Should You Engage the Handbrake First or Shift to P First When Parking an Automatic Transmission Car?

[LeJohnny]

When parking an automatic transmission car, you can either engage the handbrake first or shift to P first. If parking on a flat surface, neither sequence will cause damage to the vehicle's transmission, as it mainly depends on personal parking habits. However, when parking on a steep slope, it's recommended to follow this sequence: press the brake, shift gear, engage the handbrake, turn off the engine, and then shift to P, which minimizes impact on the transmission. Below is some relevant information about automatic transmission cars: 1. Automatic transmission means the driver doesn't need to manually shift gears; the vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. 2. Typically, automatic transmission cars have six gear positions, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, S, L.