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
What are some tips for driving manual cars?
My uncle is willing to gift me his old car, but it’s a stick shift. I’ve never driven a stick before—so what tips do I need to drive a manual?
Cassandra Hamilton · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Wow, who wouldn’t love a free car? Driving a manual car can be an exciting new challenge, and you’ll get the hang of it with practice. For now, remember these tips for driving manual cars from
Jerry
:- Use your parking brake. To get started, you’ll need to shift into neutral. The parking brake will prevent you from rolling while in neutral. Release the brake before you accelerate.
- Don’t ride the clutch. Don’t leave your left foot on the clutch while you’re driving. The pressure will wear the clutch out more quickly.
- Work with your RPMs. If your RPMs are low, don’t try to accelerate quickly. You’ll need to slowly shift up and increase your RPMs to accelerate. Your RPMS should be between 2,500 and 3,000 when you shift.
- Shift into neutral when stopped. You might be able to accelerate more quickly if you leave your car in first gear at a light, but you’ll also wear out your engine and transmission faster.
- Shift into first gear when parking. Yes, you’ll need to shift into neutral when starting the car, but putting the car in first can prevent your car from rolling in case the parking brake fails.
- Don’t rest your hand on the shifter. This can quickly wear out this delicate mechanism.
And the biggest tip for driving manual cars? Keep practicing. While you focus on the road,
Jerry
can focus on your car insurance.Jerry is the number-one rated app in the App Store because we make shopping for car insurance so easy. The only thing you have to do is enter your information. Then Jerry shops with some of the nation’s top insurance companies and brings the best quotes back to you.
Pick a quote, and that’s it. Jerry handles the paperwork and even helps cancel your old policy. You’ll save an average of $887 per year on car insurance!
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
