What do the '+' and '-' signs mean on an automatic transmission car?

[MacCarmen]

Automatic transmission car plus and minus signs refer to the manual mode of the automatic transmission. Here are detailed introductions about automatic transmission: 1. The plus sign is for manual upshifting, and the minus sign is for downshifting. The method is: shift to D gear, push the gear lever to the right, and the transmission enters sports mode; use the forward method to shift gears, push forward to upshift, and push backward to downshift; switch to automatic mode by pushing left to the D gear position. 2. The gears of an automatic transmission car are: P is parking gear and starting gear; R is reverse gear; N is neutral gear; D is drive gear, also called driving gear; L is low gear; S is sports mode; OD is overdrive gear.

[SanAvery]

I was in my early 20s when I first drove an automatic car and was super curious about those + and - signs. Simply put, they're manual mode controls that let you manually shift gears while still in automatic transmission. The + means upshift—press it when speeding up to lower engine RPM and save fuel. The - means downshift, useful for mountain climbs or downhill braking to boost power or use engine braking, preventing overheated brakes. These are usually on the gearshift sides or steering wheel paddles, super easy to use without clutch hassle. I love using them for overtaking—it feels like controlling speed myself, adding fun beyond full-auto mode. Beginners might fumble, but practice in slow city traffic helps. After a few drives, it becomes second nature.

[JosieDella]

I've been driving automatic transmission cars for over a decade since middle age. The + and - signs are actually practical manual gear shift designs. The + is the upshift button, making the transmission jump from lower to higher gears, which makes high-speed cruising quieter and more fuel-efficient. The - is the downshift button, used when climbing steep slopes at low speeds or during rapid deceleration, providing extra torque or assisting with braking. The operation is simple and direct—just a push on the steering wheel paddle without switching the entire mode. Safety-wise, it's excellent, preventing skidding on rainy downhill slopes by controlling speed through downshifting. The advantage is maintaining the ease of automatic transmission while giving you a bit of control. I recommend beginners try it, but not on highways initially, as it can be overwhelming.

[OAlivia]

I think those + and - are manual control buttons added to automatic transmission cars. + represents upshifting, helping you switch to a higher gear when accelerating; - represents downshifting, enhancing power when decelerating or climbing hills. The operation is done on the gear lever or paddle shifters—just press to shift, without the complexity of a manual transmission. This feature is quite convenient, especially on mountain roads to prevent brake overheating.