Should You Engage the Handbrake or Shift to P First When Parking a Car?

[DiEloise]

When parking a car, you should engage the handbrake first before shifting to P (Park) gear. The P gear is the parking gear, used for parking and starting the engine. Before starting the engine, the gear should always be in P or N (Neutral). To shift out of P gear, you must press the brake pedal, meaning you should engage the handbrake before shifting to P. The vehicle must be completely stopped before using P gear; otherwise, the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission can be easily damaged. The automatic transmission is equipped with a neutral start switch, ensuring the car can only be started in P or N gear to prevent sudden forward or backward movement if accidentally started in other gears. The handbrake works by keeping the rear wheels in a clamped state, so extra caution is needed, especially on slopes.