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I can't seem to find an answer to this question. Is there any way someone outside the vehicle can know you are in neutral when you are driving by?

nope. just don't do anything to give it away.. like going double the speed limit...

Short answer: no. They might be able to if they see you manipulating the shifter, but that's all.

Thanks. I drive a stick so any movement there could just be shifting anyway. I'm just wondering because I looked up the law and it says coasting in neutral when going downhill is illegal in my state. What is strange is that I didn't see anything that specifically said turning off the engine was illegal. I may have missed it though.

I've often wondered it people know I'm coasting. If I were to shut the engine off it would be obvious because the lights come on as soon as you turn the key.

Hello I really don't think people are paying that much attention to your car!

They are too busy talking on their cell phone, speeding around you, and not paying attention at the road at all.

I fully agree kelly.cardona.

I can't seem to find an answer to this question. Is there any way someone outside the vehicle can know you are in neutral when you are driving by?

That is something that was left over from the beginning of the car era. You should always be in control of the car, and coasting in neutral on old-style roads would easily lead to loss of brake power/overheat.

Modern cars are built to handle this securely (stable idling, automatic choce etc), and no court would punish you for doing it.

A hypermiler would always opt for engine braking before using the brakes

I wasn't thinking so much of other drivers but cops. I went by 2 this week that were looking for speeders and I was in neutral at the time.

I FAS the Insight as much as possible and don't think any of the other traffic has a clue (well, they may be clueless in general so maybe that's not a good measure?). I've worked on it and can do it so even passengers don't feel it. So I doubt if a cop would notice unless the headlights went on or off at night.

Coasting in neutral with the engine on (NICE-ON) should be undetectable at all times. And also legal: with an MT you have to pass through neutral to get to another gear, so you are always coasting in neutral when you shift, if only briefly.

I FAS the Insight as much as possible and don't think any of the other traffic has a clue (well, they may be clueless in general so maybe that's not a good measure?). I've worked on it and can do it so even passengers don't feel it. So I doubt if a cop would notice unless the headlights went on or off at night.

Coasting in neutral with the engine on (NICE-ON) should be undetectable at all times. And also legal: with an MT you have to pass through neutral to get to another gear, so you are always coasting in neutral when you shift, if only briefly.

On the same analogy theory, it can't be punishable to cut your engine off at red lights. I can't remember how many times I've stalled once my light turns green (not paying attention, etc.). Those restarts are analogous.

On the same analogy theory, it can't be punishable to cut your engine off at red lights.
Hybrids autostop at lights, and also shut down under certain conditions while moving. Seems virtually certain that Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, and Nissan will have had their lawyers go all over this.