Ask RiotACT: Driving lessons in Canberra

Doesn’t an automatic licence also qualify you to drive a manual after a certain amount of time (6 months?)?

When I was collecting shopping trolleys in 1994 I had to interview applicants. There were several good candidates but when I saw their drivers licences they were nearly all automatic. I had to tell them that the tractor which pulled the dog which stored the trolleys was manual and I couldn’t employ them. This should be a lesson to any young person learning to drive who might want to be employed in the transport and carrying industry in future. Always learn on a manual.

Not NRMA. I was nearly taken out by a learner driver in a NRMA driving school car that blew straight through a give way sign without slowing down. NFI what the instructor was doing, obviously not instructing or controlling the learner driver.

It is commendable that you are committed to learning how to drive a manual.

There are several places in the world that still use predominantly manual cars and indeed the rental cars in these countries are all manual transmissions much to the chagrin of the tourists from North America.

Not sure about using your own car, but try Fifth Gear Motoring:
https://fifthgear.com.au/course/learn-drive