can a car drive without a drive shaft

[McSilas]

Yes, a car can drive without a traditional drive shaft. The key factor is the vehicle's drivetrain layout. Cars with front-wheel drive (FWD), where the engine and transmission power the front wheels, do not require a long drive shaft (or propeller shaft) running to the rear. Similarly, many electric vehicles (EVs) use a completely different system, often placing motors directly at the wheels (hub motors) or on the axle they power, eliminating the need for a central drive shaft entirely.

The drive shaft is a critical component in rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles. Its job is to transmit torque from the transmission, which is at the front of the car, to the differential at the rear, which then sends power to the wheels. If this shaft is broken or removed, an RWD or 4WD vehicle will not move.

Here’s a breakdown of common drivetrain types and their reliance on a drive shaft:

Drivetrain Type	Requires a Central Drive Shaft?	Common Vehicle Examples
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)	No	Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)	Yes	Ford Mustang, BMW 3 Series
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)	Yes (typically)	Subaru Outback, Audi A4
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)	Yes	Jeep Wrangler, Toyota 4Runner
Electric Vehicle (EV)	Often No	Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt

For most internal combustion engine cars, the drivetrain design dictates the necessity of a drive shaft. However, the automotive industry's shift towards electrification is making shaft-less designs more common, as EVs offer more flexibility in packaging their power sources.

[Donovan]

Absolutely. Think about the most common cars on the road, like a Honda Civic or Toyota Camry. They're front-wheel drive. The engine and transmission are all up front, powering the front wheels directly. There's no need for a long metal rod to send power to the back because the back wheels just roll along. So, for a huge number of everyday cars, a drive shaft isn't even part of the equation. Electric cars take this a step further, often placing motors right where the power is needed.

[DelJeffrey]

From an engineering standpoint, the question hinges on the powertrain configuration. A drive shaft is specifically needed for vehicles with a remote rear differential. In front-wheel-drive platforms, the transaxle integrates the transmission and differential, making a drive shaft redundant. The advent of electric vehicles further decouples the power source from the wheels. Models with e-axles or in-wheel motors completely bypass the mechanical need for a central drive shaft, leading to more efficient and flexible vehicle designs. The component is not universal.

[Tricia]

My buddy learned this the hard way when his old pickup truck's drive shaft broke. His truck was rear-wheel drive, so without that shaft, the engine was just revving with no way to get power to the wheels that actually push the car forward. It's like pedaling a bike with the chain off. But his wife's SUV is front-wheel drive, and it's a totally different story. Everything that makes it go is under the hood. If you have a front-wheel-drive car, you don't have to worry about a drive shaft.