the inside of a car
Photograph ©2024 by Brian Cohen.

Watch Out With Manual Transmission Vehicles On The Opposite Side Of the Road

Not being careful can result in a clutch situation.

When I rent a vehicle outside of the United States, I am typically not concerned as to whether it is equipped with an automatic transmission or a manual transmission — and I have driven on the left side of the road in at least thirteen different countries, so I have no problem with that at all…

Watch Out With Manual Transmission Vehicles On The Opposite Side Of the Road

the inside of a car
Photograph ©2024 by Brian Cohen.

…but while I was in Ireland, I wondered how many people from the United States actually drive vehicles that are equipped with manual transmissions — so I asked an employee of a rental car facility after I returned a vehicle to find out.

“Not all that many Americans drive here,” said the employee, who rolled her eyes when she continued that “many of them burn out the clutch — and that requires the car to be towed.”

I was astonished when she said that “many of the Americans burn out the clutch before they even exit the car park.”

“Really?!?” I replied in disbelief.

“Yes,” she said as she pointed to a traffic light that was perhaps a quarter mile away at the most. “Do you see that light over there? One person burnt out the clutch there and pushed the car back over to here.”

She even told me about the customer who burnt out a clutch on a car that he or she claimed was faulty. “But you are the first driver of this car,” she replied to the customer.

“You mean to tell me that the car was brand new?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied as she rolled her eyes again and laughed. “You would not believe how many people who don’t know how to drive a stick shift burn out the clutch. They really should not be driving these cars.”

When I arrived in Glasgow a couple of hours ago, I talked to an employee of a rental car company as I collected the car to rent. He told almost the exact same stories without knowing what the other employee told me earlier today at Dublin Airport.

Final Boarding Call

Driving a vehicle that is equipped with a manual transmission is tricky enough when one is only used to driving vehicles that are equipped with an automatic transmission — but to do so on the opposite side of the road than what he or she is used to doing is basically foolish, as severe damage can be caused to the car…

…and that damage may not be covered by insurance, which could wind up costing a customer thousands of dollars overall — as well as a lot of time and effort.

Fewer vehicles are being equipped with manual transmissions worldwide; so the day may arrive when the manual transmission as we know it becomes obsolete…

…but if you are not familiar with driving a vehicle that is equipped with a manual transmission — especially on the opposite side of the road than what you are used to doing in a country that has different languages and different laws — consider either paying extra for renting a vehicle that is equipped with an automatic transmission; use public transportation; or purchase a tour that best suits your itinerary, as ruining or destroying a motor vehicle is simply not worth the cost and aggravation to resolve.

All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.

  1. Did it in South Africa. Not too hard, for me the difficulty was shifting into the proper gear with the left hand. Not sure why the clutch would be the issue given that the clutch is in the same spot for both left and right hand drive cars. Perhaps these folks would have burned out the clutch in a left hand drive car as as well due to general unfamiliarity with manuals.

    1. I did not completely understand the clutch issues either, Steven — and yes, the pedal positions are the same. Your supposition seems feasible.

      My issue is when I want to turn on the lights, the windshield wipers activate instead. I am glad that that is my biggest issue with driving on the left side of the road…

  2. How many Americans have ever had the chance to learn how to drive a stick? I grew up with these types of transmissions but certainly most people under 40 most likely have never seen one.

    1. That is a good question, Billy Bob.

      Interestingly, many of the American tourists I saw were older; and most of them were on organized tours and not driving…

  3. Also, to put the gear into reverse is a challenge. Each make/model/country does it differently. Ask the rental car agency before you drive off.

    1. That is absolutely true, Veejay.

      Pushing the stick down and shifting it beyond first gear was how to go into reverse in the car I returned yesterday; while the rental car I have now requires shifting on the opposite side below fifth gear to go into reverse.

      I once had a car which really puzzled me on how to get into reverse — until I finally figured it out: pull up the ring which was hidden under the handle of the shifter in order to engage reverse.

      All were in cars which were meant to drive on the left side of the road.

    1. I am concerned about people who do not know how to spell the word wearing, Boris.

      Thank you for your constructive comment — as well as reading the article in its entirety and completely understanding its topic.

  4. Driving in Ireland is hard enough. I do not try and learn to drive a manual while trying not to crash near the ring or the cliffs. My advice is for your first time driving there… stick to good highways before you go to the more rural parts. Maybe drive to Belfast from Dublin for your 1st go. Maybe drive to Galway from Dublin or south to Kildare. Once you hit places like Mayo and Kerry your going to be putting your skills to the test. Especially at night after leaving the pub. Its a great life experience but understand driving in Ireland can be a real challenge. GPS is a life saver. I remember driving before it. I had the luxury of being with people that knew where they were going. I can do some of it by memory but GPS is a godsend.

    1. I actually did drive directly to Belfast from Dublin Airport when I first arrived, Sean from Chicago. How did you know?!?

      I drove around much of Northern Ireland and Ireland in a loosely counterclockwise loop, which included Londonderry, Sligo, Galway, Killarney, Waterford, and Dublin — among other places — and I returned the rental car with no problem.

      Thank you for the advice and imparting your experiences. I appreciate it.

  5. It took me a couple of years after first driving in America to try a manual car. When I did, it didn’t take too long to get used to it. Fortunately for those coming from the UK for the first time, it’s almost unheard of to get a manual car to rent in the USA. It took me a few minutes to get used to driving on the right with a steering wheel on the left. The next morning it was as if I’d done it all my life. I recently visited the UK and it was easy to switch to driving on the other side. Too bad we couldn’t meet each other there! I’m back in the USA now

    1. I would have liked to have met you in the United Kingdom, Barry Graham. I did not even know that you were going to be there — although I am not sure we were there at the same time.

      I had no problem driving a car that was equipped with a manual transmission in the United Kingdom — save for the rental car company finding a small nick on one of the tires once I returned the car and declaring that it needed to be replaced.

      I guess that is what insurance is for…

  6. Hertz is extremely picky at Heathrow. During my most recent rental, the agent made sure to tell me that the tire rim that he admitted was damaged before I rented it, was damaged slightly more. He wasn’t charging me for it. So why did be bother pointing it out.

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