How Do I Know What Transmission I Have?

By Mister Transmission

Did you know that no one component in your car has more going on inside it than your transmission?

Modern vehicle transmissions use a combination of sophisticated hydraulics and computer-controlled electronic components to transfer engine power to the driveshaft and wheels, and most modern drivers remain blissfully unaware of these complex systems until something goes awry.

Without a doubt, your vehicle’s transmission is the most complicated and least understood system in your car or truck, so it is little wonder that the majority of car questions—and repair service calls—have to do with transmission systems.

Have you ever wondered what kind of transmission your car or truck has under the hood? If so, you’re either in need of a repair due to transmission problems, such as high engine revs and transmission slipping, or you’re just curious about what goes on under the hood. In either case, Mister Transmission is here to help!

Read on to learn how to identify what type of transmission you’ve got under the hood, or call (800)-373-8432 to locate a Mister Transmission technician near you.

Transmission system basics: The different types of transmissions

Knowing your vehicle’s transmission type is essential to optimize upkeep and reduce service costs, but this is often easier said than done without the experienced eye of a transmission specialist.

Today there are over 200 transmission types on the road, and some car models may well have three or four types based on the engine size. To complicate matters further, some car manufacturers will even change the types or designs of transmissions on different car models from year to year. Even worse is if the transmission has been changed since the car was originally made—this can be a serious source of confusion for drivers and inexperienced transmission technicians.

This might sound a little overwhelming, but don’t worry—your local Mister Transmission is here to help.

Is my transmission manual or automatic?

Before you can determine your transmission specifications, you’ll need to know the basics. For starters, is your vehicle transmission manual or automatic?

Vehicles with manual transmission use a clutch to connect and disconnect the transmission to the engine, which is controlled manually through a foot pedal next to the brake pedal. Thus, identifying a manual transmission is easy: if you must shift gears yourself, and there’s a clutch pedal protruding from the floorboards, you have a manual transmission.

Conversely, if you only have to place your car into drive or reverse to make it move, and there is no clutch pedal, you know your vehicle uses an automatic transmission.

4 ways to identify your vehicle’s transmission system

At this point, you’re ready to dig deeper into your transmission systems specifications. If you’re not ready to book a free road test and multicheck with a Mister Transmission near you, you can check the following places for clues:

1.   The owner’s manual

A great place to start is to locate your vehicle’s owner’s manual. In many cases, the manual may indicate what type of transmission you have, or else it may refer to both a manual and standard transmission option.

2.   Placard on the driver’s side door

Open the driver’s side door and look for a white placard with small black lettering. This card contains specific details about the year the car was made, its transmission, engine specifications and other details.

To determine what type of transmission system you have under the hood, write down the code that appears underneath or beside the “TR” symbol. Once you have this code handy, call your local Mister Transmission and our technicians will look up your system specifications.

3.   Oil pan

Some transmission systems can be identified by the shape of the oil pan alone. If your vehicle has an irregular shape, you likely have a manual transmission.

To locate the oil pan, take a peek under your vehicle.

Get more help identifying your vehicle’s transmission system: Call Mister Transmission

If none of these options work, write down your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and contact your local Mister Transmission. Our technicians will look up your vehicle’s transmission system specifications with a few quick keystrokes.

Alternatively, you can visit your local Mister Transmission for a full inspection. A certified mechanic will identify your vehicle’s transmission system, then provide whatever repair, maintenance or part replacement services may be required, without you having to make a separate outing.

For your convenience, we offer:

To book a free road test and multi check, you can:

Is my car automatic or CVT?

Looking at buying or leasing a vehicle and want to know if you should opt for one with an automatic transmission or a CVT? Do you have a CVT and aren’t sure how to care for it?

A CVT vehicle is better than the average automatic transmission vehicle. CVTs operate more smoothly than other automatic transmissions and we can expect to see more vehicles utilise CVTs. Read More

Are automatic and manual transmissions the same?

Is there a way to definitively say that manual transmissions have the advantage over automatic transmissions or vice versa?

There are a few qualities of a manual transmission vehicle that are superior to those of an automatic transmission. For one, manual transmissions are usually cheaper to buy than automatic transmission vehicles. Read More

What is the most common transmission type?

The most common type of transmission that is available in vehicles today is the automatic transmission.

Designers spent decades perfecting the modern automatic transmission. Here we offer a brief introduction and overview of automatic transmission history. Read More

What is the most common type of transmission?

Cars are continuously evolving, improving, and becoming more efficient. That goes for the transmission as well.

From starting with manual transmissions, to the introduction of automatic transmissions in 1939 – learn about the evolution of the modern transmission. Read More

How do you know if a car is automatic or manual?

A lot of new drivers, and even some experienced ones, don’t actually know what kind of transmission they drive.

If you’re one of these people, you should know so you can take care of it better. So, let’s figure it out. What transmission do you have? Read More

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Customer Reviews
Hi I had my 1966...
Craig
Hi I had my 1966 Chevelle Malibu SS in at Mister Transmission Sarnia to have the transmission worked on last year. Mike in the back shop worked on my car (pride and joy). He did the repairs that was needed done and a few extra things done without request. The car ran like a dream when I got it back. The cost was lower then they said it would be. I'm very fussy on who works on my car. The owner (manager) was awesome to deal with. Then this week 04 July 2025 I needed a shift cable repaired as I was headed out with my car . I went to the shop and they were over loaded with work. Mike made time to get my car fixed so I could use it on the weekend. They went the extra mile to get my car fixed and again I could not complain about the cost to repair the cable. I fully recommend them and the people that work there are outstanding. A special thanks to Mike who worked on my baby(my car) thanks so much guys. They are my go to shop with my Classic car and all my vehicles.
Date: July 5, 2025
Website: Google
I had a fantastic experience...
Xavier Montenegro
I had a fantastic experience with the whole Mr. Transmission team. Jordan and Jason are fantastic at their jobs, and they are truly willing to be honest and completely transparent with you. I took my 2018 Sierra to them for some transmission work (shocker), and they were quick, and the transmission now works fantastically. There were some small hiccups, the transmission initially acted a little weird, but they were quick to correct that. I had my spark plugs and a few coils swapped over here. One of the coils they got from GM blew up and took a couple of fuses with it. They comped the tow and had it fixed quickly, and were incredibly apologetic about the whole thing. Overall, if you are looking for quality service from a tried and true team, this is the place you want to go.
Date: July 5, 2025
Website: Google
Mandy was extremely helpful in...
Don Brindle
Mandy was extremely helpful in getting out 2009 VW beetle back on the road, we are from out of town and he was very compassionate to our situation and helped at every level, if you are in Cambridge and need help, Mandy is your man!
Date: July 3, 2025
Website: Google
These guys do good work....
Hunter Frederick
These guys do good work. And a fair price. 👍👍
Date: July 3, 2025
Website: Google
Excellent service, and fantastic staff....
KoiLady
Excellent service, and fantastic staff. We’re from BC and travel full-time. Our GMC diesel truck needed a ATF and filter change, and these awesome guys got us in next day. The cost was what they quoted, and we waited while they did the work. We’d absolutely go there again, and recommend them to others.
Date: July 3, 2025
Website: Google
Excellent service, and fantastic staff....
KoiLady
Excellent service, and fantastic staff. We’re from BC and travel full-time. Our GMC diesel truck needed a ATF and filter change, and these awesome guys got us in next day. The cost was what they quoted, and we waited while they did the work. We’d absolutely go there again, and recommend them to others.
Date: July 3, 2025
Website: Google
Amazing customer service from Dan...
Justine Butka
Amazing customer service from Dan and the crew. Took my 2018 Tuscon there with acceleration problems and Dan took the time to investigate and solve the issues even without my vehicle showing any codes. I had previously had 4 visits to other shops without any results to solve this issue and was told because there was no engine code they couldn’t do anything. But, Dan was able to diagnose and solve the problem and in 2 days had my car back on the road. It was a clogged catalytic converter. Thank you for your professionalism and experience.
Date: July 1, 2025
Website: Google
They assisted me with a...
Omid Bashiri
They assisted me with a test drive without any appointment to figure out the problem of my transmission. No other place could identify but this location. Great place to service your vehicle that you can trust
Date: June 29, 2025
Website: Google
Had my truck in for...
Isaac Fitz
Had my truck in for a transmission fluid, filter, diffs fluid and t case and had it back same day running smooth. Even showed up late accidentally and they were still able to complete everything
Date: June 28, 2025
Website: Google
Took my Nissan Rogue in...
Shaina Crawford
Took my Nissan Rogue in for some much needed TLC and I was very pleased with my experience. Very friendly staff, quick and efficient with their work. Would definitely recommend to anyone in need.
Date: June 28, 2025
Website: Google
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