How to Drive a Manual Stick-Shift Transmission

Driving a manual or stick-shift transmission involves finding the friction point on the clutch pedal, shifting into the right gear, and smoothly modulating the accelerator pedal. It seems simple on paper, but it requires a lot of practice to master on the road.

Some say manual transmissions are a dying breed, and they're mostly right. In 2023, only 1.7% of new cars sold in the United States had three pedals and a stick to stir their gears, according to Motor1. But for many car enthusiasts — or folks who just want to maximize their driving experience — a manual transmission is the only way to go.

The good news is that many automakers make it easier than ever to enjoy using a manual transmission. Features such as hill hold assist and automatic rev-matching tech take some of the guesswork out of stick-shift driving. Of course, as with anything, practice makes perfect. Here are the basics for driving a manual transmission.

Video: How to Drive a Manual
Step 1: Get comfortable with the clutch
Step 2: Learn the gears
Step 3: Getting going
Helpful stick-shift tech

Step 1: Get comfortable with the clutch

Just as you would with any car, position yourself so that your hands easily fall to the wheel and you can easily press in the pedals — including the clutch — without needing to stretch.

With the car not yet running — preferably on a level surface and with the parking brake engaged — first learn how the clutch feels. See how much effort it requires to move the pedal to the floor and how springy it is on return.

Besides the fact that you're using your neglected left leg to press it, the clutch pedal likely feels different from either the brake or throttle. Some clutch pedals have an action that feels light and uniform in both directions. Others might feel somewhat sticky — initially firm and then going soft as the pedal nears the end of its travel. The clutch might also spring back forcefully.

While you may always press the clutch pedal as quickly as you wish, letting it back up must be smooth and steady, especially in first and second gears. Steadiness is especially necessary for getting the car going from a standstill in first gear. For now, before you turn the key and start the engine, practice letting the clutch pedal rise slowly.

Step 2: Learn the gears

Neutral is the place where the gear lever will naturally return when no gear is selected. Most shifters have the shift pattern illustrated on top of the knob. Some require an extra step to engage reverse. It might be an extra collar ring just below the shift knob that needs to be lifted. More often, there's an extra-firm detent — or catch-point — that requires exaggerated force to move the lever past it and into reverse.

Now, move the lever from first to second gear and use some slight pressure from your palm to the left to help keep the lever aligned with the gate for second gear. For the second-to-third shift, again, use only your open hand. With your palm, slowly push the knob forward. Notice that once out of second gear, the centering spring pops the lever back to neutral — precisely in line for third gear. Convenient, right?

Third-to-fourth is a straight pull, so no side-to-side pressure is needed. Pushing ahead, fourth-to-fifth, will require some diagonal pressure to the right, but not much. Remember that you still don't need to grip the knob as if it is some sort of antique agricultural machinery. Just use your palm and some deliberate pressure, plus movement. If your car has a sixth gear, it's much like the third-to-fourth shift. If you have one of the rare seven-speed manual vehicles, seventh is up and to the right, just like fifth was to fourth.

Finally, practice pressing the clutch pedal and moving the shifter simultaneously in one synchronized action. This should not be a three-step operation, such as pressing the clutch, moving the shifter, and releasing the clutch. You will, of course, let the clutch pedal rise after each gear is selected. Now practice: Clutch/shift, then release the clutch in two steps. Don't worry about the gas pedal for now. It will come into play later and be natural to you when it does.

Step 3: Getting going

The hardest, most intimidating part of learning to drive a manual transmission is moving the car from a standstill. But the good news is once the car is in motion, shifting gears is much easier than that first hurdle.

You're going to stall. You're going to make jerky motions. Accept that fact right now and understand that it's all part of the learning process. It's OK, and the car can handle it. This is normal, and you're not doing anything wrong.

To start the car, press the clutch to the floor, as well as the brake, and start the ignition. With both pedals depressed, select first gear, release the parking brake, and move your right foot off the brake and over to the throttle.

Use the throttle to rev the engine to about 1,500 to 2,000 rpm. Fewer revs than that, and you'll likely stall the car. More revs, and you're going to wear out the clutch prematurely. While hovering the revs around 1,500 rpm, slowly allow your left leg to rise. Notice when the clutch begins to "bite" or take hold of the spinning engine. If you stall the car, don't panic. Simply engage the parking brake, press the clutch and brake pedals to the floor, and start the car again.

If, on the other hand, all goes well, you'll be rolling slowly with the clutch pedal completely up and ready to accelerate in first gear. But instead of going to second gear, press the clutch to the floor, gently press the brake, and come to a stop in first gear. Do this a few times to practice coming to a halt and getting rolling again. You might even pick a spot in the parking lot where you can imagine a stop sign or two.

After many stops and starts, proceed from first to second gear. While accelerating in first gear, as the revs climb to about 3,000 rpm, do all three of the following at the same time: Release the throttle, press the clutch pedal, and move the shifter to second gear. Then slowly let the clutch pedal up, and when you feel the clutch biting, go back to the gas gently. Then fully release the clutch pedal. Voilà.

If there's enough room in the abandoned parking lot, pick up some speed and try third gear. Remember, you can always come to a safe stop by depressing the clutch to the floor and pressing the brake pedal.

Helpful stick-shift tech

A common fear of people driving manual transmissions is how to get going when accelerating on a hill. When you let off the brake, a vehicle can roll backward, meaning you have to immediately set off — otherwise you run the risk of rolling into a car behind you. To prevent this, some cars with manual transmissions have a hill hold assist, where the car will use its electronic parking brake to "hold" the wheels in place until enough forward momentum is detected to release them. This tactic prevents the vehicle from unnecessarily rolling backward.

What's more, many vehicles — like the Honda Civic Si or Nissan Z— have automatic rev-matching downshifts. When you're shifting down through the gears to pick up speed, the transmission will automatically "blip" the throttle, smoothing out the transitions when moving from, say, fourth gear to third. It makes driving at slower speeds in the city a lot easier — and makes driving a manual that much less daunting.