Can You Drive With an Engine Misfire?
Drive with caution (short trips only)Caution: You may be able to drive a short distance with a mild misfire, but it’s not safe to keep driving like that. Get it diagnosed quickly—especially if the check engine light is flashing.
A misfire can feel like shaking, stumbling, or loss of power. It can quickly overheat the catalytic converter and stress internal engine parts.
Quick answer
For a noticeable engine misfire, the short answer is you can usually drive a short distance with caution. You should still have a mechanic confirm the cause as soon as you can.
What this means for your car
This page is a general driving‑safety guide, not a diagnosis. The exact risk depends on your car, how it’s behaving, and whether other warning lights or symptoms are present. When in doubt, it’s always safer to park the car and arrange a tow rather than “seeing if it makes it home.”