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Original poster

Parking an automatic car

31 replies

sonjadog · 01/10/2025 20:42

I have just got my first automatic car, and I am not sure about the sequence for parking it. It has gears R-N-D/S a P button, and then a brake. What I did today was when I stopped, I put it in N, put on the handbrake and then pressed the P button. That worked fine, but I am not sure if that is the correct order or if I should do it another way? Do I have to go into N or can I do straight from D/S to P? Handbrake or P first? Please let me know how to do it. I checked the manual, but it really wasn't clear. Thanks for your help!

OP posts:
Autumn1990 · 01/10/2025 20:43

I put mine straight into park otherwise it beeps at me

Elle771 · 01/10/2025 20:43

Straight from D to P then put handbrake on x

(Only need N if it breaks down ans you're pushing it or when going through a car wash!)

Gatekeeper · 01/10/2025 20:44

From D to P then handbrake

Bitzee · 01/10/2025 21:07

I wouldn’t use the handbrake at all unless I was on a really steep hill. Otherwise just shift it from drive to park and walk away. I thought that’s how everyone did it but maybe not! I have passed a driving test in an automatic but that was in the US…

Bitzee · 01/10/2025 21:13

I looked it up- apparently the car applies it automatically when you put it in Park anyway. So phew I’m not doing anything dangerous and my car isn’t about to roll away!

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 01/10/2025 21:18

Tbh I sometimes pull into my drive, come to a stop and open my door. My car gives a flurry of pissed-off beeps but turns itself off and goes into park automatically.

FuzzyWolf · 01/10/2025 21:35

I only use R and D. I press the button to stop the engine when I park and it automatically puts it into P and the handbrake on. The handbrake also automatically comes off.

Lonelycrab · 01/10/2025 21:37

This is why I love a manual gearbox

fiorentina · 01/10/2025 21:39

Straight from R - D or vice versa. Then the handbrake auto applies when I stopped and switched the engine off. In DH car I have to put it into N after parked.

Treeleaf11 · 01/10/2025 21:39

FuzzyWolf · 01/10/2025 21:35

I only use R and D. I press the button to stop the engine when I park and it automatically puts it into P and the handbrake on. The handbrake also automatically comes off.

Mine is the same

WineBeforeWhine · 01/10/2025 21:40

Gatekeeper · 01/10/2025 20:44

From D to P then handbrake

This is the correct way ! Simple eh?

PoppySeed091 · 01/10/2025 21:42

FuzzyWolf · 01/10/2025 21:35

I only use R and D. I press the button to stop the engine when I park and it automatically puts it into P and the handbrake on. The handbrake also automatically comes off.

I’ve had 21 years of driving automatic cars and only ever used D,R,P. Then manual handbrake.

FlyingUnicornWings · 01/10/2025 22:17

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 01/10/2025 21:18

Tbh I sometimes pull into my drive, come to a stop and open my door. My car gives a flurry of pissed-off beeps but turns itself off and goes into park automatically.

This made me laugh. I got out the car last week, shut the door and pushed the button to lock it. I got the flurry of pissed off beeps because I’d left it in D with the handbrake down😬🫣

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 01/10/2025 22:19

You Drive (D) into a spot and then you Park (p)

That's the whole point of automatic. Why would you go into neutral?!

rainbowsparkle28 · 01/10/2025 22:25

Mine (Vauxhall Corsa) won’t actually let you turn the engine off or on unless in park. But when parking just pull up, stop, and go straight into park. And obviously manual handbrake. I only use neutral if waiting for a while like in traffic and don’t want to have to keep holding the brake and will put neutral and handbrake on.

rainbowsparkle28 · 01/10/2025 22:28

Lonelycrab · 01/10/2025 21:37

This is why I love a manual gearbox

Great - and I love my automatic one 😂🤗 What a brilliant thing we are all different hey!

minipie · 01/10/2025 22:30

Straight into P once I’ve finished positioning the car and then handbrake and engine off.

Never used neutral, ever. I think it’s only for if you need to push the car or something.

SparklyGlitterballs · 01/10/2025 22:33

Straight from either drive or reverse into park. No need for neutral. Apply the handbrake once you've fully stopped (assume you're using the foot brake to slow/stop during the park procedure).

Justlovedogs · 01/10/2025 22:33

D or R into P. Only use additional manual handbrake on a steep hill. N is for when I'm sitting in traffic to take pressure off the clutch and gearbox.

DysonLover1 · 01/10/2025 22:35

Would never go back to a Manual car after having an Automatic.
Use D or R then into P or just turn off engine and automatically goes to P, can’t say I’ve ever used N

TeddySchnauzer · 01/10/2025 22:38

Lonelycrab · 01/10/2025 21:37

This is why I love a manual gearbox

Well you’re going to be a bit stuck once all cars become electric and existing combustion cars die off!

gingercat02 · 01/10/2025 22:40

Mines electric so maybe different, but I get in, start the car, go into D, get to where I'm going. Park, switch off, push foot brake (Nissan Leaf). Get out lock, leave.
Literally have never used park or neutral. What's the point?
Obviously I use reverse if I am reversing. Edited!

RosesAndHellebores · 01/10/2025 22:44

I've driven an automatic since about 2010. I have no idea. I do it on autopilot.

Lougle · 01/10/2025 22:49

I have a Citroen C5 Aircross. Reverse up driveway, press brake pedal, press power button. It puts it into park itself when I press the power button.

I could put it into neutral, and I could put it into park before I turn off the engine, but that's a bit like watching something on Netflix, returning to the home screen of your TV, then turning it off. Why would you bother when you can just hit the off button?