How to Reverse a Car for Beginners (Instructions for Manual & Automatic)

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Driving instructor Ibrahim Onerli shows us how to back up safely and without mishaps

Co-authored by Ibrahim Onerli and Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: December 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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Shifting to Reverse (Manual)

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Shifting to Reverse (Automatic)

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Backing Up

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Turning in Reverse

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Video

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Q&A

Driving in reverse is almost as simple as driving forward, and is nothing to be intimidated by! With a little practice, you’ll be reversing like a pro in an action movie—but more safely, of course. We talked to certified driving instructor Ibrahim Onerli about how to reverse both in cars with manual and automatic transmissions, from changing gear to turning with care.

Reversing a Car

Driving instructor Ibrahim Oberli reminds us to put the car in a complete stop before reversing. Then, with your foot on the brake (and on the clutch, in manual cars), shift the gear to reverse. Lightly ease your foot off the brake while looking behind you to begin backing up. Go slowly while glancing all around you.

Section 1 of 4:

Putting a Manual Car in Reverse Gear

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Bring the car to a full stop and conduct a 360-degree check. Onerli says that before you reverse in any vehicle, ensure that the car is fully stopped.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview} Make sure your foot is on the brake—the center, widest pedal in cars with manual transmissions. Then, do a quick “360 degree check,” which is when you actively turn your head and shoulders to look all around your vehicle in a complete circle. Make sure there is nothing in your way and that all’s clear behind your car.^{[2]
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- Make sure to look toward the ground on either side of your vehicle to ensure there are no people or animals in your path.
- Remember that things often appear farther away than they really are when you look in the mirror. That’s why it’s important to actually turn around and view things directly.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Ibrahim Onerli is a Driving Instructor and the Manager of Revolution Driving School in New York City. His mission is to make the world a better place by teaching safe driving.
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Press the clutch with your left foot and shift the gear lever to reverse. Once fully stopped and sure that the way is clear, Onerli says to press the clutch pedal—the pedal all the way to the left—all the way down with your left foot, while still holding the brake pedal down with your right foot.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview} This is how we shift gears in a manual car. Then, grab the gear shift lever with your right hand and move it to “R” which is often to the right and down on the gear shift. Keep pressing the brake! You’re now in reverse.
- The position of the Reverse gear varies by car model. In some cars, it’s on the left side of the gear shift. In others, you may need to press down on the gear shift first. Consult your owner’s manual for instructions specific to your car.

Section 2 of 4:

Putting an Automatic Car in Reverse Gear

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Bring the car to a complete stop and check for pedestrians. Onerli reminds us to bring the car to a full stop before we begin reversing.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview} Do this by pressing on the brake—the left-hand pedal on cars with automatic transmissions. Then, turn your head and shoulders to look all around your vehicle in a complete circle. Make sure nothing and nobody is in your way or moving toward you that you may need to take into account before backing up.^{[5]
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- It’s okay to use your mirrors to aid in your check, but it’s important that you actively look around to ensure you don’t miss anything.
- Make sure to look toward the ground on either side of your vehicle to ensure there are no people or animals in your path.
When driving automatic cars, shifting is simple. While holding the brake down with your right foot, hold the gear shift lever with your right hand. Then, pull the lever back toward you until it’s aligned with the “R” or reverse gear. Keep your foot on that brake, Oneli reminds us.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview} Once the gear is aligned with the “R,” you’re in reverse and ready to back up.

Section 3 of 4:

Backing Up

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Face the rear of your car while keeping your foot on the brake. You have to turn and look back over your passenger-side shoulder, Onerli tells us. This gives you the best view of what’s happening behind and to the sides of your car, which is crucial.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview} Hold the brake all the way down with your right foot while you pivot in your seat and get into position. Also, check your mirrors frequently to make sure they show you what’s behind you, and adjust them as needed.
- Also, place your free hand on the top center of the steering wheel, which gives you the most control while driving one-handed.
- To get more comfortable, place your passenger-side hand on the passenger seat while you crane your neck.
- On automatic or standard cars, the brake is the pedal on the left. In manual cars, it’s the middle pedal.
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Ease your foot off the brake to start slowly reversing. “Do not release the brake pedal completely,” warns Onerli. Otherwise, your car will accelerate backward too quickly. Lightly release your foot, instead, to begin backing up, controlling your speed by pressing down or releasing on the brake. There’s no need to use your gas, Onerli adds—the car will move as long as the engine is started and you’re not completely pressing down the brake.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview}
- Keep your eyes on the road behind your car! It’s important to always know where your car is headed, especially when reversing.
- Rarely, you might find yourself reversing over longer distances. This is when it’s okay to lift your foot off the brake completely and gently use the gas to go a little faster. Be careful, though! Go slow, and always be ready to brake again.
- As you go, keep glancing in your mirrors and all around you for barriers or pedestrians.
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Press the brake again to bring the car to a stop and shift gears. Once you’re all backed up to where you need to be, just gradually press down on the brake again until the car comes to a full stop, and keep your foot on the brake while you shift gears. Try to use only your brake while backing up, Onerli recommends, not the gas.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview} If you’re parking, shift to Park, or “P.” If you’re still driving, shift into gear as usual.
- On cars with manual transmissions, make sure to shift using the clutch! On automatics, simply move the gear shift lever to P.
- If you’re learning to drive, practice in an empty parking lot before you take your car into traffic.
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Enlist the help of a friend if needed, like when backing up a trailer. Sometimes, backing up can be a little tricky, like when backing up in a crowded space or when a trailer blocks your vision. More modern cars have handy reverse cameras to help you.^{[10]
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Research source} But if yours doesn’t ask a friend or bystander to direct you while standing outside the car. Never rely solely on your mirrors, which tend to distort your surroundings and don’t offer a complete, 360-degree view.
- Your mirrors are handy tools for quick checks around you, but shouldn’t be your primary tool. Your own eyes and neck are primary!
- Have your friend stand behind the vehicle on one side to ensure you can see them as they guide you.
- Make sure to open your windows and turn off the radio to hear your friend’s instructions as you back up.

Section 4 of 4:

Turning as You Back Up

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Turn the wheel in the direction you want the back of the car to turn. The dynamic of driving in reverse is quite different from that of normal driving because the wheels you turn to steer are at the front of the car. This means that when you reverse, the back of the car will go in the direction you turn the top of the wheel. Onerli recommends practicing and getting a feel for this before you actually drive in traffic.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview}
- Turning the wheel to the left as you back up will cause the back of the car to go left and vice versa.
- Stop the car if you feel uneasy about the direction it is heading, then set off again once you’ve gained control.
- You may need to use 2 hands to make a tight turn, like when parallel parking. In this case, still keep your eyes behind your car while you operate the wheel.
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Check the clearance of the front end frequently. As you turn the vehicle, the front end of the car will swing in the opposite direction that the back end is turning. Check the area around the front of the car frequently as you back up slowly to ensure you don’t hit or run over anything with the front wheels.^{[12]
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Research source} Keep your head on a swivel and stay aware of everything around you to avoid a collision.
- If you are turning left as you back up, the front of the car will swing to the right, and vice versa.
- Make sure you are going slowly enough that you can check the front of the car for clearance without hitting anything.
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Transition your right foot to the gas pedal if needed. If you are backing up a hill or need to turn, you may need to utilize the gas pedal occasionally while backing up, since it takes a bit more power than just backing up in a straight line. Once your right foot is completely off of the brake, move it over the gas pedal to the right of the brake. Press down on the pedal slowly to control the amount of speed you pick up as you back up.^{[13]
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- Make subtle adjustments to your speed by applying pressure to the gas pedal.
- Bring your foot back to the brake once you have gained sufficient speed or if you need to slow back down.
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Never go faster than what makes you feel comfortable. Backing up can feel quite different than driving forward, and your view is often compromised by the back of the car and a limited view out of your window. Onerli reminds us not to hurry while backing up and instead take our time to prevent accidents.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview}
- Feel free to stop the vehicle and take a minute if you feel uncertain about what you’re doing.

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How do I use the wiper and lights in the car?

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Your car's manual should have specific instructions telling you where to locate these commands, but they are often located on or next to the steering wheel.

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When in reverse, if the car is moving to the right, should I turn left or right to correct it?

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You should turn your wheel to the left. This will pull you out of backing to the right.

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Once in reverse gear, my car starts moving. Is this normal?

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Yes. It is normal for your car to idle when in any gear.

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