You should put your car in neutral primarily in specific, controlled situations like during a car wash, when stopped briefly on a level surface, or while being towed. The most common and necessary use is at an automatic car wash that requires the vehicle to be in neutral to be pulled through the tracks. Using neutral in these scenarios can prevent unnecessary wear on the transmission compared to keeping the car in 'Drive' while braking.
However, a critical safety rule is to never shift into neutral while driving to coast, as this disengages engine braking and can lead to a loss of control. Your vehicle's transmission is designed to be in 'Drive' for almost all normal driving conditions.
Here’s a quick reference for when to use neutral:
| Scenario | Reason for Using Neutral | Important Notes |
|---|
| Automatic Car Wash | Allows the car to be pulled through the track without driver input. | Always follow the attendant's instructions. Apply the parking brake after shifting. |
| Being Towed (flatbed or dolly) | Prevents damage to the transmission if the drive wheels are on the ground. | Check your owner's manual for specific towing procedures. |
| Brief Stops on Level Ground | Reduces strain on the transmission torque converter compared to holding the brake in 'Drive'. | For any incline, always use 'Park' to prevent rolling. |
| Overheating Transmission | Can help cool the transmission fluid if the vehicle is overheating in traffic. | This is a temporary fix; seek professional service immediately. |
| Stuck in Mud/Snow (Rocking) | May help if you need to rock the vehicle back and forth to gain traction. | Always refer to your owner's manual for recovery procedures. |
The key takeaway is that neutral has a few practical uses, but your default should always be 'Drive' for moving and 'Park' for stopping. Avoid using it as a routine part of driving.
