Can You Switch from Learning Manual to Automatic Transmission?
4 Answers
If you have registered for the manual transmission driver's license test (C1), you can change to the automatic transmission driver's license test (C2) by completing the relevant procedures with the driving school and paying the additional fees before taking the first subject test. Pass rate of the driving test: Clearly, most people lack confidence in coordinating the clutch and gear shifts, which is one of the most important skills in learning manual transmission. After switching to automatic transmission, there is no need to shift gears, making it easier to operate, and the pass rate of the driving test is slightly higher than that of manual transmission. C2 can only drive automatic transmission vehicles: After obtaining an automatic transmission driver's license (C2), you can only drive automatic transmission vehicles. However, with a manual transmission driver's license (C1), you can drive both manual and automatic transmission vehicles.
When I first got my driver's license, I also struggled with this issue. Later, I realized that learning to drive a manual transmission was the most cost-effective choice. Back in my day, instructors all recommended getting a manual transmission license first, because a C1 license allows you to drive automatic cars, but not the other way around. Learning manual is more tiring—you have to constantly press the clutch and shift gears, and you might need extra practice with hill starts. But once you master it, driving an automatic feels like a walk in the park, with no need to worry about shifting at all. Nowadays, automatic cars dominate city streets, while manuals have become rare. Still, I’d advise young friends to tough it out and learn manual—spend the extra time mastering the full skill set. That way, you can drive any car you come across, and borrowing a friend’s car for trips becomes hassle-free, saving you from last-minute panic and having to retake the test.
I remember my son was struggling with this when he got his driver's license last year. As someone who's been through it, I told him: learning manual transmission is like buying insurance. Although the process of getting a C1 license involves learning clutch coordination, throttle and clutch interaction, and you might fail the test a few more times, once you have the license, you can drive automatic transmission cars as you please. My son now drives our family's automatic SUV with ease, without needing to relearn anything. On the other hand, his classmate who only got an automatic license was fined by traffic police when he tried to drive his grandfather's old manual transmission van for delivery. So don't be fooled by the abundance of automatic cars on the streets today. If one day you need to drive a manual company car or help a friend move their car, not having a C1 license will leave you helpless. My advice is to go straight for the manual transmission license—it's the most hassle-free option in the long run.
I got my driver's license two years ago. At that time, the instructor asked whether I wanted to learn automatic or manual transmission. I said automatic would be easier. The instructor laughed and said that nowadays too many people choose automatic, which is actually a loss because manual transmission lessons are about 500-600 yuan cheaper! Later, I realized: with a manual transmission license, you only need half a day to adapt to driving an automatic car—the steering wheel, accelerator, and brakes are all the same, the only difference is not having to press the clutch or shift gears. But with an automatic transmission license, you'd be completely lost if you had to drive a manual car. Now, I drive my wife's automatic Honda Fit with ease, and last week, I even helped a friend move by driving his manual transmission pickup truck. If I had taken the easy way out and learned automatic back then, I'd be in an awkward situation now.
