How to switch on cruise control: three moves do it. Get the car up to at least 30 to 40 km/h, press ON or CRUISE on the steering wheel, then confirm the speed with SET. From that point the car holds the pace itself. If you would rather understand how cruise control works first, start with the short explanation.
The short version
- Three moves to switch on: ON/CRUISE, then SET, then foot off the accelerator
- Minimum speed to engage: 30 to 40 km/h (varies by make and model)
- White or grey icon means standby, green means active
- A retrofit kit works like a factory system and takes 2 to 3 hours to fit
Updated: September 2026 | Reading time: 7 min
Contents
- How to switch on cruise control step by step
- What the cruise control buttons mean
- Switching on cruise control by make
- Adaptive cruise control: how to switch it on
- When to use cruise control and when to leave it off
- Cruise control will not switch on: what to check
- What if your car has no cruise control?
- FAQ
How to switch on cruise control step by step
Using cruise control comes down to two stages: you switch the system on, then you store a speed. In most cars built between 2000 and 2025 you do it in almost exactly the same way.
- Get onto a road with steady traffic and reach your target speed.
A dual carriageway, a bypass or a quiet stretch of main road works best. Most cruise controls will not accept the SET command below 30 to 40 km/h, though manufacturers differ on the detail. Ford often wants around 32 km/h, and on other makes the threshold sits somewhere between 25 and 50 km/h.Checkpoint: you are already at a steady pace and you are not constantly braking or feeding in throttle.
- Find the ON/OFF or CRUISE button, or the speedometer icon.
Look on the steering wheel or on the stalk behind it. On some cars the buttons sit on the right of the wheel, on others on the left stalk. Older models often have a separate small lever on the steering column.Checkpoint: you can see a button marked CRUISE, SET or RES, or a speedometer icon.
- Press ON or CRUISE.
This prepares the system but does not store a speed yet. A white or grey speedometer icon usually lights up on the stalk or the dashboard.Checkpoint: a white or grey icon means standby. The system is waiting for you to confirm a speed.
- Press SET or SET-.
The car stores your current speed and starts holding it. On most models the icon turns green. If nothing happens, you are usually going too slowly or resting a foot on the brake.Checkpoint: a green icon means cruise control is actively working.
- Take your foot off the accelerator.
The car holds the speed on its own. On a flat stretch the needle or the digital readout stays steady. On a manual, cruise control also disengages when you press the clutch, because the system detects the break in drive.Checkpoint: the car keeps going without any throttle from you, and the green icon is still lit.
How do you switch it off? Press the brake to pause it, and the system keeps the stored speed. Use OFF or CANCEL to switch off completely. When conditions are good again, press RES and the car returns to the last speed you stored.
This pattern holds for most cars from 2000 to 2025. The exceptions are newer models built around a large touchscreen, a Tesla or a recent BMW for example, where some of the settings also live on the screen.
What the cruise control buttons mean
Button names differ between makes, but what they do is almost always the same. Learn five abbreviations and you can operate most cruise control systems without reaching for the manual.
Day to day you will reach for three buttons: ON, SET and RES. On the motorway you set 120 km/h with SET, brake for a slower car, then come back to 120 km/h with a single press of RES.
Where to look for the buttons
They sit in one of three places. First, on the stalk behind the steering wheel, left or right, which is common in VAG group cars and Toyotas and is also the most popular choice in the AP900 cruise control kit. Second, dedicated buttons on the steering wheel itself, usually on the right, typical of Kia and Hyundai. Third, a separate small lever on the steering column, more common on older cars. The icon looks like a speedometer, and if you can see CRUISE or SET you are in the right place.
Switching on cruise control by make
The principle is the same in every car. What changes is where the buttons sit and what they are called. Here are the most common arrangements.
If you move between makes, you do not have to learn it all again. Switch the system on first, then confirm the speed. What changes is mainly where the button is, not how the thing behaves.
One detail worth knowing, and Kia owner manuals spell it out too: a single press of SET or RES changes the speed by 1 km/h. Holding the button for about a second gives you a 10 km/h jump. That is handy on a dual carriageway when you want to go from 100 to 120 km/h without a run of presses.
Adaptive cruise control: how to switch it on
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an extended version of the classic system. As well as holding a speed it watches the car ahead and slows down or speeds up on its own to keep a safe gap. It does that with a radar behind the grille and a camera near the rear view mirror.
The procedure is almost identical to a classic cruise control, with one extra step:
- Get onto a road with flowing traffic and reach a suitable speed.
- Find the CRUISE button or the cruise control icon.
- Switch the system on with ON or CRUISE.
- Press SET to store the current speed.
- Take your foot off the accelerator and check that the system has taken over.
- Set the gap with the DIST button. You normally get three levels: short, medium and long. In heavier traffic pick medium or long, because the car will brake more gently.
Checkpoint for ACC: the icon is green and the dashboard shows a car ahead of you, or a gap indicator. That tells you the system is not just holding a speed but actively tracking the vehicle in front.
Here is how it plays out: you are doing 120 km/h on a dual carriageway, you set ACC, and you catch a car doing 105 km/h. The system eases off the throttle by itself, holds the distance, and returns to 120 km/h once the outside lane is clear again.
Classic cruise control versus ACC: two differences that matter
Difference 1: how they behave at low speed.
ACC with a Stop and Go function can work from 0 km/h. In a queue it can bring the car to a halt and pull away again behind the traffic, provided the system and the gearbox support it. A classic cruise control usually drops out below roughly 20 to 30 km/h, so it is no help in a traffic jam.
Difference 2: how much they depend on sensors.
ACC can switch itself off when the radar or the camera is covered by dirt, snow or heavy rain, and the car will put a warning on the dashboard. A classic cruise control uses no radar, so rain will not disengage it for that reason, although it is still not the weather for it.
When to use cruise control and when to leave it off
Cruise control gives you the most when traffic is predictable. It does nothing for you where you are braking every few seconds, steering around obstacles or fighting for grip.
Good conditions
- Motorway or dual carriageway
- Flowing traffic, without constant braking
- Good weather and a dry surface
- A long run at a steady speed
- A straight main road, where it is easy to drift over the limit without noticing
Leave it off
- Wet, slippery or snow covered roads, where the risk of aquaplaning rises
- Heavy city traffic: with constant braking, cruise control adds nothing
- Mountain roads with frequent climbs and descents
- Thick fog or heavy rain, particularly with ACC
- When you are tired. Cruise control does not replace an alert driver
On a long motorway run cruise control can take the load off your right leg for hundreds of kilometres. In the middle of a city it will only get in the way. Treat it as a comfort tool, not an autopilot. Keep your hands on the wheel and stay ready to react.
Cruise control will not switch on: what to check
When the system does not respond, the reason is usually simple. Before you assume a fault, check a few things on the move or after a brief stop.
- Speed too low.
Most cars need at least 30 to 40 km/h. Some makes accept SET from 25 km/h, others only from 50 km/h. If you are going too slowly, speed up and try again. - The brake pedal is pressed, or the brake switch is faulty.
Sometimes resting a foot lightly on the brake is enough to block activation. Take your foot off completely and try once more. If it keeps happening, the sensor at the pedal is often the culprit. - The handbrake is on.
In many cars cruise control will not engage while the handbrake is applied, or while the electronics still read it as applied. Check the dashboard light and make sure it is fully released. - ESP or ABS has temporarily switched the system off.
After a slide, hard braking or a traction control intervention, cruise control can disengage. That is normal protection. Switch the system off with OFF, on again with ON, and only then press SET. - An electronic fault.
When a check engine light or another warning light is on, cruise control can be locked out. Book a diagnostic session at a garage, because the problem may sit in the sensors, the pedals or the communication between control units.
Quick diagnosis: check the speed, take your foot off the brake, then look at the dashboard. A white or grey icon means the system is ready. If it will not turn green after SET, a safety condition is blocking it. On a manual, a pressed clutch also disengages cruise control.
What if your car has no cruise control?
If your car left the factory without it, a garage can add one. A retrofit system connects to the electronic throttle pedal, so it behaves much like a factory unit and does not ask you to learn a different way of driving. There is one condition: the car needs an electronic throttle pedal, which covers practically every model built after 2005.
Fitting normally takes 2 to 3 hours and the system works across the 35 to 200 km/h range. More than 10,000 cars are already driving with a kit of this kind.
How to check whether your car has cruise control
Three minutes, no diagnostic computer needed.
- Check the steering wheel and the stalks behind it. Look for buttons with a speedometer icon or the words CRUISE, SET, RES. If they are there, the car probably has cruise control.
- Look in the owner manual. Find the Cruise Control section. It usually shows not just the buttons but also the minimum speed for activation.
- Check the specification in the car’s paperwork. Go back to the registration document or the original sales listing. Cruise control is often listed there as a separate item of equipment.
AP900 Universal Cruise Control
Your companion on every journey.
FAQ
How do you start cruise control?
Get up to at least 30 to 40 km/h, press ON or CRUISE on the steering wheel, then press SET to store the speed. A green icon on the dashboard confirms it is active.
What symbol does cruise control use?
Usually a speedometer icon with a needle, or the word CRUISE. When the system is only on standby the icon is white or grey. After you press SET it turns green.
When should you use cruise control?
Motorways and dual carriageways are ideal, in flowing traffic and good weather. Reach your target speed first, normally at least 30 to 40 km/h. In town, on wet roads and in the mountains you are better off driving without it.
How do you switch cruise control off?
Press the brake if you want to pause it and keep the stored speed. CANCEL or OFF switches the system off completely. To go back to the previous speed, use RES.
How can you tell whether cruise control is on?
Look at the dashboard. A green speedometer icon means cruise control is active. A white or grey icon only tells you the system is ready, not that it is holding a speed.
Which button is the cruise control button?
Usually ON/OFF or CRUISE, either on the steering wheel or on a stalk behind it. Look for a speedometer icon or the word CRUISE. Labels differ between makes, but the logic stays the same.
Does cruise control work with a manual gearbox?
Yes, it works with both manual and automatic. On a manual the system also disengages when you press the clutch, because drive to the wheels is briefly interrupted.
Can you use cruise control on a wet road?
It is not recommended. On a wet or slippery surface the car responds less predictably to changes in grip and the risk of aquaplaning goes up. In those conditions control the throttle yourself.
About the author
Piotr Tobiasz, GTS sp. z o.o., tempomaty.pl
tempomaty.pl | more than 15 years in business | over 10,000 cruise controls fitted
