For many American drivers, their only experience with a stick shift is watching a Fast and Furious movie or a NASCAR race. Learning how to drive a stick shift has become more of a lost art than a necessary skill over the last 40 years as automatic transmissions have become more popular.
While it's not as popular as it used to be, driving stick shift is a handy skill to keep in your back pocket. You never know when a friend may need you to drive their manual car during an emergency or when you'll need to drive in Europe, where 80 percent of vehicles are still manual.
If you don't know how to drive a manual transmission, don't worry , we've compiled everything you need to know into this handy guide. So read on before you hit the parking lot to put theory into practice.
Before You Start
When you first start driving a stick shift, we recommend bringing someone with experience driving a manual transmission vehicle with you. While reading about driving a stick and watching videos helps, there's no replacement for experience. They can give you helpful tips and immediate feedback from the passenger seat.
We also recommend starting out in a large, flat open space such as a parking lot. It's common for someone learning to drive stick to stall their car until they get the hang of it, and you don't want to be on a busy road when it happens. You can also practice at night when fewer people are on the main roads.
Whatever you do, try not to get frustrated or panic while you're learning. It takes time and patience, but you'll be driving a stick before you know it!
What Is a Manual Transmission?
Without getting too technical, a transmission has different gears that control how fast the wheels turn, dictating speed. In lower gears, the engine creates more torque but less speed, and in higher gears creates less torque but more speed. Transmissions commonly come in 5-speed or 6-speed models, which refers to the number of gears they have.
A manual transmission gives drivers control over when to shift to the next gear, granting the driver more control over the vehicle's speed. An automatic transmission handles shifting between gears automatically.
Die-hard manual fans will insist that driving a stick gives you more control, better gas mileage and an all-around better driving experience. Fans of automatics argue that it's safer because it's one less thing to worry about as you drive. The truth is that the best transmission for you is whichever one you are more comfortable with.
Learn the Pedals
In a manual car, you'll see three pedals instead of the two that are standard in automatic transmissions.
Farthest to the left is the clutch pedal, which disengages the transmission from the wheels so you can switch to a different gear without damaging anything. You use your left foot to control this pedal.
The middle pedal is the brake, and the far right one is the gas pedal or accelerator. You use
your right foot for these pedals just like when driving an automatic vehicle.
Learn the Gearshift
The gearshift is in the center console on most manual cars. In older models, especially trucks, you may find the gearshift on the steering column, but it's rare.
Shifting Pattern
A 5-speed gearshift follows the same general pattern of top to bottom, left to right: first gear is in the top left, second in the bottom left, third in the top center and so on. Reverse is usually the bottom right, and neutral is in the middle. On a 6-speed transmission, reverse may be to the left or right by itself, while the rest of the gears follow the same pattern as the 5-speed. However, some gearshifts may have a slightly different pattern, so always look at the diagram on top of the gearshift to confirm before you start driving an unfamiliar car.
Hand Placement
Always use your right hand to move the gearshift. It's OK to rest your hand on the gearshift when driving in the city since you often switch between gears quickly, but when you are on the highway in higher gears and not shifting, it's best to put your hand back on the steering wheel.
Many people who drive manual vehicles find it easier to shift their hands slightly as they move through the gears. These subtle shifts in hand placement allow the driver to exert more pressure in the direction they need the gearshift to move.
- To move the gearshift to the left, they'll rest their hand on the top right of the gearshift handle so their thumb is on the top left edge of the handle.
- When moving the gearshift in the center, they'll shift their palm so it's centered on the gearshift knob.
- To move the gearshift to the right, they'll shift their palm on the top left of the gearshift.
Learn When To Shift Gears
Learning when to shift gears is the most nuanced part of learning to drive a stick shift. While experienced stick shift drivers often know when to shift gears based solely on feel, newer drivers tend to rely on three things:
- Speed: Since gears control the speed of a vehicle, you can use your speedometer to help you decide when to switch gears. However, there is some overlap between the ranges, so this is a loose guide.
- First gear: 0-10 mph
- Second gear: 2-25 mph
- Third gear: 15-45 mph
- Fourth gear: 30-65 mph
- Fifth and sixth gear: 65+ mph
- Revolutions per minute (RPMs): RPMs measure how frequently the crankshaft completes one full rotation each minute and how often each piston rises and falls in its cylinder. RPMs are measured in thousands on your dashboard's tachometer. When your tachometer rises to 3,000 RPM, upshift into the next highest gear. When it falls to 1,000 RPM, downshift into the next lowest gear.
- Engine sound: Upshift to the next highest gear when you hear a high-pitched sound from the engine, and downshift if you hear a lower-pitched sound. This method takes more practice than the other two methods since it takes time to learn the subtle difference in engine sounds.
- Road conditions: If you are driving up an incline, you'll upshift later than you normally would, but you'll upshift sooner when you're driving down an incline. Weather can also impact when you'll need to shift , icy or wet roads require you to shift down more often than in peak conditions.
Practice With the Car Off
Driving a stick shift is easier once you've established muscle memory in your feet and hands for the pedals and shifting patterns. Create this muscle memory by practicing switching gears and pressing the clutch and gas pedals while the car is off.
How To Drive a Stick Shift: The Basics
Once you understand the pedal and shifting patterns, have an experienced manual driver take you to a parking lot to practice.
Step 1: Put Your Right Foot on the Brake and Release the Parking Brake
Fasten your seat belt and double-check that the gearshift is in the neutral position. If not, press in the clutch and move the gearshift to neutral.
Then press the brake pedal with your right foot and disengage the parking brake. If the parking brake is a pedal, you'll use your left foot to disengage it. If it's a hand brake, press the button with the thumb of your right hand and lower it to the off position. A pull rod near the steering wheel is an uncommon but potential third type of parking brake.
Step 2: Use Your Left Foot to Push in the Clutch and Start the Car
With the transmission in neutral, use your left foot to press the clutch pedal to the floorboard, keeping the brake pedal engaged with your right. Then start your car with the key or ignition button.
Step 3: Use Your Right Hand To Move the Gear Shift to First Gear
With both the clutch and the brake pedals depressed, use your right hand to move the gearshift to first gear as outlined in the diagram on top of your gearshift.
Step 4: Take Your Right Foot off the Brake and Move It to the Gas Pedal as You Lift Your Left Foot off the Clutch
Take your right foot off the brake and move it to the gas pedal. As you slowly press the gas pedal, slowly lift your foot off the clutch until you are only pressing on the gas pedal.
When you are first practicing with a manual transmission, this is the hardest part to learn. If you add too much gas, the car will jump forward before stalling. If you don't add enough gas, the vehicle will stall. The vehicle can also start to roll when you take your foot off the pedal, which can be scary. With time, you'll do the process so seamlessly the roll will be minimal and you'll hardly ever stall.
Pay attention to the feel of the clutch pedal. If you feel a subtle vibration, you need to press down on the accelerator pedal.
Step 5: Increase Your Speed
Continue pressing the gas pedal to increase your speed. Your left foot should be off the clutch, and your right hand can rest softly on the gearshift. You won't be in first gear for long.
Step 6: Upshift to Second Gear
When the car starts signaling that it's time to switch gears, ease your right foot off the gas pedal and use your left foot to press the clutch down to the floorboard.
Once the clutch is fully engaged and your right foot is no longer pressing the gas pedal, use your right hand to move the gearshift to second gear, which in most models is in the bottom left corner.
As soon as the gearshift is in second gear, release the clutch with your left foot while pressing the accelerator pedal with your right, just as you did when you shifted into first gear.
Since you are already moving, most people find this easier than shifting into first gear. However, you need to start giving the engine gas quickly to avoid the car losing speed and stalling out when you upshift.
Step 7: Repeat as You Gain Speed
Continue to repeat steps four and five until you are at the safest speed for the road and driving conditions. When you reach higher speeds on the highway where you probably won't need to shift, you can take your hand off the gearshift to let it rest.
Congratulations! You're driving a stick shift!
How To Downshift
Just as you need to move to the next highest gear to reach a higher speed, you need to downshift to a lower gear when your speed decreases or you are headed downhill. To do this, you'll use the clutch and the brake pedals.
- Use your left foot to press the clutch to the floor and your right foot to press the brake.
- While both pedals are depressed, move the gearshift down one gear. (If you need to slow quickly, in some cases you can skip a gear when downshifting.)
- Release the clutch slowly to avoid high RPMs.
- Use the brake to continue to lower your speed if you need to slow down faster.
- Repeat as needed as you decrease your speed.
- Once you are at the speed you need to be, use your right foot to press the gas pedal to maintain your speed.
If you are stopping your car, you do not need to downshift. Instead, just put the car in neutral and use the brake to stop completely. While stopped, keep the car in neutral, then put the car back in first when you are ready to start moving again.
How To Park a Manual Car
When parking a manual transmission car, pull to where you want to be and stop the car by shifting into neutral and using the brake.
- Put the car in first gear (if you are facing uphill or flat ground) or reverse (if you are facing downhill) and set the parking brake.
- Turn off the car.
- Take your right foot off the brake.
You must set the parking brake since manual transmissions do not have a park gear like automatic transmissions. If you don't set the parking brake, the car will roll as soon as you release the brake pedal.
How To Reverse a Manual Car
Reversing a manual car is almost the same as reversing an automatic. To avoid potentially costly repairs, always come to a complete stop before shifting into reverse.
- Check your surroundings to ensure your path is clear of people, animals or other obstacles.
- While pressing the brake with your right foot, press the clutch to the floor with your left foot and use your right hand to move the gearshift into reverse. (Consult the diagram on your gearshift for the location of reverse , it's usually marked with an R.)
- Release the brake pedal with your right foot.
- Release the clutch slowly with your left foot while pressing the gas pedal with your right foot.
This may be tricky at first, just like starting first gear, but you'll get the hang of it with practice.
How To Start a Manual Car on a Hill
Starting a car on a hill is one of the most stressful parts of driving a manual. When you first move into first gear, your car will roll backward as soon as you take your right foot off the brake. (This is why leaving enough space between you and the car in front of you is important when you stop!) There's also a higher risk of stalling the car since you need more gas to move forward than you would on a flat road.
To keep from rolling backward before you can press the gas pedal:
- Keep the parking brake on while you get into first gear.
- When the clutch begins to engage (the engine will sound different and you'll feel the car want to move), take your right foot off the brake and move it to the accelerator.
- Disengage the parking brake as you press the accelerator.
You can also move your steering wheel to point the wheels in the direction you want to go before you start moving. For example, if you are turning left, point the wheels in that direction before you turn the car on. The turned wheels can slow the car's roll enough for you to move your foot from the brake to the gas pedal.
Common Problems When Driving a Stick
Learning how to drive a manual transmission takes time and practice. Eventually you'll be able to switch gears without thinking, but until then, watch out for these common issues that occur while people are learning to drive stick.
Car Doesn't Start
If your car won't start, your clutch probably isn't fully engaged. You might need to press the clutch harder than you think, so press harder and try to restart the car again.
If your car still doesn't start, it could be another problem, like your alternator or battery.
Car Lurches and Stalls
When you shift gears, your car may suddenly jerk forward and stall. Usually, when this happens, you are letting out the clutch too quickly or pressing the gas too quickly.
Restart your car and try releasing the clutch more slowly or adding less gas as you press the accelerator.
Car Stalls (Without Lurches)
Another common problem while shifting gears is your car stalling. If there's no jerking motion, you probably didn't give the car enough gas.
Restart your car and try adding more gas while switching gears.
Car Lurches (Without Stalling)
Inexperienced drivers will often manage to shift gears without stalling, but you may feel a lurch or jerking motion. That's a sign that you are not letting the clutch out evenly.
To avoid this, raise your foot off the clutch in a slow, smooth motion while you shift gears.
Engine Revs
Another problem inexperienced drivers encounter is the engine revving loudly when switching into lower gears. This happens when you shift at the wrong time, increasing the RPMs unnecessarily, or not lifting your right foot off the accelerator pedal when pushing down on the clutch.
You won't hear this as often as you get better at knowing when to shift gears. In the meantime, pay careful attention to your speed and RPM to help you know when to shift gears.
Stay Safe on the Road With a AAA Membership
Whether you're learning to drive stick or have plenty of miles under your belt, stay safe on the road by signing up for a AAA membership today. Your AAA membership comes with roadside assistance, which includes help with changing a tire and a tow to the closest AAA-approved facility, plus discounts and travel support.