Manual cars could disappear from roads within years as motorists opt for automatic gearboxes, and more drivers turn their backs on petrol and diesel vehicles.
Recent data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) shows that 470,000 driving tests were taken in automatic cars last year across England, Scotland and Wales.
This is despite these drivers needing to take additional tests if they want to travel in a manual car. Those who pass manual driving tests are able to drive both a manual and an automatic car.
The growth in the number of motorists choosing to drive an automatic car over a manual highlights a growing trend that could see the latter become a skill, rather than a necessity.
Emma Bush, managing director of the AA's driving school, noted that many drivers saw the idea of learning how to drive a manual car as "irrelevant".
All electric vehicles are automatic, and since the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK from 2030, manual gearboxes could disappear.
While there will likely be some exceptions to the 2030 deadline, many of these will likely be small manufacturers making specialised and luxury vehicles.
After 2030, only sales of new electric and hybrid vehicles will be allowed, before an outright ban on non-zero emission cars comes into place in 2035.
Manual cars could disappear in the coming years as more drivers switch to automatic electric vehicles
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The move to automatic gearboxes is evident in current purchasing behaviours, especially on the online car selling marketplace Auto Trader.
Of more than 450,000 results, a staggering 262,021 car listings are electric, compared to just 190,818 manual options.
While this is the case, only 25,802 listings on the site are electric, while 75,268 are hybrid, showing the growing trend in the number of automatic vehicles.
The latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that drivers are investing in electric vehicles at an ever-growing rate.
Many young people are choosing to take automatic driving tests, rather than with a manual vehicle
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In September, 72,779 new electric vehicles were registered, making up 23.3 per cent of the total new vehicle market share, and a huge 29 per cent increase on last year.
While new petrol car registrations saw a modest increase of just 2.4 per cent, the number of diesel sales dropped by a staggering 28.2 per cent to just 12,609.
Thanks to the introduction of the new "75" number plate identifier tag at the start of September and the ever-expanding list of eligible models in the Electric Car Grant, EVs are becoming more popular.
In total, 312,887 new vehicles were registered last month, marking the most successful September in terms of sales since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
The number of cars with manual gears has rapidly declined | GETTYThe closer the UK gets to the 2030 deadline, younger motorists will largely opt for an automatic licence since they will likely only be driving electric vehicles in the future.
Sue Howe, owner of Sue's Driving School in Swindon, said automatic vehicles were preferred for motorists since practical tests are easier as there is "a lot less to do".
She told the BBC: "It just makes life so much easier - it's less work for the driver to do so they can concentrate more time on the road."