Can an Automatic License Drive a Car with Manual and Automatic Transmission?
2 Answers
An automatic license can drive a car with manual and automatic transmission, as such cars are also categorized under automatic transmission. According to regulations, a C2 license allows the driver to operate small and micro automatic passenger vehicles, as well as light and micro automatic cargo vehicles. Manual-automatic transmission is essentially a type of automatic transmission, so it is permissible. Below are the relevant details: 1. Automatic transmission typically refers to a car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the automatic transmission's control system selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load, replacing the driver's subjective judgment on timing and gear-shifting operations. 2. A standard automatic transmission car usually has six gear positions, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, S, L.
I took the C2 automatic transmission driver's license test and specifically chose a car with a manual mode (tiptronic) when purchasing. When registering the vehicle at the DMV, I consulted the staff, who clearly told me that such cars legally fall under the automatic transmission category, and a C2 license is fully legal for driving them. I usually drive in D (Drive) automatic mode, only occasionally switching to manual mode for engine braking on long downhill slopes. Although the manual mode is usable, be aware that if traffic police notice frequent manual shifting during checks, they might question your license qualifications. I recommend automatic transmission owners treat tiptronic cars as pure automatics—enjoying convenience while staying compliant. After all, manual mode is just an additional feature; not using it doesn’t affect normal driving.
