How to Drive a Stick Shift Up a Hill

If you've ever attempted to drive a stick shift on the streets (or hills) of San Francisco, you know the importance of being able to properly handle your manual-transmission vehicle on an incline. Driving up a steep hill can be a white-knuckled ride, especially when you stop and start again with a car closely on your tail. Vehicles with manual transmission have a tendency to roll backward--especially on a hill--and coordinating the clutch and gas pedal while minimizing rollback can be an intimidating experience. With practice, however, driving a stick can be an exciting and pleasurable experience.

Things You'll Need

  • Manual transmission vehicle
  • Steep incline
  • Make sure your seat belt is fastened securely.

  • Activate the parking brake while waiting for the light to change, or at a stop.

  • Step on the clutch with your left foot; and with your right foot on the brake, put the car into neutral.

  • Shift the gear shift into first gear when the light changes, or from a stop.

  • Slowly ease off the clutch while simultaneously moving your right foot quickly from brake pedal to accelerator.

  • Release the parking brake just as you feel the car beginning to get into gear.

  • Begin driving up the hill, giving more gas as needed, revving the engine a little higher than on flat terrain, so as to not lose momentum.

  • Shift quickly once the car is revving high in first gear; depress the clutch again, and shift to second.

  • Immediately release the clutch while giving the engine gas.