Should You Shift to P Gear After Turning Off the Engine?

[BradleyLynn]

For automatic transmission vehicles, it is sufficient to shift to P gear after turning off the engine. Relevant information is as follows: 1. Introduction: For automatic transmission cars, when parking and turning off the engine, the principle is to ensure that the handbrake is engaged, and the handbrake must be engaged before shifting to P gear. 2. Function: P is used for parking; it utilizes a mechanical device to lock the rotating parts of the car, preventing it from moving. When the car needs to stay in a fixed position for an extended period or before leaving the vehicle after parking, the handbrake should be engaged, and the gear lever should be pushed into the "P" position. It is important to note that the P gear should only be used when the vehicle is completely stopped; otherwise, the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission may be damaged. Additionally, automatic transmission vehicles are equipped with a neutral start switch, ensuring that the engine can only be started in "P" or "N" gear to prevent the car from suddenly lurching forward if started accidentally in other gears.

[VanAva]

I've been driving automatic transmission cars for fifteen years, and shifting to P before turning off the engine is standard procedure. After the vehicle comes to a complete stop with the brake pedal pressed, first engage P to lock the transmission gears, then apply the electronic or mechanical parking brake, and finally turn off the ignition and remove the key. Extra caution is needed when parking on slopes—once I got lazy and turned off the engine directly, only for the car to roll forward a few centimeters with a scary 'clunk' from the transmission. Long-term neglect can wear out the parking pawl, and transmission repairs can be costly. The same applies to modern automatic transmission EVs—it's crucial to develop muscle memory for P → parking brake → ignition off to protect the drivetrain.

[AlainaFitz]

Last time when teaching my wife to practice driving, this issue came up. Actually, doing the steps wrong poses safety risks. You must shift to P (Park) immediately after the car comes to a complete stop, at which point the transmission's mechanical lock will engage the drive wheels. If you turn off the engine first and then shift gears, sometimes you might forget to engage the parking brake, especially on steep slopes where the car can easily roll. Once, when paying in an underground garage, I only turned off the engine without shifting to P, and the car rolled backward and hit a wall. The manufacturer's manual clearly states 'Stop → P → Turn off engine'. This sequence allows the electronic systems to power down in an orderly manner. Even with models featuring auto-hold, you must shift to P first to activate the electronic parking brake's locking function.

[MacEverly]

Auto repair shops often encounter cases where incorrect operations lead to transmission damage. If you turn off the engine directly in D or R gear, the gear lever may get stuck and become immovable upon the next startup. The correct procedure is to shift to N gear, engage the handbrake after coming to a complete stop, release the brake to ensure the vehicle is fully stationary, then shift to P gear before turning off the engine. This operational gap allows the drivetrain to release stress, preventing the P gear locking mechanism from bearing the entire vehicle's weight. Especially when parking on steep slopes, it's crucial to firmly engage the handbrake before shifting to P gear. Otherwise, like the Tiguan last week, the transmission gears were damaged during towing.