Get a feel for the gears
Drag the knob through the gears. Pause in neutral to let it centre.
Move the lever to the requested gear.
Example petrol car · speed held for practice
Read the instruments, then choose a gear.
Move forwards or backwards to engage a gear.
Move with buttons or keyboard
Use the arrow keys on the knob, or these buttons. Move out of a gear before moving sideways. Space centres the lever in neutral. Buttons hold your chosen neutral position until your next move.
Gear-selection practice: car stationary, clutch fully down. Reverse position and lockout vary between vehicles.
About this simulator
The screen illustrates the gate and centring spring; it cannot reproduce the resistance of a real gear lever. Tap “Lift for reverse” to represent raising the collar, then move left and forwards. The collar resets after a selection or when you release the knob.
Check your car’s handbook. For an example of the collar mechanism, see Ford’s six-speed transmission guidance. Explore and Gear Challenge cover lever movements. Speed & revs adds illustrative gear-choice scenarios; none of these modes simulates clutch operation.
About the speed & revs model
This is a fictional six-speed petrol car. Its gearing and accepted rev ranges are teaching assumptions, not manufacturer specifications or official shift points. Several gears may suit a scenario. Your car, engine load, gradient and traffic can change the appropriate choice.
Speed is held still while you try a gear. The rev counter predicts the revs that gear would produce with the clutch engaged; it does not simulate clutch timing, acceleration or an actual engine. A dash is shown while in neutral. Do not release the clutch into an unsuitable gear.
The model uses 180, 105, 72, 55, 44 and 36 rpm per mph for gears 1–6. For this exercise only, it accepts 1,200–3,000 rpm for gentle cruising, or 1,800–3,500 rpm uphill. These are not rules for driving a real car.
DVSA guidance says to choose a gear for the vehicle’s speed and the road and traffic conditions, and recognises selective gear changing. See Use gears correctly. Use your car’s handbook and your instructor’s guidance.