Automatic Gear Shift Lever – All The Gear Symbols Explained!

As a driver, it’s important to know the symbols and letters associated with automatic car gear. By knowing what they mean, you can stay safe on the road and avoid potentially dangerous situations.

In this post, Eastern Shore Toyota, serving Summerdale, AL, will look at the most common symbols and letters appearing on automatic transmission gear shifters. We’ll also explain each one, so you can be in the know when behind the wheel. Stay safe out there!

Understanding The Gear Symbols

There are a few symbols that you’ll find on an automatic Toyota transmission shifter. The most common ones are as follows, but there could be slight variations depending upon the make and model of your car!

• P ( Park )
• R ( Reverse )
• N ( Neutral )
• D ( Drive )
• M/S { Manual Shift Mode }
• L/H { Low Gear or High Gear }
• + and – {These are used to shift up or down through the gears}
• 1 ( First gear )
• 2 ( Second gear )
• 3 ( Third gear )

Now that we’ve gone over the basics let’s take a closer look at each.

P – Park:

This position is used when your car is parked and you’re not planning on driving it anytime soon. The parking brake should constantly be engaged when your car is in this position.

R – Reverse:

As you can probably guess, this position is used when you’re backing up. Your car will move in reverse, and you should not engage the parking brake.

N – Neutral:

This position is used when your car is stopped and you’re not planning on driving it anytime soon. The parking brake can either be engaged or disengaged in this position.

D – Drive:

It is the position you’ll use most often when driving. Your car will move forward, and you should not engage the parking brake.

+/-:

These symbols indicate whether you’re in a lower or higher gear. For example, if you see a “-” symbol, you’re in a lower gear. You’re in a higher gear if you see a “+” symbol.

M/S:

M/S stands for manual mode. It is a feature that’s available on some automatic cars. In this mode, you have more control over the car and can choose when to shift gears.

L/H:

L/H stands for low gear or high gear. It is another feature that’s available on some automatic cars. Your car will automatically shift to a lower or higher gear based on the speed in this mode.

1:

The number “one” is used when your car is stopped or travels very slowly.

2:

The number “two” is used when your car travels at a moderate speed.

3:

The number “three” is used when your car is traveling at a fast speed.

We are at hand if you’re searching for a car dealer in Summerdale, AL. It’s important to understand what all of the symbols and letters on the gear shift mean. That way, when you go to test drive a car, you’ll be able to select the right gear and avoid any embarrassing situations easily.

At Eastern Shore Toyota, we want our customers to feel confident about their purchases, so we’ve put together this refresher on automatic car gears. Remember to look at our inventory online before coming in for a test drive; we have a wide selection of new and pre-owned vehicles.

We can’t wait to help you buy the perfect car!