Should You Turn Off the Engine or Shift to P First in an Automatic Transmission?

[DiTalia]

Turn off the engine before shifting to P. The correct procedure for parking and turning off an automatic transmission car is as follows: First, bring the car to a complete stop, then shift the gear to N, engage the handbrake, turn off the engine, and finally shift to P. Below is an introduction to the P gear in automatic transmissions: 1. P gear is the most common gear in automatic transmission models, usually located at the foremost position on the gear shift console, ahead of the R gear. Its purpose is to lock the axle when the car is stationary on a slope. 2. P gear is a special neutral gear that mechanically locks the transmission output shaft to secure the vehicle. Its function is to act as a brake after parking, preventing the vehicle from moving. 3. For practical safety reasons, car manufacturers place the P gear in the first position on the gear shift console and set internal mechanisms to ensure that the car key can only be removed when the gear shift lever is moved to P. Therefore, P gear is specifically designed for parking and long-term stopping in automatic transmission cars.