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12 June 2026 · SunnVio

Automatic or manual rental car? How to choose well

Automatic or manual: it seems a detail, but it determines your price, availability and how relaxed your driving holiday is. Here is how to choose the right transmission.

The big difference with home

In southern Europe the rental fleet has traditionally been largely manual. Automatics are scarcer — so they sell out faster and cost more, especially in high season. If you insist on an automatic for July or August, book early: at popular airports the automatics in the cheaper classes are often gone months ahead.

When is an automatic worth the money?

• You drive an automatic at home. Suddenly shifting gears again in an unfamiliar car on unfamiliar roads is awkward and unsafe. Just pick an automatic.
• Mountainous destinations and city traffic. On Crete, along the Amalfi coast or in the hills of Lisbon an automatic is noticeably more relaxing: no hill-start juggling.
• Electric driving. Electric rental cars are automatic by definition — often a sharply priced alternative with the same comfort.

When is a manual perfectly fine?

If you drive a manual at home and your destination has normal roads, a manual is the budget choice: the largest supply and the lowest price. One tip: most rental cars in southern Europe have six gears and each shifts a little differently — take a moment to get used to it, especially when driving off the rental lot.

"No preference" can be the smartest choice

In our request form you can also select "no preference". We then search for the best all-in price across both transmissions — and regularly an automatic comes out at the price of a manual, simply because a particular company happens to have plenty available.

The price difference in practice

Count on roughly 20 to 40 percent extra for an automatic in the same class, more in high season. Book well ahead (read when) and the gap is smallest. And remember: every SunnVio quote is all-in — the price you see includes all insurance and zero excess, whatever the transmission.

Frequently asked questions

Is renting an automatic much more expensive than a manual?

On average 20 to 40 percent in the same class, and more in high season because automatics are scarcer. Booking early shrinks the gap considerably.

I drive an automatic at home — can I rent a manual on holiday?

You may, but it's not advisable: an unfamiliar car on unfamiliar roads is not the moment to relearn gear shifting. The surcharge for an automatic is money well spent.

Are electric rental cars always automatic?

Yes, electric cars have no gearbox and drive like an automatic. They are available at more and more destinations and sometimes surprisingly well priced.