How To Change Gear EASILY & Make Less Mistakes - How to Drive a Manual Car

How to change gear is important if you want to learn how to drive a manual / stick shift car smoothly. The two hardest parts of learning to drive a manual /stick shift car compared to an automatic will be clutch control and changing gears. In this video we look at how to change up gear as well as how to change down gear in a manual car. We will show you how to use the palming method. The palming method is a reliable way of changing gears especially if you're prone to making mistakes when changing. Although you won't be penalised on your UK practical driving test for not using the palming method when changing gears, it's still a good habit to get into as less mistakes will happen.

When learning to drive a manual car you will have a driving lesson on how to change gear. Hopefully these gear changing tips will make it easier to drive a manual car.

Firstly, get familiar with where the gears are by remembering the diagram on top of the gear lever. When changing gears, you'll have to do it without looking down at the gear lever.

The gear lever is spring loaded which means that it always springs to neutral which is just under 3rd gear and above 4th. You'll need to remember this as you'll either be pushing against the spring or letting it spring itself depending on which gear is needed.

How to change up gear: Once you've speeded up, as you release the accelerator, press down the clutch, change up gears, clutch up gently and back on the accelerator.

How to change down gear: Once you've slowed down, either use slight acceleration or footbrake, clutch down, change down gears and then clutch up gently (unless stopping and then clutch down).

Watching our video on changing gear in a manual car will hopefully help you understand how to position your hand correctly on the gear lever and make less mistakes and change gear smoothly in a manual car.

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00:00 How to change gear intro
01:02 Neutral
01:39 Changing up through the gears
04:14 Changing down through the gears
05:34 Reverse gear
05:55 Block gear changing
08:12 Changing gears recap
09:16 Outro

If you're learning to drive then make sure that you get professional help from a fully qualified driving instructor. This video is NOT an alternative to professional driving lessons and is only a rough guide. This video was filmed in the UK. Laws and rules in your country may vary. Videos aren't a substitute for real life driving experience in a safe environment. While World Driving aims to provide accurate and up to date information we cannot guarantee at any time that all the information is up to date and accurate. World Driving cannot accept liability for misleading or inaccurate information or omissions in information given to us by external information providers. This includes, but is not by way of limitation:
■ any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
■ any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information
■ any decision made or action taken or not taken in reliance upon the information.

World Driving copyright 2017 ©

[worlddriving]

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[andremp]

1st to 2nd gear - palm away from you
3rd to 5th gear - palm towards you

Why didn't anyone make this clearer for me? Thanks Chris!

[babygirl]

OMG i passed today🎉 couldn't have done it without your youtube videos, thank you so much😭 lots of love❤

[Piskin]

your voice is very relaxing and soothing to the ears.

[KrayzieBonefan]

I was not taught this palming method when I was learning to drive. I only knew this when I came across WorldDriving. Thanks Chris.

[ronatafriend]

My son is just learning to drive and has some difficulty changing up or down gears. This video is perfect to help him master this. Very clearly explained and demonstrated! Thanks for helping me to help him in his next lesson.

[HDavies]

Passed my driving test this morning with 0 faults! Thanks for all of your videos which have helped me!

[HerMusicOnline]

Thank God for your channel! You're so clear and you get straight to the point. I love how your videos are so detailed and how they contain such helpful information. Your channel is a God send for us learner drivers :)

[mthobisithwala]

I struggled a lot for more than 2 days to select the third gear when l was in my driving lessons. But the most important that l have learned is the 1st and second gear and how you should place your hand into the gear, BIG UP BROTHER!!! On the 10th of May, I have been booked for defensive driving 🚦 and you will be the 1st person to hear 👂 from me

[YouTuber-qvqm]

I've been having trouble with changing gears until I saw this. I must say that it's quite handy.

[lowevelocity]

Passing my driving test first time today thanks to the help of your great videos 👍🏻

[Lauren_B]

So I have a habit of changing into the wrong gears by accident and my driving tests in just over 2 weeks. Thank you for this it really helped 😊

[TOPBOY_CARLON]

If anyone ask how I learn to drive standard this is where I’m sending that person. Your videos thought me all I needed to knw about driving standard🤙🏾

[charlottetaylor]

I passed my test 4 years ago and I've only started driving again.. really struggled with going from 2nd to 3rd gear the last few days.. I needed petrol this evening and after watching this, and changing my hand round the gear stick has made me feel more confident.. thank you 😊

[hotlikejunior]

This helped me big time and I only drive manual for two days, had my first stall but after watching this everything seems clear . Thank you .

[MrKASE]

2nd to 3rd has really been holding me back, have literally perfected everything apart from this. Hopefully this will help me

[Coolguy]

As an American who wants to learn to drive manual, this is a godsend.

[kumatoni]

When I first started learning I used to slam the gear stick into the gear I wanted, because that's what they do in films. My instructor soon stopped that. :-D

[raghnallm]

shifted into 5th by accident it was not fun

[hiwoth]

I was struggle with gear change special when 2 to 3 but now feeling confidence .thanks!