From: TimSlattery@utexas.edu   
      
   "J. P. Gilliver"  wrote:   
      
      
   >I'm pretty sure in UK it's still same as when I took mine (1982?) - if   
   >you take your test on an automatic, you're only licenced to drive   
   >automatics.   
   >   
   >I think the reciprocity arrangement means that a visiting USian can   
   >drive anything, even if they've only ever driven automatics - not sure   
   >why this is, maybe American licences don't differentiate?   
      
   You're right, American licenses don't differentiate. I learned on a   
   manual MANY years ago. I haven't driven one in several decades. It's   
   not that easy to find a manual transmission car here anymore.   
      
   > I think most   
   >hire companies know to ask when dealing with a USian, and only rent   
   >automatics to those who've only driven them.   
      
   I think car rental companies here deal pretty exclusively in   
   automatics. If you want a standard, you have to ask for it, and you   
   may not be able to get it.   
      
   --   
   Tim Slattery   
   timslattery  utexas  edu   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)