DSG and SMG with auto licence.

[Fort Jefferson]

This subject has come up on a few threads as to what constitutes an automatic when it come to driving with an auto only licence. Some people have said that it's the absence or presence of a clutch pedal. Others have said it's what manifacturers call their cars.

Well I've spoken to Steve Rodgers of the midlands road policing unit on radio WM today, and he states quite categorically, that it is whatever it says on the V5 registration document. VOSA will have made the decision when the car is regisered, so if it says manual, even if it changes automatically and has no clutch, you still need a manual licence.

[hornetrider]

Begs the question what do DSG and SMG cars say on the V5? Anyone?

[J400uk]

Get us a numberplate of a DSG car and we can find out.

I would have thought you would be able to drive with an Auto licence, as although technically speaking they are manuals with an automated clutch, you dont operate it yourself.

[Dracoro]

J400uk said:

Get us a numberplate of a DSG car and we can find out.

I would have thought you would be able to drive with an Auto licence, as although technically speaking they are manuals with an automated clutch, you dont operate it yourself.

How it does things behind the scenes is irrelevant.

Two pedals, car can change gear = Auto (for driving licence purposes at least).

[hornetrider]

J400uk said:

Get us a numberplate of a DSG car and we can find out.

Classifieds?

[Alfa_75_Steve]

I always thought it was the absence of a driver-controlled clutch that defined an auto for the purposes of your driving license.

Where does this leave stuff like the old Fiat Seicento Citymatic and the Saab Sentronics?

[dxb335d]

I wonder..

[mdm123]

an auto is a car without a clutch pedal

[robwales]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/770918.htm

M3 SMG, YG55 ZXL

I don't know where you can put that in to find what the transmission is.

[Alfa_75_Steve]

robwales said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/770918.htm

M3 SMG, YG55 ZXL

I don't know where you can put that in to find what the transmission is.

No idea, but it hasn't been taxed for 2 months.

Time for a cheeky offer, I reckon.....

[Mattt]

I had a look on my V5 (SMG) - but can't see anywhere it says auto or manual?

[hornetrider]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

robwales said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/770918.htm

M3 SMG, YG55 ZXL

I don't know where you can put that in to find what the transmission is.

No idea, but it hasn't been taxed for 2 months.


Time for a cheeky offer, I reckon.....

Dealer probably cashed it in when he got it

[rayny]

The answer from DVLA when I asked this question the other week:-


Thank you for your email.

I can confirm that provided you have a full category B licence (limited to automatics only) you will
be entitled to drive a vehicle meeting the below criteria.

A vehicle with automatic transmission means a class of vehicle in which either:-

the driver is not provided with any means whereby he may vary the gear ratio between the engine
and the road wheels independently of the accelerator and the brakes or:

he is provided with such means but they do not include a clutch pedal or lever which he may
operate manually and accordingly, a vehicle with manual transmission is any other class of vehicle.

Most vehicles fitted with automatic transmission today have a “hold” facility whereby the driver can
select a lower gear ratio “manually” for descending long steep gradients rather than relying totally
on the brakes.

This facility is sometimes used for increased power when overtaking slower vehicles rather than
using “kick down” on the accelerator, but we do not believe that this constitutes manual
transmission.



Regards

Mr I Owen
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

[THREAD ID:1-YK1XY]

---

Original Message-----
From: Ray
Sent: 07/12/2008 17:06:23
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Passed driving test using Automatic gearbox

Dear Sirs, I would be grateful if you could clarify something for me. I passed my driving test in 1988
in a car fitted with an automatic gearbox, my licence is suitably restricted to cars fitted with an
automatic gearbox. In 1988 cars were either fitted with a manual gearbox with a clutch, or a fully
automatic gearbox. Nowadays there are other options such as sequential, clutchless, gearboxes
and other semi-automatic transmissions. I would be pleased if you could let me know what types of
gearbox I am entitled to drive. Regards, -- Ray

[cptsideways]

Thats not very clear is it!!! What about tiptronics or even normal auto's you can selct a lower gear with

[annodomini2]

My Dad has an automatic license (disabled) and has a passat diesel DSG. Answer your question?

Dunno about smg

[Fort Jefferson]

rayny said:

The answer from DVLA when I asked this question the other week:-


Thank you for your email.

I can confirm that provided you have a full category B licence (limited to automatics only) you will
be entitled to drive a vehicle meeting the below criteria.

A vehicle with automatic transmission means a class of vehicle in which either:-

the driver is not provided with any means whereby he may vary the gear ratio between the engine
and the road wheels independently of the accelerator and the brakes or:

he is provided with such means but they do not include a clutch pedal or lever which he may
operate manually and accordingly, a vehicle with manual transmission is any other class of vehicle.

Most vehicles fitted with automatic transmission today have a “hold” facility whereby the driver can
select a lower gear ratio “manually” for descending long steep gradients rather than relying totally
on the brakes.

This facility is sometimes used for increased power when overtaking slower vehicles rather than
using “kick down” on the accelerator, but we do not believe that this constitutes manual
transmission.

Regards

Mr I Owen
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring

Good post, this contradicts what I was told by Steve Rodgers (the Policeman) in my orignal post. So the Police disagree with the DVLA, Unless all cars without a clutch pedal are listed on the V5 as auto's.

[J400uk]

robwales said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/770918.htm

M3 SMG, YG55 ZXL

I don't know where you can put that in to find what the transmission is.

That particular vehicle is registed as a manual.

[robwales]

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[J400uk]

robwales said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

kambites said:

You might even find that some are registered as auto and some as manual.

Makes sense then

[Fort Jefferson]

robwales said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

This thread tells us nothing. Thats why I tried to get a definitive answer.

We now have two definitive answers, one from the Police, and one from the DVLA and they are different. So we are no further forward.