9 replies to this topic

[Lucydog]

My driving licence is restricted to automatic only ( as i guess a lot of us here are) so as Im in the process of choosing a new car, can I drive a semi automatic on an automatic only licence?

Thanks
L

[pikey]

I believe you can drive a semi automatic on an automatic license.

Simi automatic gearboxes can be driven in D drive with out the need for changing gear and they do not have a clutch peddle so you should be okay. If in doubt check with the DVLA.

[Lucydog]

Thanks I thought that was probably the case. I would call the DVLA but they have an 0870 number and I really begrudge being stuck on the phone for ages paying some outrageous call charge just to ask a quick question!!!

Edited by Lucydog, 06 July 2009 - 10:45 PM.

[pikey]

http://www.saynoto0870.com/

I hope this helps.

[Bevan-L]

semi automatic is still an automatic by nature so you can drive them. could even drive an auto car that has a B&M rachet shifter, cos its still an auto, just a manual auto

[jules]

Hi Lucydog
My car is a semi-auto, and I drive it on an auto licence, just by leaving it in D. Hubby likes to use the gears mainly because its a sequential box and it makes him feel like a rally driver, because that's what they use. Most autos seem to be going the way of semi autos, they all seem to have their own name for them - easytronic, geartonic etc.

Hope this helps
Jules

[Slowlegs]

Lucydog, on Jul 6 2009, 10:39 PM, said:

My driving licence is restricted to automatic only ( as i guess a lot of us here are) so as Im in the process of choosing a new car, can I drive a semi automatic on an automatic only licence?

Thanks
L

Hi Lucy, it is the coordination required to work the clutch and moving through the gears which makes a manual licence necessary. A semi auto takes care of all the extra work so you are just telling the auto which gear to be in. Takes no real extra skill so no special licence needed.

[CR_L1]

Hi Luckydog,

The bottom line is if you DON’T have a clutch pedal & you select one position (D) on the gear stick you are fine to drive the vehicle on an automatic licence.

If the semi automatic transmission requires movement of the gear stick to change gear while driving (even if there is no clutch pedal) this is categorized as a manual & needs manual driving licence.
Same applies to a manual transmission with electronically controlled clutch i.e. manual licence required.

This is how the law was defined to me by a UK traffic officer,
Hope it helps,

[Tinbasher]

"Tiptronic" or any of the other proprietory systems are defined as automatic. If it has no clutch pedal its legally a auto.

Tin

[russ1]

Tinbasher, on Jul 7 2009, 09:43 PM, said:

"Tiptronic" or any of the other proprietory systems are defined as automatic. If it has no clutch pedal its legally a auto.

Tin

This appears to be the correct interpretation; no clutch pedal (or lever) = automatic

references are given in these threads
http://www.rac.co.uk...read.php?t=3837
http://www.digitalsp...d.php?t=1050188

so you are fine to drive a semi auto (and use it as such should you wish) on an automatic licence