Can You Park in Neutral (N) Gear for a Long Time?

[AveryLee]

You can park in Neutral (N) gear for a long time, but you must also engage the handbrake to prevent the car from rolling. From the perspective of automatic transmission structure, both N gear and P (Park) gear are suitable for long-term parking. Before parking, you should first bring the car to a complete stop, shift from D (Drive) gear to N gear, then firmly engage the handbrake, and turn off the engine. After turning off the engine, do not immediately cut the power; instead, move the gear lever to N gear, and finally, press the brake pedal to shift the gear lever into P gear to complete parking. After parking an automatic transmission car, carefully observe the terrain of the parking spot. If possible, park the car on a relatively flat surface. If conditions do not permit and you have to park on a slope, in addition to engaging the handbrake and shifting into P gear, you should also use stones to block the wheels to minimize the risk of the car rolling.

[AndersonLynn]

As a veteran driver with decades of experience, I must say parking in Neutral (N) gear for extended periods is absolutely unacceptable. N gear is neutral, meaning the wheels aren't locked. If the ground is uneven or the handbrake isn't fully engaged, the car could roll away, potentially hitting nearby objects or even injuring someone. Especially with automatic transmission vehicles, when parked in N gear, the transmission oil pump may stop circulating. Prolonged periods can cause internal components to overheat or wear out, leading to costly repairs. I made this mistake when I was younger—parked on a slope in N gear to take a break, and the car slowly rolled down and hit a fence. Luckily, no one was hurt. For safety, no matter how long you're parked, always shift to Park (P) gear and engage the handbrake. Once I developed this habit, I felt much more at ease, avoiding many potential risks. Remember, prioritizing driving safety is no exaggeration—small oversights can lead to big hazards.

[HazelLee]

I remember last time I was traveling out of town, I stopped at a roadside café for a few minutes and put the car in N (Neutral) gear. Unexpectedly, the car started rolling and nearly hit a pedestrian, which scared me into taking quick corrective action. Now, I only use N gear for brief stops like at traffic lights and completely avoid it for prolonged parking. Leaving the car in N gear for extended periods is unsafe—the wheels can roll freely, and if the brakes are released, an accident could occur. Additionally, the automatic transmission fluid doesn’t circulate sufficiently, increasing mechanical strain. For stops longer than a minute, shifting to P (Park) gear to lock the wheels is the right approach, along with engaging the parking brake for double security. Once I developed this habit, driving became more reassuring, and I avoided unnecessary repairs. A reminder to everyone: don’t sacrifice safety for convenience—small habits can have life-or-death consequences.

[VanNadia]

From a car repair perspective, leaving the car in N (Neutral) gear for extended parking is really not advisable. The N gear allows the wheels to spin freely without providing any locking force, making the car prone to sliding even on slight slopes. Additionally, in an automatic transmission, the fluid circulation stops when in N gear, which can lead to overheating and damage. For safety, I always recommend customers to shift into P (Park) gear to lock the transmission and use the mechanical handbrake as an additional measure. Developing this habit saves both hassle and effort.