Learn How to Drive a Stick Shift Car

If you plan to drive a race car or if you just want to feel like you have the ultimate control of your car, you need to learn how to drive a stick shift. Driving a stick shift is a bit of an art – something you have to do by feel as much as by knowledge. The basic process is the same for every car, but every car will have its own idiosyncrasies. Still, when you're entering a tight curve and you downshift for power, there's a feeling you’ll get that just can’t be replicated by driving an automatic.

Assuming you're in an American-made car with the steering wheel on the left, your left foot will work the clutch and your right foot will switch between the brake and gas as needed. On top, your left hand will steer, while your right hand will work the stick shift and the parking brake when needed and help with the steering the rest of the time. It will feel awkward at first, but with practice, your coordination will grow.

When you get in a stick shift car for the first time, it's a good idea to engage the parking brake, depress the clutch fully and just practice moving the stick shift through the various gears. Generally, you'll be looking at a capital H, with first gear at the upper left; second gear at the lower left; third gear at the upper right; and fourth gear at the lower right. Some cars have a fifth gear, and every car will have a reverse. Typically, reverse is located up near first gear, but you have to depress the gear shift to put the car in reverse. This helps prevent you from accidentally putting the car into reverse.

Once you’re familiar with the gear stick, you can proceed to crank the car. The car will have to be out of gear to crank. Either depress the clutch fully and apply the brake or engage the parking brake and put the car into neutral. To put the car into neutral, move the gear stick to that horizontal bar in the middle of the letter H described above.

To get the car started moving, put the car into first gear with the clutch fully depressed and your right foot on the brake. Release the parking brake. Now, move your right foot to the gas and slowly depress the gas and release the clutch at the same time. The first several times you try this, expect the car to jerk and stall. That's OK – you'll get the hang of it. Remember what we said about stick driving being a bit of an art?

As you accelerate, you’ll reach the upper limits of first gear. To change into second gear, again depress the clutch and take your foot of the gas, move the stick shift into second gear and then apply the gas and release the clutch simultaneously. Follow the same process to get into third and fourth as your speed increases.

When it’s time to come to a complete stop, depress the clutch fully and apply the brake with your right foot. Use your right hand to put the car into neutral. When it’s time to get going again, start again in first gear. If you haven't come to a complete stop, use the gear appropriate for the speed at which you’re going. It will take some getting used to, but with time, you’ll be able to move through the gears comfortably and confidently.