The humble manual gearbox has long been a staple of the British driving experience. Learning to drive a manual car was once seen as a rite of passage, giving drivers complete control of the road and their vehicle.

 

But times are changing, and fast.

 

Newly released data shows that manual gearboxes are disappearing from UK roads and are much less common in UK car showrooms.

 

This isn't just a temporary dip in popularity. We're witnessing a long-term, potentially irreversible shift in consumer preference and automotive technology.  

 

So, what's behind the steady decline of the manual transmission? And are we saying goodbye to the clutch pedal for good?

 

Fewer Manual Cars Available Than Ever Before

 

According to exclusive figures published by Auto Express, just 96 car models in the UK are available with a manual gearbox. By comparison, over 404 models are sold as automatic-only.

 

That means fewer than 20 per cent of all new models offer a manual transmission.

 

Rewind just three years; nearly a third of new vehicles, including estates, coupes, and performance cars, could be bought with a manual gearbox.

 

The rate of decline has accelerated rapidly, driven by changes in the cars being made and the preferences of the people buying them.

 

A Market Shift Driven by Demand (and EVs)

 

The shift isn't just about what manufacturers want to build; it's about what customers want to drive.

 

The modern car buyer is increasingly drawn to convenience and comfort, especially in urban areas where traffic, stop-start driving, and congestion make manual gear changing more of a chore than a joy.

 

The enjoyment of complete control is not taken away either. The advent of the 'flappy paddles' means you can change gears manually if you want.

 

In addition, there is a growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids on the market, almost all of which are automatic by design, and the case for the manual gearbox weakens even further.

 

The data supports this.

 

In 2024, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that only 22 per cent of new cars sold in the UK were manual. That's a stark drop, especially considering automatics only overtook manual sales for the first time in 2020.

 

Drivers Are Changing Too — Especially the Young

 

One of the most telling signs of the manual's decline is what's happening in driving schools.

 

The AA Driving School revealed that 21 per cent of its students in 2024 took and passed their practical test in an automatic car. That's more than double the number from just five years earlier.

 

While many experienced drivers might still cling to manual transmissions out of habit or preference, the next generation of motorists is growing up with a different view of what driving looks like.

 

It is often the case that changing from a car with a manual gearbox to a modern automatic sees car owners converted for life.  

 

Learning to drive an EV or hybrid, especially for urban use, is a logical step. As a result, fewer drivers bother with manual licences.

 

What Does This Mean for the Future?

 

It's unlikely that the manual gearbox will disappear entirely in the next few years. There will always be some demand from driving enthusiasts, specialist fleets, or specific commercial sectors. There are still pockets of the market where a clutch and a manual gearbox make sense, such as low-cost cars or off-road work vehicles.

 

However, the trend is evident with the combination of:

 

• EV adoption
• Changing driver habits
• Manufacturer priorities
• Ease of use with automatics

 

These factors suggest that the manual gearbox will soon become the exception rather than the norm.

 

Even high-performance brands that once celebrated the manual experience are moving on.

 

Where a manual option might have been a bragging right a few years ago, today, it's often left off the spec sheet entirely.

 

Will Enthusiasts Keep the Manual Alive?

 

Car lovers might argue that driving engagement, mechanical feedback, and pure control are all lost when the manual gearbox is removed. They're not wrong. For many, a manual gearbox is part of what makes driving special.

 

It's tactile, connected, and real.

 

But in a world where cars are increasingly electric, autonomous, and digitally enhanced, the need for that level of mechanical involvement is dwindling.

 

The enthusiast market may keep a small niche alive, and some brands may continue to offer manual gearboxes as a purist's option. But most drivers don't see it as essential anymore.

 

Final Thoughts

 

The UK is rapidly shifting to a driving culture dominated by automatic vehicles, and the rise of EVs is only speeding that process along. The data from 2025 shows that manual gearboxes aren't just falling out of favour—they're slipping off the market altogether.

 

You're not alone if you still love the feeling of shifting gears and perfectly timing a downshift. However, you may find that your options continue to shrink with each new model year. 

 

Whether that's progress or a loss depends on who you ask. One thing's for sure: if you're still a manual fan, now might be the time to buy one while you still can.

 

Sources:

AutoExpress - Slow death of the manual car revealed in exclusive new data

 

The AA - 1 in 4 driving test to be in an automatic by 2026