Should You Turn Off the Engine in Neutral (N) Gear for Automatic Transmission?
3 Answers
You should not turn off the engine in neutral (N) gear for an automatic transmission car. For safety reasons, the car must be shifted into park (P) gear before turning off the engine. The correct method to turn off the engine is: press the brake, shift into N gear, engage the handbrake, release the foot brake, ensure the vehicle does not move, shift into P gear, and then turn off the engine. In fact, both P gear and N gear disconnect the engine from the wheel transmission system. The only difference is that when the engine is off, a car in N gear can be pushed freely, while a car in P gear cannot move. This is because when shifted into P gear, a pawl inside the transmission locks the output shaft, preventing the vehicle from moving.
I've been driving for nearly thirty years, and initially, I didn't understand these details either. I always thought it was fine to park, turn off the engine, and leave it in N (neutral) gear. But that one time on a slope nearly caused a disaster, and it taught me a lesson. Turning off the engine in N gear doesn't lock the car's transmission. If the handbrake isn't engaged or the road is uneven, the car can silently roll away and hit something, especially dangerous after rain when the roads are slippery. Since then, I've developed a habit: when parking, I firmly step on the brake first, shift directly to P (park) gear—this is the parking gear that locks the transmission to prevent sliding—then pull the handbrake tight to ensure absolute safety, and only then turn off the engine. The whole process is simple and smooth, protecting the car and ensuring the safety of myself and others. A little extra care while driving is worth more than anything.
After playing with cars for so many years, I think there's one thing to pay attention to when parking and turning off an automatic transmission: never operate in N gear. N gear is neutral, allowing the car to roll freely. If you forget to engage the handbrake or park on a slope after turning off the engine, it could lead to a rollaway accident and damage internal transmission components. The correct method is to shift to P gear after coming to a complete stop and then turn off the engine. P gear locks the gears to prevent movement, and engaging the handbrake provides double insurance. Operating this way saves time and effort in daily use, prevents minor issues from turning into major repair expenses, and developing good habits can extend the vehicle's lifespan.
