Photo: Tom Harpel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
On the Pennsylvania road test you parallel park midway between two uprights in a space 24 feet long and 8 feet wide. You get one attempt and no more than three adjustments, and the whole car must end up inside the space without touching an upright, crossing the painted line or going onto the curb. This guide sets out the exact rules, the five-step method from the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, and how to practice.
Key facts
- Space: 24 feet long, 8 feet wide, marked by uprights front and rear.
- One attempt, maximum three adjustments.
- Fail if you touch an upright, cross the painted line, or mount or go over the curb, or if any part of the car is outside the space.
- Self-parking cars are allowed, but the feature must stay off.
PA parallel parking test rules
| Rule | What PennDOT requires |
|---|---|
| Position | Midway between the two uprights |
| Space size | 24 feet long by 8 feet wide |
| Final position | Entire vehicle completely inside the space |
| Contact | No contact with the uprights to the rear or front |
| Lines and curb | Do not cross the painted line or go up onto or over the curb |
| Attempts | One attempt, no more than three adjustments |
| Driver aids | Advanced Parking Guidance (self-parking) must be off for the whole test |
PennDOT does not define “adjustment” in the manual. A safe reading is to treat each change between forward and reverse as one and plan to finish in as few as possible.
How to parallel park: the five steps in PUB 95
The manual’s method for parking at a right-hand curb, written for a space between two parked cars. On the test, the front upright plays the role of the car ahead.
- Line up. Stop even with the vehicle ahead, about 2 feet away from it.
- Turn in. Turn the wheels sharply right and back slowly toward the vehicle behind.
- Straighten. As your front door passes the back bumper of the vehicle ahead, quickly straighten the wheels and keep backing straight.
- Swing in. When you are clear of the vehicle ahead, turn the wheels sharply left and back slowly toward the vehicle behind.
- Center. Turn the wheels sharply right and pull toward the center of the space.
Finish no more than 12 inches from the curb. Before you leave a parked car, PUB 95 says to turn off the engine, remove the key, lock the doors and check for traffic behind before getting out. PennDOT also has a free parallel parking training video, linked from its Test Your Knowledge page.
Practice plan
- Build a test box. Mark out 24 by 8 feet in an empty parking lot with cones or soft markers at each end, so a touch costs nothing.
- Use the test car. Reference points (where the upright appears in the rear window or mirror) change from car to car.
- Count your adjustments. Practice finishing in three or fewer, then in one.
- Check, then move. Look all around before every reverse, and signal as you would on the street.
- Log it. Supervised parking practice is behind-the-wheel time, so record it with your 65 hours. See the 65-hour log guide.
Parking rules that also appear on the knowledge test
- Park in the direction traffic moves, no more than 12 inches from the curb. With no curb, pull as far off the road as possible.
- Downhill, with or without a curb: turn the wheels fully to the right.
- Set the parking brake and shift to Park (automatic) or Reverse or First (manual).
- No parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, 30 feet of a roadside stop sign, yield sign or flashing signal, or 50 feet of the nearest rail at a railroad crossing.
More national context: US parking rules for new drivers.
Common questions
How big is the parallel parking space on the PA road test?
24 feet long and 8 feet wide.
Is parallel parking still on the Pennsylvania road test?
Yes. PennDOT’s current online manual lists it as something the examiner may ask you to do.
Can I fail just for touching an upright?
Yes. Contact with an upright, crossing the line, mounting the curb or ending outside the space all break the rules.
Can I use my car’s parking camera?
The manual only bans the self-parking feature. Do not depend on a camera; the examiner will be watching your mirror and over-the-shoulder checks.
How many tries do I get?
One attempt, using no more than three adjustments.
What else is on the test?
See the Pennsylvania road test guide and road tests by state. The full route is in learning to drive in Pennsylvania.
Sources
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, PUB 95 (4-21)” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Testing”, Online Driver’s Manual (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Test Your Knowledge” (pa.gov)