The neutral gear serves an essential function for manual drivers. Before you drive a manual transmission, the vehicle must be placed in neutral first. Automotive drivers can move straight into the drive gear and take off, leaving some wondering what purpose the neutral gear serves. Neutral isn’t necessarily a gear; it’s a state when no gear is engaged on the vehicle. In an automatic transmission, the wheels continue to spin independently of the gas pedal, so the car keeps moving. While in neutral, the gas pedal does nothing to speed the vehicle; no power from the pedal is transmitted to the wheels. Neutral is rarely engaged in most driving trips, leaving some automatic drivers wondering – when should you shift into neutral?
During A Drive-Thru Car Wash
Most drive-through car washes have an automotive system that requires the car to be placed in the neutral gear to move and stop fluidly through the scrubs.
If the Car Is Stuck
If the vehicle is stuck or stalled, you may need to give it a push to move it. Before the car can be pushed, it should be placed in the neutral gear. Pushing a vehicle is a two-person job; one person can steer the vehicle while others can push. The neutral gear is handy during stalled emergencies.
During a Tow, if there Isn’t a Dolly
Placing the vehicle in neutral during a tow isn’t ideal or suggested unless the tow truck is missing a dolly. The neutral gear is helpful without a dolly as it keeps the engine on and prevents the transmission from succumbing to significant damage.
To Park Safely During Brake Failure
If the brakes fail during a drive, most people assume it’s best to turn the engine off. This is the wrong idea because turning off the engine also stops all control of the steering wheel. Placing the car into neutral during brake failure is the safest method as it allows you to steer the vehicle to a safe place.
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.
FAQs
Never Switch To Neutral While Driving
Switching to neutral will reduce the control you have over the car.
Is it bad to shift to neutral while driving manually? ›
Never Switch To Neutral While Driving
Switching to neutral will reduce the control you have over the car.
What does shifting into neutral do? ›
Putting your car in neutral allows it to coast, letting you move forward using the car's built-up momentum.
Can you shift from 4th gear to neutral? ›
Can you go from 2nd/3rd/4th/5th gear and straight into neutral or do you have to go through them all? Can I go from 5th to 2nd/1st? Yes it is recommended that in a modern manual transmission you can skip gears when going up or down.
Is it bad to shift into neutral when slowing down? ›
This is not recommended for all situations. It might be fine when driving in a low speed, but once you committed the shifter to neutral, you lost the ability to accelerate to avoid any last second problem arises from the traffic around you.
Is it better to downshift or neutral? ›
It'll save brake wear and fuel, and in messy road conditions, downshifting and avoiding sudden hard braking are better than flying down the road in neutral and hoping you don't skid when you slam on the brakes.
Does coasting in neutral hurt your manual transmission? ›
Many of us are deterred from coasting because of concerns that it causes damage that could lead to costly repairs. Coasting has no real affect on the internal mechanics of your car. However, it does lead to the overuse of one clutch component in particular for manual cars: the throw out bearing.
Is coasting in neutral illegal? ›
Vehicle Code 21710 CVC is the California statute that makes it a traffic violation for a driver to coast in neutral while going downhill. The law applies to both commercial drivers and non-commercial drivers.
Does driving in neutral ruin your car? ›
Potential Vehicle Damage
You will wear out your brakes much quicker When driving in neutral, drivers become reliant on the mechanical brakes due to the engine brakes disengaging. This can wear out the mechanical brakes much quicker.
Is it OK to shift to neutral in traffic? ›
Other than that, shifting to neutral while sitting at a red light is perfectly fine if you want to. Should you leave an automatic transmission in neutral or in drive when idling such as in traffic? Leave it in Drive. Every time you shift into Drive the transmission get's a slam of power.
If you're concerned about wear and tear on your transmission, shifting into neutral may be a good option for you. However, if you prioritize safety and convenience, leaving your car in gear may be the better choice.
When should you use neutral in an automatic car? ›
N - Neutral: If you're stopping at lights or in traffic for a couple of seconds, you should put the car in Neutral. Just be sure to use the brake/handbrake too to avoid rolling. D - Drive: Used to go forwards, the car will automatically switch to second, then third and so on providing you're moving fast enough.
Is it bad to skip gears when downshifting? ›
Q: “Is it okay to skip gears when downshifting? For example, instead of a 5-4-3-2 brake and downshift, if your transmission allows, could you bypass shifting into 4th and 3rd and just shift into 2nd from 5th at the same point?” A: Yes.
Should I press the clutch when braking? ›
Remember this that hitting brake without hitting clutch helps you brake quicker because the friction provided by engine aids you in slowing down fast (Read up about Engine braking). And at high speed when you want to stop quickly – it can make a huge difference.
Can you shift into neutral at any speed? ›
Can you switch from drive to neutral while driving? Yes, you can. Take your foot off the throttle and shift. When you put it back into gear (for a manual transmission), you do have to ensure that you are shifting into the proper gear.
When should I use neutral in an automatic? ›
N - Neutral: If you're stopping at lights or in traffic for a couple of seconds, you should put the car in Neutral. Just be sure to use the brake/handbrake too to avoid rolling. D - Drive: Used to go forwards, the car will automatically switch to second, then third and so on providing you're moving fast enough.
Is it good to put your car in neutral when stopping? ›
If you happen to be stopped for an extended period of time, you may want to consider leaving your car in neutral and engaging the parking brake, or just leave it in drive. It's up to you. However, leaving your car in park should mostly be reserved for parking, but it's not totally wrong to do so.
Should you put your car in neutral while waiting? ›
Originally Answered: In cars with automatic transmission, is it helpful to switch the gear to neutral while waiting at a red light? The question has already been answered: No. If the foot is off the brake pedal just because the transmission is in neutral, you know what could happen.
