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Which pedal is the brake in an automatic car?
I’m new to driving automatic cars, and just want to clarify some things before I hit the road. Which pedal is the brake in an automatic car?
Rachel Rigolino · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The answer depends upon what you mean by the term “automatic car.” If you mean a car with an automatic transmission, you’ll find the brake pedal on the left side of the gas or acceleration pedal.
On the other hand, if you are referring to a self-driving EV, like a Tesla, you won’t find a brake pedal. If you’re driving, the Tesla will slow down once you take your foot off the acceleration. If the car is in autonomous (autopilot) mode, information fed into its computer system by cameras located all around the car tells it when to slow or brake.
You may be surprised to know that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced in March of 2022 that it won’t necessarily require autonomous vehicles to have brake pedals. Before you panic, realize that NHTSA would require other safety measures to be put in place.
Sometimes, all you’re looking for is a quick answer to a car-related question such as, “Which pedal is the brake in an automatic car?” You go online, type in a search phrase, but then wind up going down a rabbit hole, where the answers are confusing. You wish you had an expert on call.
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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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