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How long does it take to learn manual?
My father surprised me by buying me a new car for my 18th birthday. The only problem is that it’s a manual shift. He’s convinced that it makes the car impossible to steal, but I’m more worried about learning how to drive it sooner rather than later. How long should it take for me to drive a manual car?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Wow! That’s a great gift from your father! And he’s right: manuals are far less likely to be stolen than automatic cars. While the length of time it takes to learn to drive a manual varies from person to person, you can reasonably expect about 20 to 30 hours behind the wheel.
For some, a manual shift comes more naturally. Chalk it up to getting a feel for it or instinct, but these people may only need 10 to 15 hours to learn. But if you’re struggling, don’t worry too much. Practice makes perfect. You can also follow these steps to help you:
- Always keep the clutch depressed when you start the car.
- Once you start the car, move the stick to first gear and slowly release the clutch.
- Give the car a bit of gas.
- When the gear engages, you can gradually take your foot off the clutch.
- Continue to give the car gas as necessary until you rev up to about 3,000 RPM. You can also trust your ear, as the high revving is a signal you need to shift up.
- To shift gears, push the clutch in, put the stick in second gear, and continue to give the car some gas.
If you’re lucky, your parents already took care of your
car insurance
. If they didn’t you still get a free car. Plus, you can use the Jerry
app to find affordable insurance quickly.Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that will collect quotes from over 50 top-rated insurers in minutes. After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $887 per year.
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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