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When do I shift gears while driving?
My dad got a great deal on a car for me. The only problem is that the car has a manual transmission. I’ve never driven one before, so I’m a bit nervous. When should I shift gears?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
If you ask an experienced driver how to shift gears when driving a car, they’ll tell you to listen to the engine. While this is sound advice (pun intended), this may not mean a lot to you if you’ve never driven a stick before.
For your first time behind the wheel, think more about the RPMs. When you’re in a certain gear, watch for your RPMs to reach 2,500 to 3,000 before you shift. In this range, your engine has revved enough for you to go to the next gear.
Once you get the hang of it, you won’t have to look at your tachometer. Instead, you can start to listen to the engine or the feel of the vehicle. When the engine starts to rev too high, you’ll feel it. That’s the time to shift to the next gear.
Even if you have a manual shift car, don’t put your
car insurance
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