# Stopping and Starting

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** hyundai, sonata\
**Created:** [August 24, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043 "2010-08-24T00:37:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mjuvenal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@mjuvenal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mjuvenal)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043/1 "2010-08-24T00:37:47Z")

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I deliver home delivered meals. I have about 20 stops,. Most are for a few minutes. Is it better to turn off the motor or leave it running?

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043/2 "2010-08-24T00:42:16Z")

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You’ll burn less fuel if you turn the engine off. Idling cars get ZERO mpg.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043/3 "2010-08-24T00:42:41Z")

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“If” the stop is for several minutes then turn off the engine. If it’s just for a couple of minutes then leave it running.

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043/4 "2010-08-24T00:43:13Z")

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It is always best to shut it off and take the keys. A car can be stolen this way, and some insurance companies may deny a claim if the keys were left in it. Legally this is ‘taking’ not ‘stealing’ in some states. A difference between a misdemeanor and a felony. Also, your burning gasoline for no good reason and if a problem occurs with the engine running unattended, it could quickly become catastrophic and cause damage that might have been preventable.

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**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043/5 "2010-08-24T01:58:51Z")

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In some places, it is actually against the law to leave a car running when you leave it.

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**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stopping-and-starting/54043/6 "2010-08-24T02:30:49Z")

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Absolutely shut it off and take the keys. You risk having it stolen if you don’t. Do NOT underestimate what criminals will do.