How to Drive a Car & Ride a Motorcycle

   

How to Drive a Car With an Automatic Transmission

Edited by Teresa, Sondra C, BR, Knowledge Junkie and 42 others

This article will explain how to drive a car with an automatic transmission. Many people start out driving automatics because they are generally simpler to operate than manual transmissions and some find them more comfortable for long trips.

Before operating any motor vehicle, please make sure you have a valid driver's license and understand all local traffic laws.

  Steps

1. 
   1
   Unlock the vehicle and climb into the driver's seat.
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2. 
   2
   Adjust the mirrors so you can see behind the vehicle clearly, and identify the car's blind spots before you start driving.
3. 
   3
   Identify the controls. We are going to find the accelerator and brake pedals, the steering wheel, the gear selector lever, and the controls for the lights.
   • The brake and accelerator pedals are located on the floor. The brake pedal is usually larger and on the left, the accelerator is usually smaller and on the right.
   • The steering wheel is the large wheel in the center of the driver's console. Turn it to the left and right to turn the front wheels of the vehicle.
   • Located on the steering column - usually on the left side - is a small lever that has a rest position in the middle and two locking positions, up or down. This is the turn signal lever. Look around the front console for switch or knob that will control the headlights; it often on the left side of the steering wheel mounted into the console or a control knob on one of the levers on the steering column.
   • The gear selector level will usually be in one of two places: it is either mounted to the right side of the steering column or in-between the driver's and passenger's seats on the floor. It will have a display showing gear indicators, usually marked with letters like "P", "D", "N", and "R" and a few numbers. On steering-column shifting levers, this display is usually located on the instrument panel, underneath the speedometer. In models with the shifting lever on the floor, the display is usually alongside the shifting lever track.
4. 
   4
   Place your right foot on the brake pedal and push it down, insert the key and start the vehicle.
5. 
   5
   To move forward, keep your foot on the brake pedal and shift the gear lever into "Drive." This is often marked with a "D." If you need to back up before starting your journey, shift the lever into the "Reverse" position usually marked with an R.
   • For shift levers mounted on the steering column, pull the lever towards you and move it up and down to select a gear.
   • For shift levers mounted on the floor, there is usually a button to unlock the lever. It can then be moved along its track into position.
   • Make sure you are looking in the direction your vehicle is about to move.
6. 
   6
   Release the parking brake. This is usually on the floor as a lever between the two front seats or as a pedal on the far left side with a release lever above it.
7. 
   7
   Slowly release pressure on the brake pedal. The car will start to move slowly.
8. 
   8
   Take your right foot off the brake and press the gas pedal slowly