An actuating mechanism for actuating a gearbox emergency release of a gearbox of a motor vehicle having a parking lock and being mechanically locked by means of the parking lock when the parking lock is activated, having at least one actuating element fixed to the vehicle, by means of which the parking lock can be manually and mechanically deactivated, and having a tool formed separate from the actuating element, by which the actuating element can be manually and mechanically activated for the manual deactivating of the parking lock, wherein the tool comprises a threaded spindle and at least one corresponding movement element, which can be moved by a relative rotation between the threaded spindle and the movement element in translation along the threaded spindle and relative to it, in order to thereby actuate the actuating element.