Parallel parking

By the end of this topic you can

• You can judge whether a space is big enough for your car.
• You can position your car alongside the parked car before you start.
• You can use reference points to know when to steer left, straighten and steer right.
• You can keep looking all around and stop for other road users.
• You can finish close to the kerb and reasonably parallel to it, without touching it.

What you need to know and understand

• Parallel parking at the side of the road is one of the reversing exercises on the current driving test.
• Do not park facing against the flow of traffic, and stay close to the kerb.
• Do not park within 10 metres of a junction, except in an authorised parking space.
• As you steer, the front of your car swings out, so check for traffic and cyclists on your right.
• Reference points differ between cars, so learn the ones for the car you drive.
• Before opening your door, check for cyclists and other traffic.

A reliable routine

1. Check your mirrors, signal left if it helps, and stop alongside the parked car, about a door's width away, with your rear bumper roughly level with theirs.
2. Select reverse, which also shows your reversing lights. Check all around, including both blind spots.
3. Reverse slowly in a straight line until the back of your car is about level with the back of the parked car.
4. Look all around again, then steer left about one turn to angle the car into the space, looking mainly over your left shoulder.
5. When the car is at roughly 45 degrees to the kerb, or your reference point shows it, straighten the wheel and keep reversing slowly.
6. When the front of your car clears the back of the parked car, look round and steer right to bring the front in.
7. As the car becomes parallel to the kerb, straighten the wheel and stop. Secure the car.

Making reference points work

A reference point is something on your car, such as a point on the door mirror or the rear window, that lines up with the kerb or the other car when it is time to act. Your instructor will help you find ones that suit your car and your seating position.

Remember that reference points are guides, not rules. Different kerbs, cambers and car sizes mean you will always need to watch and adjust. If the car is going wrong, stop, pull forward a little and correct it rather than forcing it.

Observation matters as much as accuracy

• Look all around before you start and before each change of steering.
• Expect the front of the car to swing towards the middle of the road as you steer left.
• Watch the pavement for pedestrians and the road for cyclists coming past.
• If someone approaches, stop and let them pass before carrying on.

Common mistakes

• Reversing too fast and missing your reference point. Keep to a slow walk.
• Steering right too early, so the back of the car ends up far from the kerb. Wait until the front clears the parked car.
• Forgetting to look right as the front swings out. Check all round before every steering change.
• Hitting or mounting the kerb. Go slowly and stop if you are getting too close.
• Choosing a space that is too small. Look for one that is comfortably bigger than your car while you are learning.

Test yourself: Parallel parking

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Driving Test Manoeuvres in GB
• Parking Rules UK Highway Code