When do you use drive in a standard transmission car?

In a standard transmission car (manual), you use the drive (D) position only when the car is already moving and you want to automatically shift between gears while driving. You don't use drive to start the car from a standstill. Standard transmissions don't have a "drive" gear in the same way an automatic transmission does. Instead, you use the clutch and the gear stick to select the appropriate gear (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and sometimes reverse and neutral) depending on the speed and situation.