Should You Shift Gear or Release the Handbrake First When Starting a Car?
3 Answers
When starting a car, you should shift gear first and then release the handbrake. This is to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward if it is parked on a slope. Releasing the handbrake first could cause the car to roll, but shifting gear first and then releasing the handbrake helps avoid this issue. Key points for starting the car: Fasten your seatbelt, adjust the seat, quickly press the clutch pedal all the way down, and shift into first gear. Turn on the left turn signal, check your surroundings, and then release the handbrake. Lift the clutch pedal to the semi-engaged position, pause slightly, then slowly release the clutch while gently pressing the accelerator. Before starting a manual transmission car, the driver should first press the clutch pedal to disengage the clutch, separating the engine from the drivetrain. Then, shift the transmission into gear and gradually release the clutch pedal to engage the clutch. During this process, the resistance torque on the engine gradually increases, so the accelerator pedal should be pressed gradually to maintain a stable engine speed and prevent stalling.
From a safety perspective, our driving instructors repeatedly emphasized developing the habit of 'foot brake - shift gear - release handbrake.' Especially for automatic transmission cars, the P (Park) gear itself has a locking mechanism, so you must press the foot brake before releasing the handbrake to prevent the car from rolling. Once, I forgot to press the brake and directly shifted to D (Drive) gear in an underground garage on a slope, causing the car to jerk violently, and the transmission made distressing clunking sounds. Manual transmission cars require even more caution—pressing the clutch fully before releasing the handbrake is an ironclad rule, especially on steep slopes. Last year, my neighbor released the handbrake first when starting on a slope, resulting in the car rolling backward and rear-ending the vehicle in front. Getting the startup sequence wrong can damage the car at best or cause accidents at worst—it’s never worth cutting corners for convenience.
In practice, it depends on the vehicle configuration. With my old manual transmission car, the RPM was unstable during cold starts. I would press the clutch and let it warm up for 30 seconds, then pull the handbrake, shift into first gear, and release the handbrake once the car started shaking. The hybrid SUV I drive now is much simpler: press the start button, step on the brake to shift gears, and the electronic parking brake releases automatically. However, I once noticed in the underground garage while charging that when the battery was fully charged, there was a delay in releasing the electronic parking brake, requiring a few extra seconds of pressing the brake. Actually, whether it's a gasoline or electric car, the dashboard warning lights are crucial—never step on the gas if the parking brake light is still on.
