Parking an automatic car seems simple—shift to P and walk away, right? But that tiny shortcut is exactly what causes long-term transmission damage, parking pawl failure, and those loud “thunk” noises you hear when you start the car next time. Here’s the correct way to park an automatic car that even many experienced drivers still get wrong. First, come to a complete stop and keep your foot firmly on the brake. Then, before touching the “P” gear, apply the handbrake (parking brake). This step loc