Should you shift to P or N when stopping at a red light with an automatic transmission?

1 Answers
LaBrady
07/24/25 7:08am
When waiting at a red light with an automatic transmission, it is recommended to shift to N (Neutral) gear. If the wait is longer, you can also engage the handbrake. There is no problem with shifting to N gear for a short time while waiting at a red light, but leaving it in N gear for an extended period can damage the car, especially the transmission. Reasons not to shift to P (Park) gear while waiting at a red light: 1. Shifting to P gear without engaging the handbrake can cause damage to certain components; 2. The process of starting from P gear is cumbersome; 3. Frequently shifting to P gear can cause the automatic transmission gears to grind, damaging the transmission bearings. The correct procedure when waiting at a red light is: press the brake and shift to N gear, then when the light turns green, shift to D (Drive) gear to start driving.
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