists to get behind the wheel of a wide range of models, Adrian Flux is concerned it could leave future generations unable to use classic models.
Most classic models were sold with manual gearboxes, adding to the already widening gap between how they drive compared to a modern vehicle.
The company noted that love for these nostalgic vehicles could die out if not enough drivers are taught how to use them properly.
Gerry called on the Government and Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency (DVSA) to continue allowing learner drivers to use vehicles with manual gearboxes.
He continued: “We urge the Government and the DVSA to ensure that there is a future for the timeless classic cars through creating options for manual learning, even in an automatic landscape.
“These vehicles are not only a means of transport but a source of passion and community for many.”