How to drive an automatic car

By Nic Hopkirk

Last updated: 20 June 2025

Learning how to drive an automatic car is easier than learning how to drive a manual, because you don’t need to worry about any gear changes - an automatic does all that for you. 

Most people pass their driving test in a manual car. But if you take yours in an automatic, you’ll only be licenced to drive automatic vehicles. 

Unlike manuals, automatic cars only have accelerator and brake pedals. There’s no clutch pedal needed, because you won’t be changing gears.  

With an automatic, you just put the car into ‘drive’, release the brake and you’re off! 

Driving an automatic car 

The main differences between automatic and manual cars are: 

• Automatic cars have a simpler gearbox, as the gear changes are all taken care of 

• Automatic cars only have two foot pedals: accelerate and brake. You don’t need a clutch pedal because you don’t need to change the gears yourself 

• Rather than having gears one to six on the gearbox, automatic cars have Drive, Neutral, Park and Reverse 

• Some drivers find automatics easier to handle in built-up areas, where there’s lots of stop-start traffic, as you don’t need to keep changing gears 

• Other drivers prefer manuals, as they feel it gives you more control over the car 

• Automatic cars can be more expensive to maintain, as they have more complex parts 

How do automatic cars work? 

While automatic cars don’t have a classic manual gearbox, they do have four controllable driving states: Drive, Park, Neutral and Reverse. 

Drive 

After starting an automatic car, shift the gearbox into ‘drive’ mode, or ‘D’. Release the brake pedal and the car will gently start to move forward. To ramp up speed, as with manuals, put your foot down on the accelerator. 

Neutral 

Putting an automatic car into ‘neutral’ or ‘N’ is the same as flicking the gear stick to the centre in a manual car. It's when no forward or reverse gears are active. 

When an automatic is in neutral, the engine isn’t connected to the wheels, so it’s mainly used when stopping for short periods. 

Neutral can also be used to push or tow your car if it breaks down or in an emergency. 

Park 

In automatic cars, ‘park’ or ‘P’ locks the transmission and prevents the car from moving. 

It’s an additional safety feature in automatics to stop the car from rolling if the handbrake should fail. It’s best to use both the brake and park when parking an automatic, so the car doesn’t move, even if nudged by another vehicle. 

In most modern automatics, you can’t turn off the ignition until the vehicle has been placed in park. 

Reverse 

Reverse (simply ‘R’) in an automatic car is identical to reverse in a manual. It allows the car to move backwards for parking.  

How to start an automatic car? 

To start an automatic car:  

• Place your foot firmly on the brake 

• Turn the key in the ignition or press the ‘Start’ button 

• Shift the gear selector into drive to move forwards or reverse to move backwards 

• Release the brake 

• Put your foot on the accelerator pedal to ramp up speed

Do you start an automatic car in park or neutral? 

An automatic car can be started in both park and neutral. But it’s generally recommended to start the car in park, as this locks the transmission and will prevent the car from rolling if the engine is off. 

Neutral 

When do you use neutral in an automatic car? 

You use neutral in an automatic car when you want to disengage the gears. 

It’s most commonly used in stop-start traffic or if you need to move the car when it’s broken down. 

Should you put an automatic car in neutral at traffic lights? 

It’s not really needed. Instead, it’s best to keep the car in drive and keep your foot on the brake pedal. 

It allows for a quicker response when you need to move forward, while having the brake lights on gives a useful signal to other drivers. 

It doesn’t make any difference to fuel efficiency whether the car’s in neutral or drive, so there's no need to worry about wasting fuel. 

Can you move an automatic car in neutral? 

Yes you can. Putting an automatic into neutral disengages the gears, just like dipping the clutch down in a manual.  

When in neutral, an automatic can be pushed if it has broken down or be moved if it gets nudged by another vehicle. 

Park 

When do you use park in automatic transmission? 

Park should only be used in an automatic when you’re stopped and getting out of the car.  

It’s important to also apply the brake to stop the car moving, especially if you’re parked on a hill. 

Should you put an automatic car in park at traffic lights? 

No, you shouldn’t put an automatic in park at the traffic lights, the car should be left in drive and the brake applied. 

Putting the car in park can put strain on the transmission and stop you from reacting quickly when the lights change. 

Park 

How to park an automatic car 

When you come to a complete stop, put the car into park and apply the handbrake or electronic parking brake to stop it from moving. 

Most modern automatics won’t let you turn off the ignition until the car is in park mode. 

Can you leave an automatic car in park without handbrake? 

It’s not recommended. Leaving an automatic in park without the handbrake applied can put unnecessary strain on the transmission, so it’s best to apply the brake too. 

The handbrake adds an extra layer of security to stop the car from moving – especially if it’s nudged by another vehicle. 

Reverse 

How to reverse an automatic car? 

Reversing in an automatic is the same as reversing in a manual. Select ‘R’ on the gear selector to move backwards and accelerate as needed. 

What happens if you put an automatic car in reverse while driving? 

Most modern cars have safety features in place to prevent this from happening.  

But if you do put an automatic into reverse while driving, it can damage the transmission, stall the car and even lead to total transmission failure. 

Stop-start 

How does stop-start work on automatic cars? 

In automatic cars, the stop-start system works by detecting when the car is stationary and the brake pedal is pressed.  

The engine control unit (ECU) then cuts the fuel and ignition, effectively stopping the engine.  

When the driver releases the brake and the car is ready to move, the system restarts the engine again. 

Do all automatic cars have stop-start? 

No, not all automatics have a stop-start system – and the way the system operates can vary between models.  

Some systems are activated when the driver keeps their foot on the brake, while others are activated when the car is put into neutral. 

But starting and stopping without stop start is still nice and easy in an automatic. To start the car, simply push the start button or turn the key in the ignition. 

To stop an automatic, you slow the car to a stop, but the car into park, apply the handbrake and turn off the ignition. 

Hill start in an automatic car 

To perform a smooth hill start in an automatic car, engage the handbrake, select drive, gently press the accelerator and release the handbrake when you feel the car starting to move forward. 

Kickdown in an automatic 

Kickdown is a feature in automatic cars that lets drivers drop a gear to give them more oomph and power. 

Kickdown is most commonly used for overtaking and driving up steep hills, when you need more power. 

It can also be used for towing heavy vehicles. Automatic gear systems are designed to work with the weight of the car and adding a heavy load can sometimes throw them off a bit, so kickdown can help you to adjust. 

Explore used automatic cars for sale 

Now you’ve got the lowdown on how to drive an automatic car, why not take one for a test drive? 

Automatics are ideal in cities and make driving on the motorway a breeze.  

We’ve got thousands to choose from at cinch, from hatchbacks to SUVs, coupes to convertibles. 

Find your next automatic car with us.