PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Loans
Car Loan
Compare Car Loans with Jerry
Jerry's Expert Advice
Car Loan Guides
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
Can you switch to neutral while driving?
I want to save money on gas while I’m driving by coasting down hills where I live. Can I shift into neutral while the car is in drive?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You can switch to neutral while driving in both an automatic and a manual car. In an automatic, simply move your gearshift to the neutral position. In a manual, you only need to push the clutch and put the stick to the neutral position.
However, note that coasting downhill to save gas is actually a myth. While your engine uses less gas when coasting downhill, when you hit the incline at the bottom of the hill, your engine uses even more gas.
Here’s why. When you start to go uphill again and you put the car back in drive, the fuel injectors have to pump more gas to the engine to avoid an engine stall. If you were to keep the car in drive during the descent and then hit the gas, you would burn through less gas.
Fortunately, there’s a better way to save money on car expenses than coasting down hills. Instead, use the
Jerry
app to comparison shop for better-priced car insurance.Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that will collect quotes from over 50 top-rated insurers in minutes. After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $887 per year.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance for Your Car
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies
