But do most Americans only know how to drive automatics? Because they always seem to ask "can you drive a stick-shift?" as if it's an unusual skill. In Britain, if you want to you can learn to drive on an automatic instead of a manual, but if you take the test in an automatic, your licence only allows you to drive automatics. I think only the people who are really crap at driving learn on automatics in this country (I'm not saying all Americans are crap drivers, it's only because manuals seem to be a rarity in the US, but British learners who the automatic test have basically given up on a big part of driving a car), I think most driving instructors use manuals. On Top Gear actor Christopher Eccleston (Americans will proably know him best as the baddie from the Gone in 60 Seconds remake) said he only learnt how to drive an automatic, so they had to get an automatic Suzuki Liana for him to drive in the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" race.