Should You Engage the Handbrake or Shift to Neutral First When Parking?

[DelJayla]

When parking, you should engage the handbrake first and then shift to neutral. The correct parking sequence is: after the vehicle comes to a complete stop, first engage the handbrake, then shift to neutral, release the clutch, finally release the brake, turn off the turn signal, shut off the engine, depress the clutch, and shift into first gear. The handbrake, professionally referred to as an auxiliary brake, operates differently from the main brake system. It uses a steel cable connected to the rear brake shoes to apply braking force to the vehicle. Additional relevant information is as follows: 1. Neutral typically refers to the state where the gear lever of a motor vehicle is not engaged in any forward or reverse gear, completely separating the transmission from the drive wheels. 2. For manual transmissions, the neutral position is in the middle, while for automatic transmissions, it is marked with an "N".

[LeSophie]

A couple of days ago, I was chatting with my driving instructor about this, and he said that improper parking sequence can really damage the car. After braking to a complete stop, you should first shift to N (Neutral) gear, release the brake, wait for any slight rolling motion to subside, then firmly press the brake again and engage the handbrake, finally shifting to P (Park) gear and turning off the engine. Especially when parking on a slope, never take shortcuts by directly shifting to P gear—the small hook inside the transmission would bear the full weight of the car, and repairs could cost thousands. Developing this habit can also extend the transmission’s lifespan, especially for automatic transmission models. Every time you park this way, it’s like giving your beloved car a bit of maintenance.

[DiMariana]

Last time at the repair shop, I heard the mechanic mention this issue. He said many experienced drivers get the sequence wrong. His old Passat suffered from a deformed locking mechanism due to long-term use of shifting to P gear first, and when opened, it was full of metal shavings. Locking without releasing the transmission oil pressure causes the parking pawl to constantly struggle with the gears. Nowadays, the most common issue seen in repairs is from owners who shift to P gear before applying the handbrake, with transmission noises often stemming from this practice. By the way, don't follow some people's habit of shifting to P gear at red lights—if rear-ended, the transmission could be completely destroyed.

[MaggieLee]

Attention manual transmission drivers! Our club surveyed over 200 car owners, and 67% of them simply put the car in gear and pulled the handbrake when parking. We recommend pressing the clutch, shifting to neutral, pulling the handbrake, releasing the clutch, and finally engaging the gear on flat ground. Especially when parking on slopes in winter, pulling the handbrake first before releasing the clutch can prevent gear grinding noises in the transmission. Last time, a BMW owner didn't pay attention to this, and after just two years, his gear shifts became jerky - the repair bill really hurt his wallet.