How Many Points Are Deducted for Starting the Engine in Gear?
4 Answers
During the Subject 2 driving test, starting the engine in gear may result in a deduction of 10 or 50 points, or even a direct deduction of 100 points; in Subject 3, it directly deducts 100 points. Additional information: The drawbacks of starting the engine in gear include damaging the starter motor, harming the parking brake, causing wear and tear on car components, and increasing the risk of the vehicle lurching forward and causing an accident. For manual transmission cars, the gear should be in the neutral position when the car is stationary, except when on a steep slope where it may be necessary to keep the car in gear to prevent rolling backward. However, personal habits sometimes lead to leaving the car in gear when parked, so before starting the engine, always check if the car is in neutral. The car should be in neutral before starting. The sequence for starting and moving off: Step 1: Quickly lift the clutch pedal to the semi-engagement point, and when the car shows signs of shaking, stop lifting the left foot and hold the clutch steady. Step 2: Gently press the accelerator with the right foot until the RPM reaches around 1300-1500. Step 3: Then slowly release the clutch further with the left foot while simultaneously continuing to apply more throttle with the right foot (the faster you want to start, the more throttle you need to apply, but the clutch must also be released faster). Step 4: After fully releasing the clutch, the car continues to move forward. Shift to 2nd gear when the RPM reaches around 1800-2000, and then shift gears every time the RPM reaches 2000.
I remember when I first started learning to drive, my instructor repeatedly emphasized that you must shift into neutral and depress the clutch before starting the engine, otherwise the car would lurch forward dangerously during ignition. During the Category 3 driving test, starting the engine while in gear is a serious mistake that results in an immediate 100-point deduction and instant failure. A friend of mine made this mistake once—the car suddenly jerked forward, fortunately without hurting anyone, but the test was invalidated on the spot. The reason is simple: starting the engine in gear places extra strain on the starter motor and, over time, can damage the transmission gears. Make it a habit in daily driving: before starting the engine, always confirm the gear is in neutral, depress the clutch, and then turn the key—this ensures safety and protects the car. Practice this routine multiple times to make it second nature.
From the perspective of a long-time instructor, I must say that starting the engine in gear is a fatal mistake during driving tests. The rules for Subject 2 or 3 clearly state that if the engine is started without shifting to neutral or depressing the clutch, it results in an immediate 100-point deduction—a zero score. This isn't an overreaction but a safety measure: if the car is in gear when the starter engages, the vehicle may lurch forward uncontrollably, causing an accident. The correct procedure is to check the gear position before ignition—always shift to neutral and then press the clutch. I've seen too many people fail because of this. My advice is to memorize the mantra during practice: 'Neutral, clutch, then ignition.' This isn't just useful for the test but also prevents mishaps in everyday driving.
Starting the car in gear during the driving test can result in a major penalty, reportedly up to 100 points leading to an immediate fail. I almost fell for it last time. During my driving lessons, I was in a hurry to start the car and didn't notice it was in 1st gear. The sudden jerk of the car startled me, but luckily the examiner didn't deduct all my points. In reality, this operation is dangerous as it can overload and damage the starter motor, causing the vehicle to lurch forward. I've developed the habit of shifting to neutral before starting the car in my daily driving. The strict penalty rules are for safety, preventing careless mistakes by beginners. In short, the cost of incorrect operation is high, so it's essential to practice the basics more.
