Shifting your car early may hurt its engine and gears over time. This is because when you shift early, the engine speeds up too quickly which can cause it to wear out faster. Additionally, shifting early puts more stress on the gears which can also lead to them breaking down sooner. Ultimately, whether or not shifting your car early hurts it depends on how often you do it and how well you maintain your vehicle. If you shift early occasionally, it likely won't have a significant impact but if you do it frequently or don't take good care of your car, it could start to experience problems down the line.