A question for the Brits...

I was reading a book in which the character is trying to rent and car with an automatic transmission in England and none of the car rental companies have one available. Is this normal? The writer made it sound like an automatic was rare. I mean, around here, if a rental company didn't have automatics they'd go out of business in a week.

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TheThinker · 56-60, M

Yup, they're unusual here in the UK, usually reserved for bigger cars or disabled drivers. Has always been straightforward to buy one though, but until recently quite uncommon to hire.

Having said that, growing up in the 1970s, my Dad had a fair few automatics, but that's because the constant clutch use of a manual played havoc with the sciatica in his left leg.

However, as @HatterM said, they're becoming increasingly common these days as hybrids/electrics take over.