What is an automatic car in car rental?

Not sure whether to rent an automatic or manual car?

• Automatic car rental offers a smoother, simpler drive with less to think about
• Manual cars give you more control on the road and a more engaging experience

Need to rent a car but not sure whether to go for automatic car rental or opt for a manual transmission? Both vehicle types have benefits – from the tight control offered by a manual to the smooth drive of an automatic.

Whether you choose an automatic rental car or manual may depend on the type of driver's license you have. For instance, if you have an automatic driver's license, you’ll only be permitted to rent an automatic car. But if you have a manual license, you can choose whether to go for a manual or an automatic transmission.

With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about renting an automatic.

What is an automatic car in car rental?

When you rent a car in the UK and many other countries, you’ll be given a choice: automatic or manual. If you’re used to driving "stick," it’s worth finding out a little more about automatic vehicles before signing on the dotted line.

In simple terms, an automatic car is a vehicle with automatic transmission. This means it changes gears automatically, so there’s no clutch pedal, and the gear stick looks pretty different too!

What is the difference between automatic and manual cars?

Manual cars have gear sticks that display the numbers of the gears (usually one to five, sometimes one to six) as well as an "R" for reverse. Automatic vehicles have gear sticks too, but they are not numbered, instead reading: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive).

Look down into the driver’s footwell of an automatic and you’ll only see two pedals: accelerate and brake. This is because automatic vehicles have no need for a clutch pedal.

This means that, when driving an automatic, you just move the gear stick into "Drive" and press the accelerator. During your journey, you just accelerate and brake, and then move the gear stick into "Park" on your arrival. The car will automatically switch gear whenever it needs to.

This is a very different experience to driving a manual, which requires you to frequently change gears throughout your journey, as your speed increases and decreases. In a manual, you also need to use the clutch to find your "biting point" every time you stop and start. This makes the risk of stalling the car much higher.

Benefits of renting an automatic car

If you’re used to driving a manual, it can take a couple of minutes to become comfortable behind the wheel of an automatic. However, automatic car rental comes with many benefits – especially when you’re on unfamiliar terrain.

The biggest benefits of an automatic rental car include:

• Simpler and easier to drive than a manual, with no need to change gears.
• Less to think about and do when driving, which allows you to focus on the road (especially useful in an unfamiliar area).
• Lower chance of stalling and holding up other drivers.
• More user friendly, which is helpful when you’re driving an unfamiliar car or if you’re new to driving.
• Seamless hill starts as there’s no clutch and you don’t need to find the biting point.
• Smoother driving in cities, where there’s typically a lot of starting and stopping.

Automatic vs manual cars: Which is best for you?

As outlined above, there are plenty of benefits to automatic car rental. But if you’ve always driven a manual, you might be more comfortable sticking to what you know.

Here are four important points to consider before making your booking.

Which countries use automatic transmission?

It’s important to note that no country exclusively uses automatic cars – both manual and automatic vehicles are sold globally. However, in some countries there’s a strong preference for automatic motors, with few motorists holding manual licenses. And in others, such as the UK, driving a manual is the norm, although there’s an increasing number of automatics on the roads.

So, which countries mostly use automatic vehicles? In Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the US, automatics dominate. While it’s not impossible to buy a manual, the overwhelming preference for automatic vehicles means it can be hard to find manual cars to rent in these countries.

In Europe, most of the cars on roads are manuals. So if you’re renting a car in a country such as Italy, Spain, Greece, or Portugal, you’ll have no trouble finding manual cars. However, it’s worth noting that automatic vehicles are becoming increasingly popular across Europe and worldwide. In part, this is due to the rise of electric and hybrid cars, which are pretty much always automatic.

FAQ

How do I know if my car is manual or automatic?

Take a look at the gear stick. In a manual car, the gear stick displays numbers from one to five (or sometimes six), representing the different gears, as well as a "R" option for reverse. In an automatic, you won’t find numbers on the gear stick – instead you’ll have options for P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive).

Another clear indicator as to whether you’re driving a manual or an automatic is the number of pedals. Manual cars have three pedals—the accelerator, brake, and the clutch—which you press down when you’re changing gear. Automatic cars don’t have a clutch, so you’ll only find two pedals in the driver’s footwell – the accelerator and the brake.

Still unsure? Take a look in the owner’s manual, which will spell out which type of transmission the car has.

If I usually drive a manual car, can I rent an automatic?

Yes, if you have a manual driver's license, you can also rent and drive an automatic car – just specify your preference during the booking process. While driving an automatic vehicle is different to operating a manual, as there’s no clutch pedal or need to shift gears, it’s pretty easy to pick up for those used to driving a manual.

If I usually drive an automatic car, can I rent a manual?

It depends on your driver's license. If you have an automatic driver's license, then you will not be able to rent or drive a manual car. If you have a manual license, then you can rent a manual vehicle, even if you normally drive an automatic car.

A manual license allows you to rent and drive both manual and automatic vehicles, while if you hold an automatic license, you will need to opt for automatic car rental.