Is it safe to drive with a slipping transmission for a few more days?

Author : Jemima Topham | Published On : 17 Jun 2026

I'm in a bit of a bind because my 2012 Toyota Camry's transmission started slipping yesterday, and I really need to get to work for the next few days before I can take it to a shop over the weekend. The car drives okay at low speeds and in city traffic, but when I try to accelerate onto the highway, the engine revs up and there's a noticeable delay before the power kicks in, which is pretty scary when you're trying to merge with fast-moving traffic. I'm just wondering if I'm risking catastrophic failure by driving it for a few more days, or if it's likely to hold up as long as I drive gently and avoid heavy acceleration. I know the sensible answer is "don't drive it," but I don't really have other transport options and taking time off work isn't really feasible right now. I've been trying to Find Out More about how long a transmission can last once it starts slipping, and I'm seeing really mixed answers, from people who drove for months with slight slippage to others who had their gearbox completely fail within a day. I'm planning to get it to a specialist as soon as I can, but I just need to figure out whether I'm making a huge mistake by not getting it towed straight away. Has anyone else been in this situation and managed to get by for a few days without causing additional damage, or did you regret not getting it sorted immediately? I'd really appreciate some practical advice from people who've been through this before.