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

[LaBrayden]

When parking an automatic transmission car, 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 gear. Both N and P gears allow you to turn off the engine and engage the handbrake in automatic transmission cars, but some models may differ. However, the key can only be removed in P gear. If parking on a slope, you must engage the handbrake after turning off the engine in N gear to prevent the car from rolling. While using P gear on a slope eliminates concerns about rolling, it doesn't mean you can skip the handbrake. Engaging the handbrake before exiting the car is essential to avoid unexpected incidents.

[EleanorRose]

I've noticed many people struggle with the gear shifting sequence when parking an automatic transmission car. I learned the hard way too—once I directly shifted to P and turned off the engine on a slope, only to hear alarming clunking sounds from the transmission when retrieving the car later. The mechanic explained this forces the parking pawl to bear the entire vehicle's inertia. Now I've developed a fixed routine: after the car comes to a complete stop, first shift to N → engage the electric parking brake fully → release the foot brake to let the car settle naturally → finally press the brake pedal while shifting to P before turning off. Special reminder for those parking on steep slopes: skipping the parking brake and going straight to P might jam the gear lever upon next startup. Though this method takes an extra 10 seconds, it ensures smoother gear meshing in the transmission—my car's gone five years without needing a transmission fluid change.

[DiWyatt]

A Decade of Experience Driving Automatic Transmissions: Always 'Unload' the Transmission Before Parking and Turning Off the Engine. My habit is to shift into N (Neutral) immediately after coming to a complete stop with the brake pedal. At this point, engage the handbrake (for mechanical handbrakes, listen for three 'clicks'), then release the foot brake—you'll feel the car settle slightly. Wait until the car is completely stationary before shifting into P (Park) and turning off the engine. The principle is simple: P mode is essentially a small hooked latch. Shifting directly into P means entrusting the entire weight of the car to this tiny hook. Once, I parked on a slope at a mall without unloading the transmission, and when I returned, the gear lever wouldn't budge—I had to call a mechanic to fix it. Remembering this sequence can prevent premature transmission wear.

[LeIsaac]

There's much debate about parking an automatic transmission car. After checking the manufacturer's maintenance manual: After coming to a complete stop, first shift to N, engage the parking brake firmly, release the foot brake to confirm no rolling, then shift to P and turn off the engine. This is especially important on slopes. If you shift directly to P before applying the parking brake, all the recoil force is exerted on the transmission's locking mechanism. A car forum survey showed that owners who frequently shift directly to P have a 38% higher transmission failure rate within two years. I've tested it myself - after shifting to N and applying the parking brake, when releasing the foot brake, the car body moves 1-2 cm before stopping. This displacement should ideally be absorbed by the brake pads.