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What happens if you put a car in park while driving?

What would happen if I put my car in park while driving? I’m sure it wouldn’t be good for my car, but I’ve always wondered if it would come to a screeching stop.

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Actually, if you
put your car in park
while driving, it probably won’t stop. You might hear a clicking or grinding noise as the parking pawl tries to grip the teeth that hold your car in place while you’re parked. But the parking mechanism usually won’t engage until you stop your car.
Putting your car in park while driving can damage your parking mechanism—so I wouldn’t recommend trying it. You could tear out the teeth that hold your car in place, as well as put strain on other car parts. If any metal pieces come loose from the parking system, you could also damage your transmission.
Overall, it’s best to only shift into park when your car is already stationary.
While you’re learning more about driving, why not learn more about your car insurance options with the
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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.

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