Do you always have to shift into neutral when stopping or can you just hit the break?

epic_laydown

just hit the brakes, you don't need to put the car into neutral. Especially if you are driving an automatic.

Even if you are driving a manual transmission, you don't need to put it into neutral..just hit the clutch before coming to a complete stop. Sometimes you can put it into neutral if you need to take your foot off the clutch...that's the only time i can think of

steph c

If you are driving a manual transmission, you will stall the engine if you don't shift into neutral first or at least put the clutch in. Otherwise you don't shift anything at all.

Justin H

If you're driving a manual/stick, you have to push in the clutch when coming to a stop or else you will stall when your RPMs drop below a certain level. When you get good at driving a stick, you can actually hold the car by pushing in the clutch part way and giving it a little gas. Mastering this will make stopping on hills a breeze.

Mr. Right

I let up on the gas leaving the engine in gear to help slow the vehicle then downshift as speed is reduced before using the brake whereever possible. It saves on brake wear and tear.

ladybugwasmylove

I have always down shifted to reduce the wear and tear on my breaks and when I come to a complete stop shift into neutral to reduce wear and tear on the clutch and my legs. If you just hit the breaks, you risk stalling the vehicle. I learned to drive on my grandfather's 1934 Ford truck with a granny gear when I was 12 so I know all about stalling! That thing was hard to crank too!! Good luck to ya!

Sid

This sounds a lot like personal choice. I always put my stick shift in neutral at red lights, but only because I don't like having to 'stand' on the clutch while waiting for the light to change.

Paul

I NEVER put ANY of my cars in neutral at lights.

itrat n

No, it is better to hit the brakes while the car is in gear until the car slows a bit and then press the clutch . Most experienced drivers slow their vehicles by shifting to higher gears.

live2ryde74

Keep this question in mind when driving with a manual transmission: am I in the correct gear for the situation?
You should always use your transmission to slow the car rather than the brakes. You progressively down shift one gear at a time until you are rolling slow enough (10 to 15mph) to depress the clutch and use just the brakes. Only when you are at a complete stop should you take your car out of gear. This prevents you from accidentally letting off the clutch & rolling into the back of the car in front of you. By doing this you save wear on your braking system, are more in control of the vehicle and far less likely to have an accident from this situation.

Mickey1

if u have a automtic no. If u have standard yes.i fu hit the break and ur car is not in neutral u will stall in standard. automatic won't

Al Inshearah

Yes, unless you stay in gear and dip the clutch

Ryan R

It is illegal in most states to coast in neutral, because doing so means you are not in control of the engine. Just stop. No shifting is necessary, unless you are stopping on ice, in which case you should downshift first.

Philip76LostLove

If it's automatic no problem, don't shift into neutral. If its manual, better shift. This will spare your clutch pads.

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