Driver guides · October 20, 2026

Car won’t shift out of Park? Call Rick’s before trying to move it. Tell us whether the engine starts, what the dashboard says and where the car is parked. Those details help us assess battery assistance or a compatible tow.

For service in Lake View East and Chicago’s North Side, call (312) 451-5785, available 24/7. A vehicle that cannot roll needs a different pickup assessment from one that simply will not start.

“Stuck in Park” can describe several situations. The lever may not move, the selector may move while the display stays on P, or the transmission may select a gear while the vehicle still will not move. Tell us which one you are seeing.

• Does the engine start, click, or remain silent?
• Do the dashboard and interior lights come on?
• Is there a message about the brake pedal, key, transmission or parking brake?
• Is the vehicle on a slope, garage ramp or level parking space?
• Do you have the key, and is the steering locked?

Do not force the selector or ask someone to push the vehicle to test it. Read any warning message from the driver’s seat while safely parked. If the car is in a live traffic lane or immediate danger, call 911.

Normal shifting conditions and emergency release methods vary by vehicle. Hyundai’s 2026 Elantra IVT guidance, for example, directs an owner who cannot leave Park to the model’s shift-lock-release instructions and warns that Park does not replace the parking brake.

A release can allow the vehicle to roll. Do not follow a generic video, pull an unfamiliar release cable or remove trim to prepare for a truck. Have the exact year, model and owner’s manual available so the operator can determine the appropriate loading procedure. Do not release a parked vehicle on an incline just to see whether it moves.

For a Lake View East curbside pickup, give the street address, nearest cross street and which direction the car faces. Along Broadway, Belmont Avenue or Sheridan Road, describe the space around it without stepping into traffic.

For a garage, give the vehicle entrance, level, posted clearance, ramps and gate restrictions. Explain if the car is nose-in against a wall. Our garage and tight-space towing guide covers access details to have ready. Do not roll a disabled car down a ramp to make access easier.

Start your call with: “My car won’t shift out of Park. It is a [year, make and model], and it is parked at…” We’ll discuss equipment fit, access, availability, an arrival estimate and the quote for the described service. Call (312) 451-5785.