Shifting Gears’ Maxwell Simkins Drove Tim Allen’s Car — With Just a Permit

Playing Tim Allen‘s grandson on Shifting Gears has come with some perks for Maxwell Simkins — including driving the sitcom legend’s actual car on screen despite only having a permit.

“There’s a few episodes where I do drive the car. I don’t even have my license in real life [but] I have my permit,” Simkins, 19, exclusively told Us Weekly. “So as long as there’s someone over 18 in the car with me, they can drive with me. When Tim is in the car, he’s like, ‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing?’”

Simkins noted that Allen, 72, has “a lot of trust” in him. Getting the chance to film with the cars has been a highlight for the young actor.

“I love the episodes where I’m in the car shop with the guys. Those are some of my favorites,” he shared. “I keep telling the writers that if they ever are short on ideas, I’d love to be back in the car shop with those guys.”

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Shifting Gears is coming back for season 2 — but what can fans expect after Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman‘s surprising onscreen kiss? The ABC series, which premiered in January 2025, is set in a car restoration shop opened by Allen’s character, Matt. After reuniting with his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), the duo work […]

Simkins continued: “I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest car fan but I can admire a nice car. I wouldn’t say I’m a car fan to the extent where I know everything about cars but I definitely can admire a nice car.”

Shifting Gears, which premiered in January, follows Matt and his estranged daughter, Riley (Kat Dennings), as they find themselves living together and working to repair their relationship after the loss of their matriarch. Matt also grows closer to Kat’s kids: Carter (Simkins) and Georgia (Barrett Margolis).

“Working with Tim is incredible. He doesn’t have an off switch because that’s just who he is,” Simkins explained. “What you see on camera is who he is. He’s funny and outgoing and he’s always doing bits.”

The actor expressed gratitude for the lessons he learned from Allen two seasons in.

“But I think the one thing I learned from Tim is a huge thing. I learned from him and actually Daryl ‘Chill’ Mitchell as well, to really take time with the jokes and to not rush through them,” he continued. “Sometimes I feel like I get excited or nervous and I rush through the jokes. But they really taught me to take time — sometimes even longer than you’d expect — to make it funnier.”

Simkins gushed about Dennings’ mentorship as well, saying, “She shows up to that set every day so off book and takes the time to care about the lines so much. Most actors will give it a few days and they will learn as they go. She’s already in the second day off book and knowing our lines, knowing her blocking and writing every single note down. She teaches us all to be very professional and try our best.”

The lessons Simkins learned on Shifting Gears he hopes to take with him onto future projects.

“I started in comedy and I hope to end in comedy. But my heart really lies in doing a lot of dramatic roles. I feel like as I get older, I’d love to explore that side of me and try a lot more different things,” he told Us. “I’d love to be able to do something really deep — like a character study.

Simkins isn’t just limiting himself to acting. He is also currently working on screenplays.

“There is a limited series show I’ve been working on that I’m trying to get made. It’s based on a true story and I’m really excited about it. Hopefully the guys that we make it about love the story just as much as we do,” he teased. “I feel like this show is young-hearted and it’s a really good story.”

Shifting Gears returns to ABC on Tuesday, December 10, at 8 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.