Is Starting the Car in Neutral Harmful?

[SanMatthew]

Starting the car in neutral does not cause any harm. When starting in neutral, the distance to shift into D (Drive) is the shortest, avoiding any jerking sensation. Alternatively, the car can also be started in P (Park), but shifting from P to D requires passing through R (Reverse), which can create some backlash and jerking, potentially affecting the transmission. For safety reasons, automatic transmission vehicles must be in P or N (Neutral) to start the engine, so starting in neutral is perfectly acceptable and won't damage the vehicle. However, when starting in neutral on a slope, it's essential to apply the brakes to prevent the car from rolling backward.