Drum roll!!! How do pull your handbrake on?

[s p a c e m a n]

I don't, it doesn't do anything.

[TREMAiNE]

If I am actively thinking about it I will press the button, however, when I'm just going through the motions I'll just pull it up, hearing the ratchet.

[NoNeed]

Love the ratchet. Hated it when my wife had a car where the parking brake was a pedal. She also had one that was electric, no fun at all that one.

[AB]

Mine goes on as soon as I take my seatbelt off.

In a car with a regular handbrake I always press the button in.

[AndyLB]

The ratchets there for a reason so I always use it. In cars with a slightly weaker handbrake it helps to gauge how far the handbrake is on, better to hear the ratchet sound then come out to find your car has buggered off down a slope.

[Pints]

Rather a resurrection than a new thread (to keep the hamsters happy).

Does anybody else find that whenever your car is returned from its service, MOT, new tyres, etc. they've pulled your handbrake up one or two notches higher than you ever would?
What are they trying to prove? It's always parked on level ground too.

[Luke94]

Always put mine on with the button.

However my uncle (who drives an auto) never puts his on as he says that by putting it in 'Park' it does the same thing..? Not sure how well it works on a hill though!

[backwoodsman]

I put mine on by pressing a switch, it's electric.

[_rubinho_]

I engage the parking brake with my left foot and release it with my right hand (Merc).

[_rubinho_]

Luke94 said:

However my uncle (who drives an auto) never puts his on as he says that by putting it in 'Park' it does the same thing..? Not sure how well it works on a hill though!

In the US where cars are auto in the main drivers never use the parking brake and only the gearbox's P position. The hill hold capability of the park pawl is regulated in the US so most OEMs comply to this standard across all markets for consistency. It shouldn't cause excessive wear of the gearbox over the vehicle's normal lifespan. Leaving a car in P is fine although to me feels very unnatural.