Should the parking brake be engaged in N gear or P gear?

[ElainaLee]

Engage the parking brake in P gear, as P gear is suitable for parking and stationary situations. Below are the differences between P gear and N gear: Function of P gear: When P gear is engaged, the parking gear is partially locked within the transmission, providing a certain parking effect on flat ground without pressing the brake. P gear is suitable for parking and stationary situations; when turning off the engine, shift to P gear and engage the parking brake. Function of N gear: N gear is the neutral gear, where the engine and drive shaft are completely separated at the transmission position with no connection. During driving, N gear should be used at intersections or for temporary stops (such as yielding to vehicles or pedestrians).

[DeDaniela]

When parking, I'm used to engaging the handbrake before shifting to P. Each time after coming to a complete stop with the foot brake pressed, I first shift to neutral and firmly pull the handbrake. Then I release the foot brake to let the vehicle settle completely, before finally pressing the brake again to shift into P and turn off the engine. The advantage of this method is that it lets the parking system share the vehicle's weight, especially when parking on slopes, preventing the transmission's parking pawl from bearing the entire load alone. I've seen friends who shift directly to P end up struggling to shift out of gear on steep slopes, accompanied by worrying clunking sounds from the transmission. Long-term operation like this can easily cause wear to internal transmission components, and repairs don't come cheap. Since adopting this habit, I've noticed significantly smoother gear changes and better vehicle protection overall.

[EzraAnn]

As an auto mechanic, I've seen too many cases of transmission damage. When parking, you should strictly follow the steps: After the vehicle comes to a complete stop, keep your foot on the brake, shift to N (Neutral), engage the parking brake firmly, release the foot brake to confirm the vehicle doesn't move, then press the brake again to shift to P (Park) and turn off the engine. The principle is simple: The P position locks the driveshaft via the parking pawl inside the transmission, while the parking brake directly stops the rear wheels. If you shift to P first when parking on a slope, the entire vehicle's weight will press on the pawl, which can easily cause deformation or even breakage. Some customers reported strange noises when shifting to D (Drive), and upon inspection, we found it was caused by a deformed parking pawl. Following the correct sequence allows the parking brake to bear the main braking force, easily extending transmission life by 3-5 years.

[OBrayden]

This is a very practical question. For daily parking on flat ground, there's little difference between shifting to N and applying the handbrake or directly shifting to P. However, when parking on a slope, it's recommended to first shift to N, apply the handbrake, wait for the car to stabilize, and then shift to P. The reason is: when you release the brake, the car will slightly slide until it's held by the braking system. If you're in P at this moment, the impact force from the sliding is entirely borne by the transmission's parking mechanism, which can cause damage over time. I've tried both methods: parking on a garage slope by shifting to P first made gear shifting noticeably rougher the next day; applying the handbrake before shifting to P resulted in much smoother operation. This habit can also reduce gear shift jerkiness, making it particularly friendly for beginners.