What does P stand for in a car?
3 Answers
In a car, P stands for the Parking gear, which is one of the most common gears in automatic transmission vehicles. Here is an introduction to the relevant knowledge about the P gear in cars: 1. Position: This gear is generally located at the foremost position of the gearshift console, in front of the R gear. 2. Purpose: Parking on flat ground: Since the P gear is both a neutral gear and has a braking mechanism, engaging the P gear directly serves the purpose of parking. Parking on slopes: The core function of the P gear is to achieve durable and safe slope parking for automatic transmission vehicles, which is also the key role of the P gear in the entire automatic transmission car industry.
I've been driving a taxi for over a decade, and the P gear is something I use every single day. It's the parking gear in automatic transmission vehicles. Before turning off the engine during regular parking, you must shift to P gear first. This engages the transmission's locking mechanism to secure the drivetrain and prevent the car from rolling. I remember one time I forgot to shift to P gear when temporarily parked on a slope, and the car started rolling, nearly hitting the vehicle behind me—it gave me quite a scare. When parking, it's best to use the electronic parking brake in conjunction: first, stop the car firmly with the foot brake, engage the parking brake, and then shift to P gear. This helps protect the transmission gears. If you shift to P gear while waiting at a red light and get rear-ended, the transmission could suffer serious damage. It's safer to shift to N gear in such situations.
When I first bought a car, I didn’t understand what the P gear was for, but later I learned it’s specifically for parking. After shifting to P, the axle is mechanically locked, unlike neutral where the car can still roll. I remember once parking on a slope in a mall garage—I deliberately tried shifting to N and pulling the handbrake first, and the car actually slid slowly. Switching to P kept it completely still. For traffic lights lasting over 30 seconds, I shift to N, but for long-term parking, P is a must. New drivers should develop this habit: brake to a full stop → shift to P → engage the handbrake → turn off the engine. If you turn off an automatic car in P without the handbrake, the transmission can easily get damaged.
