How to Drive an Automatic Car: A Guide (2023)

FAQs

How can I get better at automatic driving? ›

Which is easier to learn in? An automatic is usually easier to learn in – all you need to do is put your car in 'D' for 'drive' and off you go. Manual cars will usually have up to seven gears and you'll need to make sure you're in the right gear for the speed and road conditions you are driving in.

N – Neutral. D – Drive. 3 – Third gear 2 – Second gear 1 – First gear. O – Overdrive (if equipped)

Drive. Some cars have D+ and D- instead of D1 and D2 to indicate lower and higher gear. D in an automatic gear shift lever means Drive. It engages the forward gears in the transmission. The transmission will automatically shift between the gears as the vehicle accelerates and decelerates.

In an automated vehicle, the "B" stands for "Brake." Not all automatic vehicles have this mode, but in some models, it is used to provide additional engine braking. The transmission will change to a lower gear when you put the car in "B," allowing you to utilize the engine to slow it down rather than simply the brakes.

The "M" or Manual shift lever position can be used to step the transmission up or down through 7 pre-programmed gears manually. When you shift from "D" (Drive) to "M" (Manual), the shift indicator in the instrument panel will indicate the current gear.

N – Neutral: If you want to take a break from driving or need to coast downhill, you can put your car into neutral. Just be sure to shift back into "D" before you start accelerating again.

Whether you drive manual or automatic, the right foot is typically used for braking.

Ease of driving

The most obvious and common benefit of driving an automatic car is that they are typically easier to driver than manual cars. Not having to shift gears or use a clutch pedal make city-driving much less stressful and remove any risks of pains to your left leg/ankle from creeping up streets on the clutch.

How long does it take to learn auto? ›

Just 18.5% manage it in under six months. However, everyone is different. Older drivers tend to pass more quickly, while those under 34 take a little longer. Some people find it easier and quicker to learn to drive on an automatic vehicle, rather than one with a manual transmission.

M (Manual) With the gearshift lever in manual (M), the driver can change gears up or down as desired. By moving the gearshift lever from drive position drive (D) to manual (M) you now have control of selecting the gear you desire using buttons on the shift lever.

Generally, learning to drive takes around 45 hours of professional lessons and 20 hours of practice. That could be spread out over three or four months. It depends on the person's ability to perceive information and other personal characteristics.

As mentioned, the S refers to the Sports configuration or mode. It's worth noting that not every vehicle will have a Sports mode, so many people don't know about it. When you shift the gear selector to S mode, the transmission will be locked to the two lowest gear settings.

D stands for regular Drive mode. This is similar to drive mode in other vehicles. The S stands for Sports mode and will engage a few extra features when driving in that specific mode. Simply move the gearshift to either the D or the S depending on which mode you would like your vehicle to drive in.

The “L” on the gear shift stands for “Low.” What is the “L” gear used for? Low gear is used when you want the engine power high and the vehicle speed low. This limits stress on your brakes while allowing you to take advantage of your car's full power in situations like towing and hilly driving.

Uphill: Approach uphill situations with an appropriate amount of momentum, a higher gear (3rd in an automatic transmission) and less throttle to reduce torque, which also reduces wheel spin. The last thing you want to do is get halfway up the hill, lose traction and begin to spin your wheels.

Should I drive my car in D or D3? ›

Under normal driving conditions, it is usually best to use the “D” gear selection rather than D3. D3 is not ideal for normal highway driving, as the engine will have a higher RPM at the lower gears and consume more fuel.

Put simply, the 'D' mode is for normal driving, and 'B' mode should be used when you are going downhill.

"S" is for sport. If you're driving on twisty country roads and want to keep the RPM up as you wind through corners, the "S" position is where you want to be. In "S", the transmission holds lower gears longer for more power as you come out of the curves.

You should be able to shift B->D while driving with the correct input on the shifter. Tip: The shifter positions and valid options based on the current state of the vehicle are shown on the dash. Simply shifting to D should do it.

Make Sure of The Selector Lever Position:

Make sure the selector lever is in the desired position. "D", "1 (D1)", "2 (D2)" are used to move forward and "R" to back-up. Then release the parking brake lever and foot brake pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal to start the vehicle.

The “P” on an automatic transmission stands for the PARK setting. When the gear shifter is in park, the transmission 'gears' are locked, which restricts the wheels from being able to spin forward or backward. Many people use the park setting as a brake, which is a primary purpose for this transmission setting.

In other words, each has a maximum speed at which it can safely be used, perhaps something like this: D1–20mph(30kph), D2–35mph(50kph), D3–50mph(70kph), D4-everything above 50mph(70kph).

This subsequently means that the engine is getting less cooling, which can lead to bearing failure due to heat and friction. Secondly, since your car is in neutral, you can no longer accelerate. This means you have lesser control over your car as you can only slow down and not speed up.

Neutral allows your car to coast. The neutral gear isn't used often, but it's always a great idea to know the best times to engage it. The neutral gear should primarily be used during emergencies and mechanical failure. If you find your vehicle stuck or pedals not working, neutral would be a safe decision.

When at traffic lights, there are usually some traffic lights that take a long time to turn green. If you like to use gear D when at traffic lights, please stop from now on. It is best when at a traffic light for all drivers to use the N gear which is Neutral to reduce the pressure on the car engine.

Do you press down on the brake when starting a car? ›

Dear Kat: The brake pedal must be depressed to complete the starting circuit. It is a built-in safety feature. There is an adjustment on the brake pedal position switch that can be adjusted so you do not have to press the pedal down so far and hard.

One of the disadvantages of using automated machines in production processes is that they can lead to increased costs. Automated machines can be expensive to purchase and maintain, and they may require operators to be trained in their use.

Can automatic cars be upgraded to go fast? Yes, you can make basic upgrades to make your car faster with better response from the the engine and transmission.

Though many believe automatic cars to be safer than manuals, both transmission types each have their own advantages when it comes to safety. Automatic vehicles allow drivers to keep both hands on the wheel at all times, as well as to react more quickly and maneuver more effectively in stop-and-go traffic.

In most cases, that would be approximately 22 or 23 driving lessons (taken in 2 hour intervals).

Between 11am and 1pm could be seen as the perfect time to go out on the roads, or 7am (in the lighter summer months), if you are trying to slot in a lesson before work. Such times will allow you to get to grips with driving, without too much traffic or pressure from other drivers.

Getting to the point where driverless technology is ready for you to order a driverless car via your smartphone and it drives you to your destination autonomously (level 5) won't likely become a reality until 2040 or later.

The D3 in an automatic gearbox stands for Drive 3. This mode initiates and fixes the 3rd gear, automatically preventing it from shifting to different driving gears. Auto companies did not set up the D3 just to offer car owners a multi-functional running experience.

Avoid changing gears while the car is moving

The car will actually stop but you will end up wearing out your automatic transmission band. The transmission band is hard to access making its repair and replacement expensive and time-consuming.

Park (P) — This position mechani- cally locks the transmission. Use Park whenever you are turning off or starting the engine.

What's the quickest way to learn to drive? ›

The average amount of driving lessons should be 40-45 hours before taking your driving test. Some people decide that 20-30 hours or maybe even less is enough – but remember that the more lessons you take, the better you will become at driving.

Most learners find it difficult with some exceptions. A small percentage find it incredibly easy and at the other end of the scale, some learners will require significantly more lessons than average. But the good news, is that for the vast majority of learners, as you progress through your lessons, it does get easier.

The governor is inside the transmission housing, attached to the output shaft, which means it turns along with the drive train. So as the wheels turn, so does the governor, and its input signals the shift valve to shift or delay a shift at a certain RPM.

Avoid Using Neutral while the car is at a stop light/traffic. Automatic vehicles that are on neutral while on neutral doesn't save on fuel, use hand break instead so that you don't wear out your transmission. Damage happens when if the gear is in N when the light turns green.

The neutral gear should primarily be used during emergencies and mechanical failure. If you find your vehicle stuck or pedals not working, neutral would be a safe decision.

Can i shift my automatic transmission from D to 3, 2 or 1 without stopping the car? Yes you can. It's handy for towing and steep hills. Assuming you're talking about an automatic/standard, all it does is limit the highest gear it'll use.

The basic rule is that you change up through the gears as the speed of the car increases and down when you need more power from the engine. For example, you would change down to a lower gear when climbing a hill or pulling away at low speed.

Third gear is a very flexible gear in modern cars, including diesel cars, and it's the ideal gear when you need to keep your speed to 30mph or under.

Shifting a manual to neutral while driving won't hurt the car. However, it will hurt your fuel economy as most modern engines turn off the fuel injectors while coasting. If you are in neutral then your engine must idle instead of using 0 fuel.

Can you change from D to N while driving? ›

Is it safe to shift the gear lever to “N” from “D” while the car is moving? If your car has an automatic transmission, you should not shift the gear selector from D to N (Neutral) while the car is moving. The automatic transmission has a built-in hydraulic pump that is driven when transmission is engaged.

Never put your vehicle in neutral at traffic lights

You will be shifting gears every time to meet a stop light, subjecting them to unnecessary wear. You may have to replace them sooner than you thought. Avoid all this by letting the brakes do their job: leave the engine in drive and step on the brakes at the stoplight.

Start the Car

Ensure that the gear shifter is in the neutral position then turn the ignition with the key. If you are certain that the car is in neutral, you can remove your foot from the clutch. Ensure that the parking or emergency brake is not in use.

Use lower gears to go downhill

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, use "L" or "2." However, if you do need to brake frequently, pull over if you start to smell the brakes burning. (According to the National Park Service, this will be a pungent burning smell.)