How to perform a hill start

How to do a hill start

Lots of people struggle to get the car moving on a hill, and there are a number of reasons for doing so. Some people stall, some people roll back and some do both. Whether that's you or you just want to know how to do a hill start effectively, without rolling back, then carry on reading.

Let's assume that you are parked on a hill - stationary with the handbrake on.

The first thing you'll want to do is press the clutch pedal down fully and put the car into first gear. Just like standard moving off, you'll need to apply the accelerator so the rev counter is showing between 1,000 and 2,000. If the hill is very steep then make sure it is close to or on 2,000.

Slowly, bring the clutch up to the biting point (which is usually about halfway up). Hold your left foot in position on the clutch pedal once you feel a tug on the car and the front starts to raise. If you can't feel the tug from the front, you'll need to bring the clutch up a bit more.

Now that you've found the biting point, you'll need to complete a 360/6-point check, looking all around you. If you're moving away from the left hand side of the road, you'll need to end your check over your right shoulder. If you're on the right hand side, you'll need to finish the check over your left shoulder. Make sure it's both clear and safe to move away.

While you're doing your 360 check, as you approach your interior and right door mirror (assuming you're moving away from the left hand side), determine whether a signal would be necessary. If there's nobody there, you don't need to put a signal on. If there is, make sure you do.

As you check your right shoulder, and when you feel it's safe to go, release the handbrake with your left hand. Keep your left foot - which should still be on the clutch at the biting point - still, until the handbrake has been fully released. As you're removing the handbrake, slowly apply the accelerator more while simultaneously bringing up the clutch. If you don't increase the acceleration, you'll need to hold your left foot on the clutch for longer.

After between 3-4 seconds, your left foot should be completely raised. You might need second gear at this point as well. Make sure to jump up a gear if the engine starts revving a lot, making a lot of noise.

If you applied a signal, check your mirrors (interior and right door mirror if moving away from the left), then cancel the signal.

If the car judders at any point, then either you're not applying the accelerator enough, the clutch is too high or a combination of the two.

Keep stalling?

If you bring the clutch up too quickly or you don't increase the accelerator as you bring the clutch up, then your chance of stalling will be much greater.

Assuming you're in slow moving traffic and your right foot is on the brake pedal:

1. First of all, you can use the handbrake if it helps you find your feet and stop you rolling back
2. If you have stopped just for a split second, you'll need really quick and precise feet - check your door mirrors to make sure nothing has come beside you before starting to move again.
3. Assuming your left foot is down on the clutch, you're in first gear and your right foot is on the brake, you will need to start bringing the clutch up to its biting point.
4. When you feel a slight tug, or just before you feel a tug, come off the brake pedal quickly and set the acceleration to between 1,000 and 2,000 revs on the rev counter. Bring the clutch 1-3mm higher, holding your left foot in position there - it should not be fully raised yet.
5. If the car doesn't move and you are pressing down on the accelerator, bring the clutch up a few millimetres more.
6. Once you feel the car is maintaining its position or is slightly moving forwards, you should co-ordinate your left and right feet together, like a see-saw. The left foot should come up and the right foot presses further down.
7. Now that you are moving, make sure to check your mirrors and increase your speed.

You shouldn't have rolled back and you've completed a successful hill start!