How to Drive a Manual Car for Beginners, Guaranteed to Be Smooth Right Away

Are you a beginner and want to drive a car smoothly? If so, you need to know the right way to drive a manual car as follows. 

How to Drive a Manual Car for Beginners

There are several easy ways to drive a manual car that beginners need to know. Here are the steps. 

1. Recognize and understand all types of pedals in the car

Recognizing and understanding the function of all types of pedals in the car will help beginners operate the car on the road. On the left side, there is usually a clutch pedal that functions to control the gear shift of the car for easier speed control. In the middle, there is the gas or acceleration pedal that functions to increase speed. And on the right side, there is the brake pedal that functions to slow down or stop the car's speed. 

2. Fasten your seatbelt correctly

Next, fasten your seatbelt correctly to ensure a safe and comfortable driving experience.

3. Stay calm and focused

Next, your mind should be calm and focused while driving. 

4. Understand how to start the car

Before driving a manual car, you also need to understand the correct way to start the car to avoid accidents when you begin to drive. First, make sure the gear lever is in the neutral position before inserting the ignition key. 

Next, press the clutch pedal fully while inserting the ignition key and turning it to the “ON” position. Then, slowly release the clutch pedal you pressed earlier so that the car does not jerk suddenly. 

5. Practice shifting gears

The next step is to practice how to shift car gears correctly so that the car does not jerk or stall suddenly. Shift the transmission lever slowly until the shifting process is smooth. 

6. Drive the car

Once the car is on, try to drive the car slowly by shifting the transmission lever to gear 1 while slowly releasing the clutch pedal. At that moment, also gently press the gas pedal. The car will move with a slight jerk. At this point, you need to increase the gas slightly by slowly releasing the clutch and pressing the gas pedal.

7. Always be ready to brake

If the car's speed feels too fast, you can brake by moving your foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal. Press the brake pedal slowly to reduce the car's speed.

8. Understand how to decrease and increase speed

When there is a vehicle in front of you signaling or about to brake, you must decrease the car's speed. To do this, lift your foot off the gas pedal, then press the clutch pedal. 

When you want to increase speed, you can shift the car's gear by releasing the pressure from the gas pedal, then fully pressing the clutch pedal before shifting the transmission lever. 

9. Understand how to drive on an incline

After you understand how to drive on flat terrain as mentioned above, you need to understand how to drive on an incline. Here are the steps. 

• Use first gear if the incline is steep, and use second gear if the incline is gentle. 
• Use the handbrake and pull the brake lever when the car is stopped. 
• Release the handbrake while releasing the clutch and brake pedals, while pressing the gas pedal so the car can move forward. 
• Use the foot brake if the incline is not too high. 
• Always maintain a safe distance from other vehicles in front of you. 

Read Also: Easy Ways to Drive an Automatic Car for Beginners

These are some ways you can follow as a beginner driver. Additionally, beginner drivers should also regularly check the car's condition to ensure optimal performance. If any damage occurs, take your car to an authorized Daihatsu workshop immediately.