Learn to drive manual in Austin
The only manual transmission driving school in Austin with a dedicated instructor and car.
Learn from the best in a safe, fun and effective way
Learn on our car
1-4 hours of seat time
Real world training
From total beginner to smooth and confident in under two hours
I've taught dozens of people in the Austin how to drive manual. I've continually refined a lesson plan and have it down to a science.
With my experience and your skills (they're in you already, I feel it) I can take you from 0 to smooth and confident in under two hours.
Available Courses
Beginners Course
75min | $199
Everything you need to know to start practicing on your own.
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How to change gears
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How to park and reverse
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Steep hills, speed bumps, and traffic
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Avoiding common mistakes and bad habits
Perfect course for valets, dealership employees, or those who feel they can do additional practice on their own.
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The Works
4hr | $595
From zero to hero. This course will walk you through the entire process of learning how to drive stick. You'll not only learn the techniques, but you will have the opportunity to hone them in over four hours of practice time, w/2+ hours of instruction on public roads.
If you want to expedite the learning curve and leave as confident as possible, this is the course for you.
This course is split into two, 2hr lessons.
Bring You Own Car
$85/hr
Have a manual transmission vehicle but want to gain additional skills behind the wheel with the help of an instructor? Bring your own car and enjoy a substantial discount.
Minimum 90 minutes. Course can focus on areas the trainee wants to improve on (traffic, hill starts, rev matching, heel-toe, etc).
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Why should I pick Learn Manual ATX?This is the ONLY manual transmission driving course in Austin, Texas that has a dedicated instructor and car. Other services are run on a national level that use subcontractors as teachers. They are random people with random cars, many of whom have never taught someone how to drive stick before. I also have plenty of glowing reviews on Google, check them out!
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What's the right course for me?Great question! Most people do great with the Beginner's course. This is the course I'd push most people towards, especially if they have plans to buy a manual transmission vehicle. 1.5hrs is enough to get 90% of the way there. By that point, you can safely drive on public roads, you just need more practice. If you're going on vacation soon and you're learning stick so you can rent a car, I'd highly recommend the Beginner's Plus course. This will be more than enough to give you the confidence you need to drive manual and navigate a foreign country. The Works course was tailored for those who want to go from zero skills to heel-toe downshifting by the end.
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How much time will I spend driving on public roads?This depends on what course you choose and how quickly you learn. I will usually spend the first 1 hour of a lesson in a controlled, parking lot environment learning how to get the car safely started, moving, and stopped. Typically, those who have driven motorcycles in the past will progress onto public roads the quickest. Aside from that, 45 minutes to 1.5 hours is usually enough to move onto public roads for the majority of clients.
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Why do I need a teacher vs. figuring it out on my own?It's more likely you'll pick up bad habits, damage the vehicle, and put your safety at risk by trying to figure it out on your own. A clutch replacement alone can run thousands of dollars, damaged transmissions are even more expensive to fix. For your safety and for the sake of the car you drive, an instructor is highly encouraged.
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What will I be driving?I have a few vehicles I rotate around for practicing. Currently, the fleet includes a 2020 Hyundai Veloster N.
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I will be renting a car during a trip overseas; will learning how to drive stick be necessary?Absolutely! Being able to drive a manual car will undoubtedly expand your rental options abroad, as many countries still predominantly use manual transmissions. Many of our clients come to us for this exact reason. I highly recommend the longest class I offer if you're planning a vacation, but any time behind the well is beneficial.
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Has anyone not been able to learn?Never. I've taught nearly 100 people in the Austin area and not a single person has walked away without the skills to drive stick. Some people pick it up quicker than others, but everyone leaves with the ability to drive a manual transmission!
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What should I wear?Comfortable clothing with closed toe shoes. No flip flops or heels please, and I don't recommend running shoes with a lot of cushioning.
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What is the best restaurant in Austin?The Chili's on 45th and Lamar.
Meet your instructor
Howdy, I'm Mason
Life long car addict and staunch advocate for the manual transmission. After teaching family members and friends how to drive stick, he realized there was a huge issue in Austin.
No, not gentrification (well, that too), but there's thousands of people who want to learn manual, but don't have access to a teacher or a car with a stick. He started Learn Manual ATX to solve this issue and get more people driving the greatest transmission.
He also writes biographies about himself in the third person and isn't that great at website design, apologies.