Freedom of a manual licence

So many people ask whether they can drive a manual car with a licence endorsed for driving an automatic car to which the short answer is “no” .

The reason is that when you are issued with a driving license, it comes with a specific code that says what kind of car you are allowed to legally drive. For light motor vehicles, this licence code is B or EB (light motor vehicle drawing a trailer with a gross combination mass not exceeding 3 500 kg).

However, if you successfully pass your driver’s license in a car with manual transmission, you are allowed to drive a manual and an automatic car, without any worries or restrictions.

So, unfortunately, if you want to drive a manual car, but obtained your driver’s license driving an automatic car, then you will need to take your license test – from start to finish – all over again, as the traffic department does not allow you to merely change or convert your license.

This means a new learners license, the actual yard test and the road driving test, in a manual car, and of course, passing.

Of course, an automatic car is easier to drive and it’s certainly easier to undertake a very nerve-racking driving test in an automatic car – as you never have to worry about clutch control and the risk of your car stalling.

However, it’s worth all the practice hours that are needed to get a manual driver’s license as then you have more freedom as you won’t be restricted by a car’s gearbox. – Own Correspondent