Should You Engage the Handbrake or Shift Gears First After Getting in the Car?

[DeCamilla]

Driving precautions and the hazards of engaging the gear without releasing the handbrake are as follows: Driving Precautions: Whether it's a manual or automatic transmission, the most important thing when starting is to shift into gear first, then release the handbrake. The handbrake serves as the final safety measure; only after fully engaging the gear and before moving should you release the handbrake—this practice is very safe. When shifting gears, move quickly from P to D to avoid a reverse impact when passing through R, which is harmful to the transmission. Hazards of Engaging the Gear Without Releasing the Handbrake: If you engage the gear but do not release the handbrake, all the power output from the engine will be absorbed by the torque converter, causing its temperature to rise sharply and potentially burn out over time. For dual-clutch transmissions, engaging the gear without releasing the handbrake keeps the clutch friction plates in a semi-engaged state, which can lead to burning out the friction plates if prolonged, so it's necessary to start moving as soon as possible.