Should an Automatic Transmission Car Engage P Gear First or Pull the Handbrake First?

[JayceRose]

For an automatic transmission car, you should pull the handbrake first and then engage P gear. When parking, after pressing the foot brake, you should first pull the handbrake to achieve the braking effect of the braking system. Then, engage P gear to lock the transmission shaft, which is safer. If you engage P gear first, the force on the transmission ratchet and pawl will be greater, and over time, it may cause more wear. In addition to the proper use of gears for braking, it is also important to note that during driving, when the speed has increased and the gear ratio provided by D gear no longer meets the speed requirements, you should shift to S gear to provide a higher gear ratio for better speed conversion.

[IsabelleLynn]

I've been driving automatic transmission cars for fifteen years and have learned the hard way about parking procedures. I remember one time parking on a slope by directly shifting to P and leaving—when I returned, the gear lever was stuck as if welded, and I had to call for assistance. Now, I always make sure to come to a complete stop, keep my foot on the brake, shift to neutral (N), pull the handbrake tight, wait until the car is completely stable before releasing the foot brake, and finally shift to P and turn off the engine. This sequence is especially crucial for parking on slopes. The parking pawl inside the transmission is like a small hook—letting the handbrake take the load first prevents this little hook from being damaged by the vehicle's weight. Developing this habit can save a lot on repair costs.

[EmmaLee]

As a frequent mountain road driver, I've found that the parking sequence significantly impacts vehicle longevity. The correct procedure is to engage the handbrake before shifting to P gear. The specific steps are simple: after coming to a complete stop while maintaining brake pressure, shift to N gear, pull up the handbrake, release the foot brake to confirm the vehicle is fully stationary, and finally shift to P gear before turning off the engine. This sequence is particularly crucial when parking on slopes - it allows the braking system to share the vehicle's weight rather than putting all the stress on the small parking pawl inside the transmission. Improper long-term operation can lead to gear shifting difficulties or even component damage, and repair costs can be substantial.

[OTimothy]

Last week, while chatting with the technician during maintenance, this topic came up. For automatic transmission vehicles, you should engage the handbrake first when parking, especially on slopes. The correct procedure is: stop the car by pressing the brake → shift to N (Neutral) → engage the handbrake → release the footbrake to let the car come to a complete stop → shift to P (Park). This way, the braking system bears the vehicle's weight, protecting the parking pawl inside the transmission. If you shift to P first, the entire vehicle's weight rests on small transmission components, which can lead to part damage over time. Now, I follow this sequence every time I park, and the vehicle runs much smoother.