Join the Discord! →

Join hundreds of racers just like you! We love to help answer questions and race together.


How to Disable Auto Engine Start in Iracing

Answering how to disable auto engine start in iRacing for drivers: step-by-step in-sim settings to turn off auto-start so you fix this issue fast and get on track.

If you’re wondering how to disable auto engine start in iRacing, the short answer is: turn off the “Auto Start” option in the car/drive setup or session paddock controls depending on the car and session. You’re in the right place — below is a clear, fast walkthrough.

Quick Answer: how to disable auto engine start in iracing

Open the session or garage controls, find the car/startup options, and uncheck or toggle off “Auto Start/Auto Engine Start.” If you can’t find it, use the car’s HUD menu or the garage dropdown for the specific car — some cars and setups use different labels but the control is always in the car/session settings.

What’s really going on

iRacing can automatically start an engine when you load into a session or when you activate the car. That’s handy for casual driving, but if you use a button, wheel control, or realistic workflow (starter button or map switch), auto-start will override your chosen method. The setting is per-car and can appear in two places: the garage/car settings or the session HUD. It’s not global for all cars unless you change each car’s default setup.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Load the session with the car you want to change (practice, test, or race).
  2. Press ESC to open the Garage/Settings menu (or click the Garage button on-screen).
  3. Look for “Car Settings,” “Vehicle Controls,” or “Engine” — the exact label varies by car.
  4. Find “Auto Start,” “Auto Engine Start,” or “Auto Start Engine” and uncheck or toggle it OFF.
  5. Save the setup if prompted (save to “My Setups” or overwrite the current setup) so the change sticks next time.
  6. If the car still starts automatically, check the session HUD for a quick toggle or check any third-party wheel profiles that might send a start command.

Extra tips / checklist

  • Some cars (especially street cars) auto-start as part of default physics; unchecking the option and saving the setup fixes this.
  • If you use hardware like a button box or wheel: make sure no button is bound to the engine start command in your wheel software.
  • For multiple cars, change the setting in each car’s setup or build a base setup with auto-start off and apply it.
  • If you join series or hosted sessions where setups are locked, you may not be able to change this — contact the host or use a different session.
  • Restart iRacing after changes if the sim behaves oddly; occasional UI glitches can hide toggles until reload.

FAQs

Q: I can’t find “Auto Start” in the garage. Where else?
A: Check the on-car HUD menu during the session or the top-right session controls. Also verify you’re editing the correct setup (some cars have multiple setups).

Q: Will turning this off affect safety or my license?
A: No. It only controls whether the engine spins up automatically. Your safety rating (SR) and iRating are unaffected.

Q: Does this change carry across different tracks or sessions?
A: Only if you save it to the car’s setup used across sessions. If you don’t save, the default will remain.

Q: My engine still starts automatically after disabling it — what now?
A: Check for wheel/controller macros or host-imposed settings. Also ensure you saved the setup and relogged if needed.

Short wrap-up

Disabling auto engine start is a quick in-garage toggle and save. Do it per car, save the setup, and check your wheel/software bindings if it still happens. Try one lap after changing it to confirm the engine starts only when you want it to.