Automatic driving lessons can be an attractive option for both learners and instructors.

Without a clutch and manual gear changes to manage, some learners find an automatic car less daunting. This can allow them to concentrate more on observation, positioning, planning and what’s happening around them.

Automatic lessons may particularly appeal to learners who:

• find clutch control and gear changes difficult;
• feel overwhelmed by having too many things to think about at once;
• have previously struggled learning in a manual;
• simply prefer the experience of driving an automatic;
• expect to drive an automatic, hybrid or electric vehicle in the future.

For an instructor, offering automatic lessons can therefore open the door to a broad range of pupils.

Manual driving tuition continues to give learners an important advantage: passing a practical driving test in a manual car allows them to drive both manual and automatic cars.

That flexibility still matters to many learners, particularly if they don’t yet know what type of car they’ll own or need to drive in the future.

For instructors, choosing a manual tuition car therefore allows you to serve learners who specifically want a manual licence.

If you hold a full manual licence yourself, however, remember that qualifying using an automatic car does not prevent you from teaching manual pupils later. You would, of course, need a suitable manual tuition vehicle if you decide to offer manual lessons.

The car may be simpler to operate, but that doesn’t make the job of being a driving instructor easy.

Your role isn’t simply to teach someone how to use the clutch and gears.

A good instructor needs to help pupils develop skills including observation, anticipation, judgement, decision-making, planning and managing risk. You also need to recognise when a pupil is struggling, understand why and adapt your teaching accordingly.

Those skills are just as important in an automatic car as they are in a manual.

That’s why your instructor training focuses on helping you become a good teacher and coach, not simply a good driver.

Electric vehicles add another reason why prospective instructors are considering automatic tuition.

Fully electric cars do not use a traditional manual gearbox, so as electric vehicles become more established, automatic driving is likely to remain an important part of the driver training market.

But that doesn’t mean you have to predict exactly what the market will look like several years from now before starting your training.

If you hold a manual licence, you retain considerable flexibility. You can decide which type of tuition vehicle best suits your business and change your approach as your career develops.

There isn’t one answer that’s right for everyone.

Manual instructor training could suit you if:

• you want to concentrate on teaching manual learners;
• you’re confident and comfortable driving a manual car;
• you want to serve pupils specifically looking for a manual licence.

Automatic instructor training could suit you if:

• you’d prefer to teach in an automatic vehicle;
• you see automatic tuition as an important part of your future business;
• you intend to use a hybrid or electric tuition car;
• you want to work with pupils who specifically prefer automatic lessons.

And if you already hold a manual driving licence, your choice doesn’t have to be permanent. You have the flexibility to teach both once you’re qualified.

When you’re first considering instructor training, it’s easy to focus on questions such as which car to buy or whether manual or automatic lessons will be more popular.

Those things matter, but they’re only part of the decision.

I’d encourage you to think about the bigger picture too.

Do you enjoy working with people? Are you patient? Are you willing to keep learning yourself? Can you adapt the way you explain something when somebody doesn’t understand it the first time? And are you prepared to put the work in to become a good instructor rather than simply aiming to pass three tests?

Those are ultimately much more important questions.

You don’t need to have every detail of your future driving instructor business worked out before you start training.

If you’re considering becoming a driving instructor and aren’t sure whether manual or automatic tuition would be right for you, speak to Geoff.

He’ll talk through your current licence, your plans and what you want from a career as a driving instructor. You’ll get straightforward advice without any pressure to sign up.