Can You Drive a Manual Car with an Automatic License?

[StTravis]

An automatic license does not permit driving a manual car. An automatic driving license falls under the C2 category. According to China's traffic regulations, a C2 license for small automatic passenger vehicles only allows driving small and micro automatic passenger cars, as well as light and micro automatic cargo vehicles. Driving a manual car with a C2 license is equivalent to driving without a license and will be subject to severe legal penalties. Relevant information about automatic transmissions is as follows: Introduction: An automatic transmission, as the name suggests, does not require the driver to manually shift gears. The vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on the driving speed and traffic conditions. Generally, an automatic transmission car has six gear positions, from top to bottom: P, R, N, D, S, L. Automatic Principle: The engine's power is transmitted through the gearbox, which is also a key factor affecting fuel consumption. Generally, an automatic transmission consumes more than 10% more fuel than a manual transmission. Whether manual or automatic, the more gears there are, the more fuel-efficient the vehicle is.

[Tessa]

I took the automatic transmission driver's license test, so this issue needs to be clarified. An automatic transmission license only permits driving automatic vehicles—this is a mandatory regulation. My friend stubbornly tried driving a manual transmission car and got pulled over by traffic police, charged with unlicensed driving, resulting in vehicle impoundment and fines. Manual transmissions require clutch operation and gear shifting, skills completely unpracticed in automatic training, making emergency situations prone to operational errors. If you genuinely want to drive manual, you must reapply for the C1 license exam. With automatic cars being so prevalent nowadays, obtaining a C2 license is usually sufficient—why go through all this hassle?

[HarleyDella]

As a new driver who just got the license, my instructor specifically emphasized this. The automatic transmission license doesn't cover manual transmission vehicles at all - driving a mismatched vehicle type on the registration certificate is illegal. Manual transmission operation is completely different - unskilled clutch control with the left foot can cause rollback or stalling on hill starts. Last year at our driving school, a student practiced with their dad's manual car and got into a scrape, which the insurance refused to cover. It's better to just get the C1 license for peace of mind - manual transmission tests aren't as difficult as people imagine nowadays.

[VanLondon]

Obtaining an automatic transmission driver's license explicitly restricts you to driving only automatic vehicles. Manual transmissions require operating the clutch and gearshift, skills that automatic license holders lack training in, making them prone to misjudgment during unexpected road situations. If caught by traffic police driving a vehicle type not matching your license, you may face point deductions, fines, or even detention. I recommend directly obtaining a C1 license, which allows you to drive both automatic and manual vehicles, offering broader applicability. DMV statistics show that the C1 license pass rate is not low, making the extra effort more worthwhile.

[SanPaul]

I specifically consulted the DMV on this issue. Driving a manual transmission car with an automatic-only license is absolutely not allowed and constitutes a violation of driving a vehicle beyond the permitted license type. The operational mechanisms of manual transmissions differ significantly, and improper clutch control can cause sudden stalling, which is particularly dangerous in urban traffic jams. If caught by traffic cameras, the system will automatically flag it, and the traffic police system will lock onto such abnormal driving behavior. To legally drive a manual transmission car, you need to apply for a C1 license. However, with automatic transmissions now accounting for over 80% of vehicles in cities, there's no need to insist on manual transmissions.