Parking in gear or in neutral

[Artsy]

Hi All,

I've noticed a lot of cars (manuals only) that when parked are left in neutral.

I did not grow up in the UK, but it was emphasised to me that cars should be left in either first or reverse depending on which way they are facing as a failsafe if the handbrake gives way.

I don't think I've ever seen a UK driver do this. Is it just a case of it not being so much of a requirement due to the UK being fairly level? I can't imagine ever parking on an incline without the car being in gear.

[DaveTheRave87]

I always leave mine in 2nd or reverse when parking. I live on a hill.

[Pica-Pica]

I drive an automatic now, which automatically (!) selects Park when engine is switched off. In a manual, I always parked in gear. I have a hard job explaining to my wife that is best, and as for the ‘wheels point into the kerb’, that would be lost on her.

This a twice yearly discussion, at least.

[sim16v]

I always leave mine in gear, and was taught that from the beginning of my driving.

I'm pretty sure it says to in the Highway Code.

Always amazed at the ignorance of people who don't, and their amazement when the handbrake fails and their car rolls down the hill in to something solid!

[Boosted LS1]

I park in forward or reverse with the handbrake on. If on a slope I turn the wheels towards the curb.

[beerexpressman]

I always leave my car in gear.

At an old house of mine, near the bottom of a steep hill, we once had a car travel about 60 metres down the hill, up the pavement, over the front lawn, and embed itself in our front wall. It took a few minutes to work out exactly what had happened...handbrake cable had failed, parked at top of a steep hill, in neutral...

[Exige77]

I Always Leave manuals in gear. It’s free and a little added security against rolling away.

[Pica-Pica]

Boosted LS1 said:

I park in forward or reverse with the handbrake on. If on a slope I turn the wheels towards the curb.

Kerb.

[Dannbodge]

Only ever really park on the flat so just leave it in 1st without the handbrake on (plus it lives in the garage all but 1 week a day)

On a hill it would go in 1st if pointing up or Rev if pointing down.

[Gary29]

Always in gear

[Ultrafunkula]

I leave mine in gear. I always remember when people used to cut the handbrake cable on cars to get them onto a flatbed and pinch them.

[anonymous-user]

I always leave in gear but then I am the only one who uses that car.

[Hol]

I was taught to:

1. Park with the car in gear
2. Start the car with your foot on the clutch.

1. 1. Because older car (Rwd Ford etc) handbrakes often couldn't hold the car on a steep hill.
2. 2. See #1, as you left it in gear.

1. 2 has latterly morphed into 'always checking the car is out of gear before starting it' after owning a few cars with competition spec clutched that can seriously load up a dry thrust bearing..

[HTP99]

Never leave my car in gear when parked up and never been taught too, I always assumed it was more of an older generation thing; my dad did it.

[MikeyC]

Noticed some idiot had left their car parked in the middle of the road outside my house
went to have a look - only then realised it was my car !

Lesson learned ...

[DanL]

Depends if you're on a slope or not, no? Flat ground, just the handbrake for me. On an incline, I'll leave it in gear.

Auto these days, so it's held by the box anyway once it's in "P".

[sim16v]

I never leave the handbrake on if the car is going to be left a while.

I loaned a car to a mate and collected it last week after he managed to break something on it.

Took nearly two fooking hours to get it moved, in the rain, as the handbrake was stuck solid

[Hol]

HTP99 said:

Never leave my car in gear when parked up and never been taught too, I always assumed it was more of an older generation thing; my dad did it.

I think you are right.

Neither of my boys do it. Handbrakes seem more reliable now.

[Shaw Tarse]

Hol said:

I think you are right.

Neither of my boys do it. Handbrakes seem more reliable now.

I was taught to leave car in gear & point wheels to kerb (yeah I'm old)
But it saved the MX5 from rolling down a hill

[Dave.]

I usually leave them in first, and don't usually bother with the handbrake.

I was one told by a self proclaimed petrolhead that I was damaging my gearbox with all the weight of the car resting on the gear. Same guy also said it should be in 5th/6th as higher gears are harder to turn.