How Long Does It Take to Learn Manual?

How long does it take to learn manual? Many people worry about taking a stick shift driving lesson; they often imagine terrible things happening that, well, never actually happens. They don’t know the worst-case scenario because they haven’t tried it before.

In this article, I’ll provide a detailed answer with plenty of helpful tips to clear your fear of driving a manual.

In short, it takes between 2 and 4 weeks of frequent practice to get relatively comfortable behind the wheel of a manual car. 

How Long Does It Take to Learn Manual?

According to my experience, it can take a rookie driver up to a month to feel comfortable operating a manual vehicle. For your reference, the process is broken down as follows:

#1 Getting to know to shift gear

Having practiced for around one day and two to three hours, you are essentially competent but perhaps uncomfortable. 30 to 60 minutes are needed to learn how to shift an automobile into gear.

#2 Learn to shift up & down

Shifting up and down takes one to two hours. Unfortunately, due to the need to mix a few techniques, this is where most people fall up (releasing the clutch, bringing the revs down to about 1500, shifting the gear shifter, engaging the clutch).

#3 Feeling generally comfy yet mindful – 1 week

You should feel proficient when driving on most roads in approximately a week, assuming you can practice for 5 to 8 hours in your first week. Every time you press the clutch, you’ll still feel a little anxious and excited.

At this stage, you’ll probably want to avoid listening to the radio to focus entirely on the task.

#4 Feeling assured and comfortable with changing gears – 2 to 4 weeks

After roughly two to four weeks of practice, you should begin to feel like operating a stick shift is second nature. You ought to be equally at ease driving a manual or automatic vehicle by this time.

Finding the bite point, downshifting, and shifting the automobile up steep hills will become fluid and natural. It’s likely that you won’t give the clutch much thought, and shifting gears will come naturally to you. If you occasionally stall out, don’t be concerned. That is entirely typical.

Is Learning to Drive a Manual Car Difficult?

Driving a manual transmission car requires a coordinated strategy that uses both your legs and arms, unlike driving an automatic transmission car where you only have to put the throttle down and apply the brakes as needed.

When you first start learning how to drive a stick, it will seem a little strange, and you will undoubtedly stall the car a few times. However, you will get better at it as you practice more.

How to Operate a Shift-Stick Car

Understanding clutch control is one of the keys to operating a manual gearbox vehicle. One of the essential ideas you must understand is this. Three pedals are on a manual automobile.

Depending on your car, you might have a footrest on the far left that resembles a pedal. This footrest may not be present in all automobiles. The clutch pedal is located next to that. The accelerator pedal is on the right side, while the brake pedal is in the center.

Step 1: Firmly depress the clutch pedal. Put your vehicle in neutral. This is the exact center of the H where the gears are located.

Wiggle the shifter to see if the car is actually in neutral; if it moves, you’re in neutral. An automobile will jolt violently if you start it in gear while the clutch pedal is not depressed.

Step 2: Start the engine, then release the clutch gradually. Your vehicle will begin to idle.

Step 3: Put the automobile in first gear after fully depressing the clutch. Pushing the gear to the left and then up will reveal it.

Step 4: While continuing to depress the clutch, push the accelerator down until the engine revs reach 1000–2000.

Step 5: Release the clutch gradually until you feel the car vibrate, then begin to move. Hold the clutch in place until you can fully feel the car going into gear. Your foot can now be released from the clutch since the car will now be moving.

How Does Clutch Control Become Second Nature?

The objective is to develop clutch control. The car will stall if you release the clutch pedal too quickly at the vibration point. When learning to drive, everyone behaves in this way. Clutch control can only be adapted by repeatedly practicing it until you master it.

Some Practical Advice for Learning to Drive a Manual

1. Be prepared to make errors

You will stall out rather frequently. Don’t worry about yourself. Those who don’t care how long it takes are the ones who pick up stick shift the quickest. You ought to be more at ease, willing to attempt it again more quickly, and open to advise in general.

2. Make a sign

Create a banner for your rear window that reads “Learner” and tape it to the inside lower portion of the window. Then, if someone sees it, they will be sure to leave you some room, especially if they follow you up a steep incline.

3. Try it in a parking lot

In particular, when starting, I strongly advise mastering the fundamentals of stick shift in large parking lots. Then, choose a time when there aren’t many cars around.

4. Put the car stall on purpose

When taking a manual transmission driving lesson, you must understand that stalling out is not that big of a concern.

To purposefully stall the car, depress the clutch pedal, depress the brake pedal, and turn on the ignition. Then, you can release the parking brake, engage first gear, take your right foot off the brake pedal and place it lightly on the gas pedal, and quickly remove your left foot from the clutch pedal. Finally, pull the hand brake or depress the parking brake after you stall out, then shift back to neutral using the gear lever.

Conclusion

You can experience a side of driving that you would never be able to experience in an automatic automobile by learning to drive one. Driving a manual car is far more enjoyable than an automatic one. Manual learning requires time, patience, and work, just like anything worthwhile. However, the experience is well worth the effort.