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
Is turning your car on and off bad?
I’ve heard that idling is better than switching your engine on and off—is that true? Is turning your car on and off bad?
Andrew Biro · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question! Contrary to popular belief, turning your car on and off is not bad for the engine or your starter, nor will it contribute to excessive wear and tear—in fact, the only “bad” thing it does is momentarily strain your vehicle’s battery. The only exception to this rule is if you drive a vehicle with a heavy-duty starter or an older vehicle that still uses a carburetor.
Of course, that’s not to say that you should switch your engine on and off repeatedly, multiple times a day—if you do, you run the risk of wearing out your starter before reaching its normal lifespan.
But if you only turn your car on and off a couple of times a day, in situations where you’d normally be idling, you don’t have to worry about damaging your vehicle.
Hopefully, this clears things up!
Switching your car on and off isn’t bad for your car—but not having the right insurance is. Make sure you’re getting the coverage you need at a reasonable price with
Jerry
, the nation’s no. 1
licensed car insurance
comparison app and broker.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
