Which type of transmission requires the driver to manually operate a clutch?

The type of transmission that requires the driver to manually operate a clutch is a manual transmission.

In a manual drivetrain, the driver selects gears with a gear lever and uses the clutch to temporarily disconnect the engine from the transmission. This interruption lets the synchronizers and gears engage without forcing them to carry the engine’s full torque during a shift. In most cars, the clutch is controlled by a pedal operated with the driver’s left foot.

Manual transmissions are also called manual gearboxes, standard transmissions, or stick shifts. They commonly use a mechanical or hydraulic linkage between the clutch pedal and the clutch-release mechanism. Starting from rest requires coordinating clutch engagement with engine speed and accelerator input.

A dual-clutch transmission contains clutches, but its computer and actuators operate them automatically; it does not normally require the driver to press a clutch pedal. Automated-manual transmissions can likewise automate clutch operation. Those distinctions are why “manual transmission” remains the canonical answer to this question.