7 hours and ready: the EU change that will allow automatic drivers to get behind the wheel of a manual

Short answer: Directive (EU) 2025/2205 opens the door for those who obtained their license with an automatic car to access manuals with complementary training. This same regulation and the DGT reference appear at the center of the debate on how to modernize the license.

For now, the DGT still maintains code 78 recorded on the license, but the Directive foresees a different process: an additional 7-hour course. This option does not require a new practical exam, according to the community text.

What does Directive (EU) 2025/2205 change?

Why does this matter to the driver?

Because it puts an end to a system designed when automatics were a minority. Many drivers obtain their license with an automatic and find themselves limited by code 78; this conditions mobility and vehicle purchase.

What exactly does the regulation say?

Directive (EU) 2025/2205 establishes the possibility of complementary training of seven hours to acquire basic manual skills. The course includes practice on public roads and a brief theoretical part focused on shifting and clutch.

How could the DGT and Member States apply it?

When must it be implemented in Spain?

States have a deadline to adapt their laws, and the deadline for Spain is November 2029. This implies margin to define how courses are organized and the recognition of code 78.

What role will driving schools have?

Driving schools will be the central actor: they will deliver the 7 practical hours with a qualified instructor and record the training. This can transform their offer: fewer exams, more short practical courses.

Practical impact for the driver and the sector

Will a 7-hour course be enough to master the clutch?

The answer depends on the driver and the quality of the course. Seven hours may be enough to acquire basic control of the gear lever and clutch, but it does not make anyone an expert overnight. It is a solution aimed at ensuring minimum competence.

How will this affect the market and behavior on the street?

The measure may reduce administrative frictions and make automatics more attractive when taking the test. For the vehicle fleet, it may slow the pressure on demand for manuals and influence purchase decisions; for traffic, it implies drivers with certified manual skills but fewer accumulated hours.

Local angle and expert interpretation

In Catalonia, where traffic density and the sale of automatics have grown, this regulation makes practical sense. As an editor who follows the sector, I consider that this forces a rethink of training: more quality hours distributed differently, and at the same time less exam load for the DGT.

Risks and open questions

There are questions left to resolve: standardization of the course, evaluation criteria, and insurance during practice on public roads. It will also be necessary to decide how code 78 is canceled: automatically after the course or through an administrative procedure.

Institutional testimony

The Ministry of the Interior spread the news through a public message (tweet of August 24, 2026) highlighting the DGT magazine analysis on electrification and regulatory changes. These institutional voices focus on the transition to automatic transmissions and the need to adapt regulation.

How will code 78 be affected?

Code 78 continues to exist for licenses obtained with automatics, but the Directive creates a way to leave it behind without repeating the practical exam. This changes the nature of the limitation: from a permanent barrier to a target overcome with training.

A practical note: if you got your license with an automatic and are thinking of switching to manual, prepare for an intense but short experience on the road; it is not theoretical, it is practical.

Conclusion and perspective for the reader

The reality is that Directive (EU) 2025/2205 and the recommendations evident in the DGT mark a tangible change: 7 hours of course can be the key to removing code 78 from your license without repeating a full exam, and Spain has until November 2029 to adapt. However, course quality, regulation of driving schools, and administrative supervision will determine whether this alternative translates into safe drivers or just an administrative solution. It is worth following closely (and asking your driving school when they have the schedule defined).