Starting and stopping the engine | Drive - Drive - The official way to drive. Drive has everything you need to prepare for your learner, restricted and full licence tests.

Show you have great control of your car! Start every drive with a smooth take off, and finish with a smooth stop.

Start somewhere you have plenty of space. An empty car or a flat street with no traffic.

Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the ‘on’ position. Then turn it further to start the engine.
Let go of the key when the engine fires up.
Check out your dashboard. Are any warning lights on? Your handbrake will be on so that light will be lit, but make sure there are no other warnings.

Note: Some newer cars have a keyless ignition. The driver only needs to have the key inside the car to be able to start the engine.

Put your car in first gear if it's a manual or drive if it's an automatic
Take the handbrake off
Turn your indicator on for at least three seconds
Check your mirrors and blind spot (by looking over your shoulder)
If you're in an automatic car, push the accelerator down gently and move off
If you're in a manual car, push the accelerator down and slowly let the clutch out until you feel the car move forward. Then slowly give more accelerator and gently let the clutch the rest of the way out.

It’s common for new manual drivers to stall their engines a few times in the early days. It’s a good idea to:

Practise restarting your car as quickly as you can so you don't panic if you stall
Learn how to avoid a stall – they’re a Critical Error in your test.

Check your mirrors
Indicate left for at least three seconds
Look ahead to where you want to stop
ABC: Foot off the Accelerator, press the Brake and (in a manual) the Clutch right in just before you come to a stop
Put the handbrake or parking brake on and car into neutral or park
Turn the key to the 'off' position to stop the engine.

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Starting the engine, moving off and stopping