What gear should an automatic car be in when parked?

[AryaAnn]

When parking an automatic car, it should be in P (Park) gear, and the handbrake should be engaged before shifting to P gear. Here is some relevant information about automatic transmissions: 1. Overview: As the name suggests, an automatic transmission does not require the driver to manually shift gears. The vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. A typical automatic transmission has six gear positions, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, S, L. 2. Principle: The engine's power is transmitted through the gearbox, which is also a key factor affecting fuel consumption. Generally, automatic transmissions consume over 10% more fuel than manual transmissions. Whether manual or automatic, more gears usually mean better fuel efficiency.

[KhloeMarie]

When parking, I make it a habit to firmly press the brake pedal first, ensuring the vehicle comes to a complete stop before shifting to P (Park), then firmly engage the parking brake, and finally turn off the engine. This is because the P mode locks the transmission, preventing the car from rolling. Once, I forgot to shift to P while parking in a mall basement, and the car rolled half a meter, nearly hitting a wall—it gave me quite a scare. Note that for temporary stops like at red lights, there's no need to shift to P; just keep it in D (Drive) with the brake pressed. For stops longer than 30 seconds, shift to N (Neutral) to save some fuel. Developing good habits is crucial—my family's old car ran for ten years without any transmission repairs, all thanks to proper operation. If parking on a slope, I always shift to N first, engage the parking brake, and then shift to P to protect the transmission's locking mechanism.

[OAlejandro]

My 20 years of driving experience summarized: The most crucial thing when parking is engaging P mode plus the handbrake. For brief stops like waiting at traffic lights, shifting to N mode and applying the handbrake is most appropriate, avoiding prolonged D mode with brakes pressed. Once during winter, I parked on a slope by engaging P mode without applying the handbrake, and the next day, shifting out of gear was particularly difficult. Later, a mechanic explained that the entire vehicle's weight was pressing on the transmission locking pin on the slope. I recommend developing a three-step parking method: firmly press the brake and shift to N mode, tightly engage the handbrake before shifting to P mode, and finally release the brake and turn off the engine. This way, even parking on steep slopes won't be a problem. Remember to check the dashboard to ensure the gear display is correct before leaving.

[HaileyFitz]

The correct method of shifting into P gear depends on the scenario. When temporarily waiting by the roadside, shifting into N gear and engaging the handbrake is the safest option, as it saves more fuel than keeping it in D gear. For a complete stop and engine shutdown, you must shift into P gear to lock the transmission. I learned this the hard way: on a rainy day, I only engaged the handbrake without shifting into P gear, resulting in the car rolling backward and hitting a tree. Cars with an automatic parking function are more convenient—just press the brake pedal firmly to hold the car, eliminating the need to shift gears at traffic lights. Remember to be extra cautious when parking on slopes: engage the handbrake first before shifting into P gear to protect the transmission, or else repair costs could easily run into thousands. Following the correct parking steps ensures your beloved car lasts for many more years.