In much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East east of the Atlantic, manual cars are the default and automatics are the extra. In the United States, it is the reverse.
Why it matters
Automatics usually cost more to rent and are booked out faster, particularly in high season and in smaller markets. If you are not confident with a manual gearbox, hills, hairpins and roundabouts in unfamiliar traffic are a poor place to learn.
Rules of thumb
- If you drive a manual at home, take the manual: it is usually cheaper and easier to find.
- If you drive only automatics, book an automatic early and confirm it in writing.
- For mountain routes and old towns with steep streets, an automatic can reduce stress, even for experienced manual drivers.
- Electric and hybrid cars are almost always automatic, which can be a way around limited supply.
Booking tip
When filtering, tick the transmission option rather than relying on a listed model. Category names often say "or similar" and the gearbox can differ from what you expect.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Rules and prices change.