Automatic car insurance

Are automatic cars cheaper to insure?

At the moment, automatic cars can be more expensive to insure than manual cars. But as manual transmission cars become less common and more divers switch to electric models, which don’t need a clutch, insurance costs may start to fall over the next few years.

More learner drivers are already choosing to take their driving lessons and practical driving test in cars with an automatic gearbox.

Just under 480,000 of the 1.8 million driving tests taken in England, Scotland, and Wales in 2024 were in automatics, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The pass rate for automatics is 43.9% compared with the overall pass rate of 48.7%.

Why are automatic cars more expensive to insure?

Automatic cars tend to be more expensive to buy than manuals, which generally means car insurance premiums are higher too. This is to cover the cost of any damage or a replacement vehicle. For example, an automatic gearbox is more complex than a manual one and so typically costs more to replace.

Compare the Market data shows that 51% of our customers could achieve a quote for comprehensive insurance of £742 for an automatic, compared with £596 for a manual car in October 2025.

What level of automatic car insurance do I need?

As with all motor insurance, there are three levels of automatic car cover to choose from:

Third-party cover

Third-party cover is the minimum level of cover you need to legally drive on UK roads. It covers you for injury or damage you cause to other people and their property but won’t pay out for repairs to your own vehicle.

Third-party, fire and theft

Third-party, fire and theft provides financial cover if your car is stolen or damaged by fire, as well as damage or injury you cause to other people. But it won’t cover the cost of damage to your own vehicle in an accident.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive car insurance gives you the most complete level of cover and can also often be the cheapest type of policy. Comprehensive cover includes all the cover of a third-party, fire and theft policy, but will also cover your own car and you as a driver in the event of an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.

Does licence type affect the cost of automatic car insurance?

Yes. If you have a licence that only allows you to drive an automatic, you’re likely to pay a significantly higher premium for your car insurance policy than someone with a full licence. That’s because, statistically, drivers with automatic licences make more claims than those with full licences.

Popular automatic cars and their insurance groups

Automatic cars have become more common in recent years, with even smaller city cars now available as automatics.

The table below shows some examples of automatic cars and their insurance groups. Automatic models are available across a range of budgets, from lower-cost cars to more expensive models.

If an automatic gearbox is an optional extra rather than standard, it may increase the cost of the car. But there are still automatic cars in lower insurance groups, which could make them cheaper to insure.

Note: The group any vehicle is in will depend on factors like model, year and extras. As new models come out, the range of groups may change.

Should I learn to drive in an automatic car?

It’s widely considered to be easier to learn in an automatic car. That’s why many new drivers choose cars with automatic gearboxes when they’re starting out, but this isn't necessarily reflected in the pass rates.

There are some drawbacks to learning to drive in an automatic car only. If you pass your driving test in an automatic car, you will only be licensed to drive automatics. To drive a manual car, you would need to pass a driving test in one. If you pass your test in a manual car, you can drive both manual and automatic cars.

Car insurance may also be higher for learner and provisional drivers who choose to learn in an automatic car.

How can I reduce the cost of automatic car insurance?

If you choose to drive an automatic car, there are ways to reduce the overall cost of your car insurance policy.

For example, you could:

• Raise your car insurance excess – if you increase the amount you choose to pay towards a claim (your voluntary excess), your premium will usually come down. Just make sure you can afford to pay both the voluntary and compulsory excess if you make a claim.

• Add a named driver – if you’re a new driver, adding a more experienced driver to your policy could help lower your premium. But never name them as the main driver if they’re not. This is called car insurance fronting and is illegal.

• Improve security – look into whether there are any additional security features you could add, to your car, like an immobiliser.

• Consider a telematics policy – having a black box fitted to your car or using an app to track your driving can bring down your premium.

• Build up your no claims discount – the longer you drive without making a car insurance claim, the lower your premium could be.

See our tips on how to get cheaper car insurance.

How do I find cheap insurance for automatic cars?

Compare quotes with us to help find car insurance for your automatic car. Tell us about yourself, your car, including its registration number, and how you use it, and we will show you quotes from a range of car insurance providers.

You can also sign up for Automated Quotes, which checks for new quotes before your next renewal date.