Driving an automatic

By the end of this topic you can

• You can select P, R, N and D safely.
• You can control the car with your right foot only.
• You can use creep to move slowly in traffic and manoeuvres.
• You can explain what code 78 means and how to remove it.

What you need to know and understand

• P is park, R is reverse, N is neutral and D is drive.
• Use only your right foot for the accelerator and the brake.
• Keep your foot on the brake when selecting a gear and when stopped in D.
• Most automatics creep forward slowly in D or R without the accelerator.
• Passing the test in an automatic puts code 78 on your licence, limiting you to automatic vehicles.
• Code 78 does not come off with time. You must pass a test in a manual car to remove it.

Getting going

1. With your right foot on the brake, start the car in P.
2. Keep the brake pressed and select D (or R to reverse).
3. Do your mirror, signal and blind spot checks.
4. Release the handbrake.
5. Ease off the brake and the car will start to creep. Add gentle accelerator as needed.

Driving well in an automatic

• Rest your left foot on the floor. Using it on the brake can cause sudden stops.
• Use creep and gentle braking for slow manoeuvres instead of the accelerator.
• Apply the handbrake or hold the brake when stopped, so the car does not creep into the car in front.
• Pressing the accelerator hard makes the gearbox change down for extra power. Use this with care.
• On steep hills, some cars offer lower gear settings or a hill hold feature. Check the handbook.
• Select P and apply the handbrake before leaving the car.

Code 78: think ahead

If you pass in an automatic, your full licence is restricted to automatic cars. To drive a manual later, you need a new learner permit without code 78 and a pass in a manual car. Until then you would drive a manual only under learner conditions.

Think about the cars you may need to drive in the next few years, such as a family car, a work van or a hire car abroad. If any are likely to be manual, learning in a manual first can save time and money. If you fail a later manual test, you keep your automatic licence.

Common mistakes

• Using the left foot for the brake.
• Moving the selector without the foot on the brake.
• Forgetting about creep and rolling into the car in front at lights.
• Assuming code 78 will drop off after a few years.

Test yourself: Driving an automatic

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Code 78 in Ireland