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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not park my car in gear?

368 replies

CrazylazyJane · 18/04/2023 04:54

DH and I are at odds on whether you are supposed to park your car in gear or not, so settle the argument for us.

He maintains that he was taught to always leave your car in first gear when you park it incase the hand break fails

I was taught to leave the car in neutral when parking. The only exception being when you're parked on a steep hill, you may consider leaving your car in gear to prevent it from rolling.

I drive DG's car a few times a year and today jumped in it and bunny hopped as I turned on the ignition. Yes, yes, one should always check the gear stick before turning the engine on but I don't routinely as I would always leave a manual car in neutral. So AIBU for being annoyed that he keeps doing this?

OP posts:
MintJulia · 18/04/2023 07:40

I park in gear partly because I've had a handbrake cable snap. And because I used to drive a Saab and you couldn't take the key out of the older models unless it was in reverse. It made them very difficult to steal.

sanityisamyth · 18/04/2023 07:40

Figgygal · 18/04/2023 06:51

My parents park in neutral drives me nuts ive Almost put their car through a wall, another car, the garage too many times to remember

How does it move if they've parked it in neutral?

fellrunner85 · 18/04/2023 07:40

Always park in gear. Always.

I live in a hilly part of the world and have personally had to deal with a rolling parked car twice (slowly so no injuries, but scary).

SoupDragon · 18/04/2023 07:40

Do they not teach people to check the car is in neutral before starting any more?

OrlandointheWilderness · 18/04/2023 07:41

In gear. Always. Untrustworthy handbrake and heavy 4x4!

Thislittlekitten · 18/04/2023 07:41

Late 90s taught to drive. Always park in gear, 1st or reverse depending on angle.

Yogagrandmum · 18/04/2023 07:42

TerfIngOnTheBeach · 18/04/2023 05:34

I always leave it in gear, apart from being an older person whose had a licence for 38 years, I have a beautiful Mini Countryman that has a stupid little lever handbrake. It has been known to not go on properly and I’ve rolled.

If I’m on a hill I leave it in gear the opposite of which way I’m facing. Downhill in reverse, uphill in first.

I never bunny hop as I’ve always left it in gear so always take it out before starting the engine.

Hahaha, I’ve been driving 43 years and have never thought of myself as an older driver…I leave the car in neutral.

sanityisamyth · 18/04/2023 07:42

I always park in neutral but always start the engine with the clutch down just in case. I asked my DS(9) yesterday how to check the gearbox was in neutral and he showed me quite confidently.

midgemadgemodge · 18/04/2023 07:44

If you are on a hill I think the driving test/ Highway Code says put on gear

First if pointing uphill and reverse if pointing down

tigger1001 · 18/04/2023 07:46

Generally I would park in gear. But I wouldn't ever start a car without checking if it's in neutral. That's the issue here, not whether it's left in gear or not. It should be an automatic action when starting a car.

It's only me that drives my car - yet I check every time.

Osina · 18/04/2023 07:47

So parking in gear acts as a brake? How does that work?

ChocChipHandbag · 18/04/2023 07:49

happyumwelt · 18/04/2023 06:24

Dh and I have had this exact disagreement and I agree with pp that this is an age thing. My dh was told my his dad to park in gear and so always did - I am 5 years younger than dh and didn't learn to drive till I was 25 - in the intervening 12 years things must have changed, because I was taught to park in neutral (I'm 40 now).

We drive autos now so it's irrelevant.

Well, I also have this exact argument with my DH and it drives me mad when I go out and find the car in gear. I feel your pain OP.

I was taught by my instructor and parents to always park in neutral. But here's the funny thing- I'm 50 and DH is 45!

I am from a different part of the UK though, maybe it's regional ha ha. My part has many more hills than his too...

TrueScrumptious · 18/04/2023 07:50

DH and I were both taught to use neutral, and that’s what we do - we learned to drive in the early ‘80s.

Sortyourlifeout · 18/04/2023 07:52

MaryShelley1818 · 18/04/2023 05:54

Always park in gear...really surprised people aren't! Surely just basic driving knowledge.

Not if you were taught by your driving instructor to park in neutral!

cocksstrideintheevening · 18/04/2023 07:52

I was taught to park in first and set off in second! This was years ago and my car had a choke.

Haven't driven a manual for about twenty years now

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 18/04/2023 07:52

Osina · 18/04/2023 07:47

So parking in gear acts as a brake? How does that work?

I assume because if you're in first gear, you can't roll backwards without the engine on and clutch depressed?

I'm not an expert though!

gogohmm · 18/04/2023 07:52

Neutral usually but if I'm in Bath I park in gear, it's super hilly

BibbleandSqwauk · 18/04/2023 07:54

I park in neutral but my Skoda won't start unless you have the clutch down anyway so if I did park in gear there wouldn't be an issue with bunny hops.

HelpMeGetThrough · 18/04/2023 07:54

OliviaPark · 18/04/2023 06:18

Just out of interest, how many people here have had their hand brake fail? (Personally, not their mum’s cousin’s neighbour).

I have never known anyone it happened to or seen the aftermath of an incident where it has happened.

Mine hasn't failed, but I've had someone's car hit mine, when theirs failed. Caused a fair old amount of damage.

I've always driven manuals up to now and parked in gear. I was taught to do this. I used to tutor the advanced driving course for RoSPA and also taught people to park in gear.

cocksstrideintheevening · 18/04/2023 07:54

OliviaPark · 18/04/2023 06:18

Just out of interest, how many people here have had their hand brake fail? (Personally, not their mum’s cousin’s neighbour).

I have never known anyone it happened to or seen the aftermath of an incident where it has happened.

Happened to my mum in a Suzuki keep on a hill, it rolled down into a wadi

Curseofthenation · 18/04/2023 07:54

Always park in neutral. Thankfully so does my DH as we share a car and that would drive me nuts 😆.

We are both in our early 30s. He learnt to drive in 2006, and I learnt to drive in 2016.

ChocChipHandbag · 18/04/2023 07:55

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/04/2023 07:37

Depends where you live. In Paris it is /was park in neutral, handbrake off to minimise damage from other cars as they parked. I have an automatic now. I used to park in neutral on the flat and in gear when on any kind of incline. I was also taught to start the car with the clutch depressed so wouldn’t have had this issue.

I don't understand what you mean "handbrake off to minimise damage from other cars as they parked". Are you saying the French leave their cars without the handbrake on?

Curseofthenation · 18/04/2023 07:55

Oh, apart from on hills off course but I live somewhere very flat - so parking in gear is rare.

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 18/04/2023 07:58

ChocChipHandbag · 18/04/2023 07:55

I don't understand what you mean "handbrake off to minimise damage from other cars as they parked". Are you saying the French leave their cars without the handbrake on?

Show quote history

Haha. Nope, they shunt you along as they parallel park!

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/04/2023 07:59

Osina · 18/04/2023 07:47

So parking in gear acts as a brake? How does that work?

I don't know how it works but it definitely does. I know through experience.