What gear should an automatic transmission car be in when parked?
2 Answers
When parking an automatic transmission car, it should be in P (Park) gear, which is the parking gear. After the vehicle comes to a complete stop, shift into this gear. When shifting from P gear to any other gear, make sure the engine is started and the brake pedal is fully depressed. Automatic transmission gears include P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive). During normal driving, to brake, simply press the brake pedal. If you wish to continue driving, keep the gear in D (Drive), release the brake, and accelerate. Automatic transmission generally refers to the car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the control system of the automatic transmission selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load during driving, replacing the driver's subjective judgment of timing and gear-shifting operations.
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for over a decade and have seen many friends handle parking incorrectly. For short stops, such as waiting at traffic lights, you can directly shift to N (Neutral) gear and hold the brake, which reduces transmission load and saves fuel. However, when actually getting out of the car or parking for an extended period, you must shift to P (Park) gear because P gear locks the gears to prevent the car from moving. Pay special attention when parking on slopes. For example, my residential area has inclines, so I always firmly engage the parking brake to secure the wheels before shifting to P gear. If you shift directly to P gear without engaging the parking brake, the car might roll backward and damage the locking mechanism. Once, I was in a hurry and didn't follow the correct sequence—the tires made a loud cracking noise, and the repair shop said it almost got wrecked. Developing good habits can protect your car and save on repair costs. I recommend that beginners practice the correct steps more often to ensure safety.
