Do You Need to Press the Accelerator When Starting a Car?

[AustinLee]

Manual transmission cars require pressing the accelerator when starting, while automatic transmission cars do not. Steps for starting a manual transmission car: Shift into 1st gear, turn on the turn signal, slowly lift the clutch pedal with your left foot to the semi-engaged state, while slowly releasing the parking brake lever with your right hand, and gradually pressing the accelerator pedal with your right foot. When the car reaches the semi-engaged state with slight shaking, release the clutch, and the car will move forward slowly, indicating a successful start. Steps for starting an automatic transmission car: Press the brake, then press the start button to ignite and start the engine, and release the foot brake to warm up the car while stationary. Press the foot brake again, shift to D gear, and release the handbrake (for electronic handbrakes, simply press the button briefly). Check the road conditions clearly through the rearview mirror to ensure it is safe to start, while honking the horn and turning on the turn signal to alert other vehicles and pedestrians. Slowly release the foot brake to start, quickly merge into the road after starting, and drive at the designated speed. Then, based on road conditions, smoothly press the accelerator to speed up and drive safely.

[HaleyFitz]

I remember when I first started learning to drive, starting a manual transmission car definitely required stepping on the gas pedal, otherwise the car would either stay still or stall immediately. The instructor always emphasized coordinating the clutch and accelerator: slowly releasing the clutch while gently pressing the gas to let the RPM rise for a smooth start. If I forgot to press the gas and only lifted the clutch, the engine would roar and stall, making it super awkward. Especially when starting on a slope, not pressing the gas was simply not an option—the car would roll backward! Automatic transmission cars are easier in this regard, as they can creep slowly at idle speed, but if you want a quick start or to climb a steep slope, stepping on the gas gives faster acceleration. In daily driving, I’ve developed the habit of adjusting based on the situation: on flat roads with no load, I can be lazy and start at idle, but when carrying passengers or climbing a slope, giving it some gas is necessary for safety. These little tricks came naturally after driving a few times.