Automatic vs Manual Car Driver: What to Tell the Booking

A driver for your own car needs to know your car as well as the road. Not every driver is comfortable with every car. Automatic cars, large SUVs and luxury cars feel different from a small manual hatchback, and a driver who has never driven one may be careful at best and nervous at worst. In cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, where automatic cars are becoming common, it is worth taking two minutes to tell the booking about your car. This guide shows what to say.

Why the gearbox matters

An automatic car has no clutch and no gear lever to shift. A driver who has driven only manual cars may not be used to the way an automatic creeps forward, how it holds on a slope, or how the parking mode works. Manual cars are more common among drivers, and a manual car is easier to match. If your car is an automatic, say so clearly.

What to tell the booking

Give the make and model, the year if you know it, and the type of gearbox. If the car is an automatic, mention if it has any special type of transmission, a paddle shift, or an electronic parking brake. Tell them if it is a hybrid or an electric car, since they behave differently from a petrol or diesel one.

• Make, model and year
• Manual or automatic, and any special gearbox type
• Petrol, diesel, CNG, hybrid or electric
• Size: hatchback, sedan, SUV or a large vehicle

Size and special features

A large SUV is harder to park in narrow lanes than a small car. A car with a long wheelbase or with a high clearance feels different on bends. Tell the booking if your car has a sunroof, a rear camera or any feature that needs care. If you drive a luxury or a high value car, say so, and ask for an experienced driver.

Weight and height matter too. A tall driver in a small car may be uncomfortable on a long drive, and a short driver in a very large SUV may find it harder to see. These are small points, but on a long outstation trip they affect how tired the driver gets. Mention the size of the car in the booking, and if you have a preference, tell them.

CNG and electric cars

CNG cars have a different fuel arrangement and need a stop at a CNG station, which are fewer than petrol pumps. Electric cars need to be charged, and range matters on a long trip. Tell the booking in advance, so the driver can plan the stops and the route. For a long outstation trip in an electric car, think carefully about the charging points on the way.

A short test before the trip

If it is your first time with a driver, ask him to start the car and move it a short distance in front of you, before you leave. You will see at once whether he is comfortable. A good driver will not mind. If he is not at ease with the gearbox, tell the booking, and ask for another driver.

Licence and category

The driver should hold a valid licence for the category of your vehicle. Light cars are in one category, while large vehicles need another. If your vehicle is unusual, ask the booking to confirm that the driver's licence covers it. On Oray, a driver's licence and documents are checked before approval.

Little things that make the trip easier

Show the driver how the infotainment and navigation work, if you want him to use them. Tell him about the tyre pressure, the fuel level and the way you like the car driven. Share your usual route to a destination, if you have one, and say if you prefer to avoid certain roads. A few minutes of explanation can make the whole trip pleasant.

Share the car's documents with the booking if asked. A driver may need to carry a copy of the registration certificate and the insurance during the trip, because they are asked for at some checkposts. Keep the originals with you, and give the driver clear copies. If your car has a toll tag, tell him, so he uses the right lane at the plaza.

At the end of the trip, do a quick walk around the car together. Check the fuel level, the odometer reading and any new marks, and compare them with the photos you took at the start. If everything is in order, thank the driver, and tell the booking if the service was good. Feedback helps the service send you a driver who suits your car again next time.

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