Choosing
Manual or automatic: which should you choose?
Rijschool Strijder · Updated January 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: Automatic lets you focus fully on traffic and is usually quicker to learn. A manual licence lets you drive every car. Our combined course gives you both.
The core difference
If you take your exam in an automatic car, your Dutch licence carries code 78: you may only drive automatics. Pass in a manual and you may drive both. That single fact decides the choice for many people.
Choose automatic if…
- you mainly drive in the city and in traffic jams;
- you want to reduce stress and focus on observation;
- you want your licence as quickly as possible;
- you plan to drive an electric car — almost all are automatic.
Choose manual if…
- you may drive a family, company or rental car abroad;
- you want maximum freedom without restrictions;
- you enjoy the mechanical feel of driving.
The combined route
Our combi course starts in the automatic so you learn to read traffic without worrying about the clutch, then moves to the manual for gear control. You take the exam in the manual, so your licence has no restriction. In practice this route produces our best pass results.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I convert an automatic licence later?
- Yes. You take extra lessons and a new practical exam in a manual car to remove the restriction.
- Is automatic really easier?
- It removes one task, so most learners find it calmer — especially in busy city traffic.
- Which is cheaper overall?
- Automatic often needs slightly fewer hours, but converting later costs extra. The combi course avoids that.
Want to experience how we teach?
Book a trial lesson and find out your starting level. Free when you buy a lesson package.