A gear knob is the handle on the end of the car's gear stick. For a manual gearbox a gear knob displays the shift pattern for gear selection. For an automatic gearbox a gear knob may include a release button and mode switch. A gear knob is generally located in the centre of the vehicle on the end of the gear stick, between the handbrake lever and centre console. A gear knob can become worn due to standard wear and tear, leaving the shift pattern image unreadable.