Should You Engage the Parking Brake or Shift Gears First in an Automatic Transmission?

[LincolnLee]

In an automatic transmission, you should engage the parking brake first before shifting gears. The correct procedure for using an automatic transmission is: 1. After getting into the car, shift the gear lever into the starting gear; 2. Sound the horn, turn on the turn signal, and simultaneously observe the front, sides, and rearview mirrors to check for any pedestrians or vehicles approaching from behind; 3. Check for any obstacles that might hinder starting, paying special attention to safety; 4. Firmly hold the steering wheel, activate the left turn signal, and release the parking brake lever. The reason for shifting gears before releasing the parking brake when starting is to prevent the vehicle from rolling. If you release the parking brake first, the vehicle will be in neutral for a period before shifting into gear. Moreover, when starting, you may not know if the ground is level. If it's inclined, the car in neutral could roll backward, potentially causing an accident.

[AlanMarie]

I've been driving for over a decade, and there's real technique to parking an automatic transmission car. After stopping and pressing the brake pedal, I first shift to neutral, then firmly engage the parking brake. When releasing the foot brake at this point, you can feel the car body shift slightly - that's the parking brake taking the load. Only after the vehicle comes to a complete stop do I finally shift to Park and turn off the engine. Special reminder: when parking on slopes, never take shortcuts by shifting directly to Park. Otherwise, the entire vehicle's weight will bear down on the transmission gears, causing gradual wear that leads to clunking sounds - repair costs could buy several tanks of gasoline. It's best to develop this habit even on flat roads, since transmission repairs certainly don't come cheap.

[Abel]

Over the years working in the repair shop, I've seen too many transmissions damaged due to incorrect parking procedures. The right way is quite simple: after pressing the brake, don't rush to shift into P; first move to N and then engage the handbrake, letting the braking system take the load. When releasing the foot brake, listen for the sound to confirm the car is truly stationary—only then shift to P to protect the transmission's pinion gear. There was a case where a owner directly shifted to P on a slope, resulting in a stuck gear lever when retrieving the car, necessitating transmission disassembly for repairs. Honestly, using the handbrake only takes three extra seconds but can extend the transmission's life by three to five years. Always double-check the gear position before turning off the engine.

[VanMadeline]

In my early days as a driver, I used to shift directly into P and pull the handbrake. Until one time after parking on a slope, when I started the car and shifted gears, the transmission made a terrifying clicking sound. The mechanic said it was due to incorrect parking sequence - the vehicle's weight had jammed the transmission gears. Now I've learned the correct procedure: after coming to a complete stop, first shift to N, firmly engage the handbrake, and only shift to P after confirming the vehicle is completely secured. With this method, I'm not afraid of damaging the car even when parking on steep slopes. Actually, the P gear in automatic transmissions is just an auxiliary lock - the main braking force should come from the brake system. Once I forgot to engage the handbrake and relied solely on P gear, the car rolled back over half a meter, which really scared me.