17 September 2025
The AA Driving School now predicts one third of all driving tests will be taken in an automatic car in 2026/27.
The latest data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)* shows a consistent rise in the number of automatic tests conducted.
In 2012/13, just 6.1% of all driving tests were taken in automatics. By 2023/24, that had surged to 23.4%, and reached 26% in 2024/25, which equated to 479,556 automatic car driving tests being conducted.
This growth reflects a fundamental change in learner behaviour. Searches for automatic driving lessons across AA and BSM have steadily increased year-on-year, rising from 26% in FY22 to 34% in the first half of FY26 highlighting a growing shift in learner preferences and shows the UK is accelerating toward a new era of driving.
“As we head closer to 2030 and the ban on the sale of new combustion cars, more and more learners will want to learn in an electric vehicle as that’s all they will plan to drive.”
If current growth continues, AA Driving School expects automatic driving tests could reach 32% for the 2026/27 year, accelerating toward a tipping point where manual tests are no longer the norm.
The rise in automatic tests is being fuelled by a combination of technological innovation and government policy. Electric vehicles, all of which are automatic, are becoming increasingly common on UK roads. As more drivers make the switch to EVs, many learners are choosing to train in vehicles that reflect the future of driving.
This trend is reinforced by the UK Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires car manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of electric vehicles each year.
The AA Driving School is at the forefront of this transition recently expanding its fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) to meet growing demand.
The UK’s largest driving school has added three electric vehicles to its fleet, increasing the choice of car for its franchised driving instructors.
Since June, AA Driving School franchisees can opt for a Mini Aceman SE, VW id.3 Pro Hatch or BYD Dolphin Comfort**.
In 2024, more than 68,000 hours of driving lessons were taught by AA Driving School franchisees in electric vehicles, and 36% of our instructor trainees opted to begin their teaching careers in an automatic vehicle. So far in 2025, that figure has risen slightly to 37%, which shows a steady and growing interest in automatic instruction.
Emma Bush, Managing Director, AA Driving School, said: “We have been tracking the growing trend for taking the test in an automatic for some time now.
“With more people becoming confident with the idea of their driving future being electric, the idea of needing to drive a manual vehicle will feel irrelevant to many.
“As we head closer to 2030 and the ban on the sale of new combustion cars, more and more learners will want to learn in an electric vehicle as that’s all they will plan to drive.
“It makes sense that we are able to offer a choice of these vehicles to our instructors, so they can ensure they are able to meet rising consumer demand.
“As EVs and hybrids become more popular due to lower day-to-day running costs and as the impending ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars gets closer, more people are choosing to learn in an automatic.
“As the number of automatic tests continues to rise, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve - supporting learners, instructors, and the wider industry through this exciting period of change.”
* Driving test and theory test data: cars - GOV.UK data tables DRT122E and DVSA122A
** AA Driving School Expands Electric Vehicle Fleet | AA
Driving Instructor Franchise Opportunities | The AA
Tests manual v automatic Tests DVSA122A
|
Year |
Total all tests |
Passes |
Pass rate |
Automatic conducted |
Passes |
Pass rate |
% Auto tests |
Auto as % of all passes |
|
2012/13 |
1,436,481 |
677,255 |
47.1 |
87,844 |
34,749 |
39.6 |
6.12% |
5.10% |
|
2013/14 |
1,477,585 |
695,580 |
47.1 |
95,759 |
37,266 |
38.9 |
6.48% |
5.30% |
|
2014/15 |
1,532,504 |
718,712 |
46.9 |
105,948 |
41,391 |
39.1 |
6.91% |
5.70% |
|
2015/16 |
1,537,735 |
723,444 |
47.0 |
114,994 |
45,238 |
39.3 |
7.48% |
6.20% |
|
2016/17 |
1,730,936 |
815,168 |
47.1 |
141,264 |
56,172 |
39.8 |
8.16% |
6.80% |
|
2017/18 |
1,718,519 |
795,892 |
46.3 |
163,790 |
63,727 |
38.9 |
9.53% |
8% |
|
2018/19 |
1,664,219 |
761,972 |
45.8 |
185,043 |
71,870 |
38.8 |
11.12% |
9.40% |
|
2019/20 |
1,599,566 |
734,600 |
45.9 |
202,506 |
79,951 |
39.5 |
12.66% |
10.80% |
|
2020/21 |
437,352 |
217,807 |
49.8 |
60,209 |
24,996 |
41.5 |
13.77% |
11.40% |
|
2021/22 |
1,538,314 |
751,914 |
48.9 |
242,713 |
101,231 |
41.7 |
15.78% |
13.40% |
|
2022/23 |
1,688,955 |
816,775 |
48.4 |
324,064 |
138,354 |
42.7 |
19.19% |
16.94% |
|
2023/24 |
1,945,225 | 931,494 | 47.9 | 455,276 | 194,774 | 42.8 | 23.4% (prev prediction 22%) | 20.9% (prev prediction 20%) |
|
2024/25 |
1,839,815 | 895,296 | 48.6 | 479,556 | 210,324 | 43.9 | 26% (prev prediction 25%) | 23.5% (prev prediction 23%) |
|
2025/26 |
449,834 (YTD) | 225,586 (YTD) | 50.1 (YTD) |
|
|
|
29%* |
27% * |
| 2026/27 | 32%* | 30%* |
*Predicted based on current trends
Male v Female automatic tests taken
|
Year |
Male |
Female |
% female |
|
2012/13 |
20336 |
67506 |
76.8 |
|
2013/14 |
22295 |
73461 |
76.7 |
|
2014/15 |
25233 |
80714 |
76.2 |
|
2015/16 |
28230 |
86764 |
75.5 |
|
2016/17 |
35469 |
105790 |
74.9 |
|
2017/18 |
39706 |
124083 |
75.8 |
|
2018/19 |
46098 |
138944 |
75.1 |
|
2019/20 |
53500 |
148995 |
73.6 |
|
2020/21 |
18938 |
41250 |
68.5 |
|
2021/22 |
83086 |
159520 |
65.7 |
|
2022/23 |
116349 |
207638 |
64.1 |
| 2023/4 | 173766 | 281503 | 61.8 |
| 2024/25 | 187119 | 292431 | 60.9 |