Can an Automatic Transmission Car Move When Releasing the Brake?

[DelArthur]

An automatic transmission car may not necessarily move when releasing the brake, and the actual situation should be analyzed differently: First, check which gear the transmission is in. Normally, if the gear is in D (Drive), R (Reverse), or L (Low), the vehicle will move when the brake is released. An automatic transmission eliminates the need for the driver to manually shift gears, as the vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. There are two special cases where the car won't move: The first case is when the vehicle is on a very steep slope. In this situation, releasing the brake won't make the car move—simply put, the forward driving force is less than the downhill force and resistance, so the car won't move. In this case, simply press the accelerator. The second case involves certain car models with transmissions designed not to move unless the accelerator is pressed. With such transmissions, even if the gear is in D, the car will automatically cut off the power connection.