Parallel Parking Made Easy

Parallel parking is one of those driving skills that can seem scary or difficult to many drivers. The challenge of backing your car precisely into a standard-size space, on a busy street with traffic backing up behind you, can definitely stress you out.

But parallel parking doesn’t have something that you fear. Like so many other driving skills, parallel parking can be quickly learned, and then perfected with practice. Let’s take a look at how to parallel park your car like a pro!

What is parallel parking?

Parallel parking is a process by which your car can be maneuvered into a parking space that is parallel to, or in line with, the street. And why does parallel parking require backing the car into the parking space? That’s because the front wheels that steer can be used to guide the rear wheels close to the curb first, and can then steer the front of the car into the space, so it lines up with the rear of the car and the curb – all within a limited amount of space. If you have ever tried to pull into a single parking space going forward, you likely ended up with the rear end hanging out into the street, and no easy way to get it into the space. Backing into the space works much better – once you know how.

Parallel parking, step by step

The best place to practice your parallel parking is on a residential street with minimal traffic. This way, you won’t be bothered much by cars coming up behind you as you figure the process out. Start with a large spot (two car lengths or longer) to make it easy, and then try smaller and smaller spots as you sharpen your skills. Let’s go!

RepairPal Parallel Parking Tip: These instructions apply to parallel parking on the right side of the street, which is standard practice on two-way streets. If you need to park on the left side of a one-way street, the same principles apply. You may actually find it easier, since you will be able to see the curb side much more clearly from the driver’s seat. Remember to use your left turn signal if you are parallel parking on the left side of the street.

1. Find a parking space

This part comes first and can be difficult in congested city environments. The larger the space, the easier it will be for parallel parking. The minimum practical size is normally one-and-a-half times the length of your vehicle, although fearless parallel parking experts relish the challenge of smaller, tighter spaces!

2. Line up your car

Pull your car even with the car parked in front of the space you plan to parallel park in and spaced two to three feet away from it, with the rear bumpers lined up. If both cars are around the same length, you can line up your right side outside mirror with the other car’s left side outside mirror – this is easier to see from the driver’s seat. Turn on your right turn signal to indicate to other drivers that you intend to park in that space.

3. Steering move #1

Apply the brakes to hold the car still and shift into reverse. Turn your steering wheel one complete turn to the right from the straight-ahead position. Check your mirrors and blind spot to be sure that the traffic is clear. Release the brake pedal and start backing up slowly, until you can see the rear license plate of the car ahead centered in your front passenger side window. Stop.

4. Steering move #2

Turn your steering wheel all the way to the left, until you can’t turn it any more. Resume backing up until your car is lined up in the space, parallel to the curb.

5. Straighten out and center

Turn your steering wheel back to the straight-ahead position and move forward or back to center your car in the space if necessary. Depending on your state’s regulations, the maximum distance your car can be parked from the curb is between 12 and 18 inches, so a distance between 6 and 12 inches should be legal and acceptable. It will also keep your wheels from being damaged by scraping against the curb. Congratulations – you’re done!

6. Adjustments may be necessary

Depending on the size of the space and the size of the car in front, your car may end up either hitting the curb when you back up or being too far away from the curb. You have two options:

• a. Make adjustments with the steering, while going forward and backwards within the space, to move the car closer in or farther out, (this works better in larger spaces)
• b. Pull out of the space, line up again as in Step 2, and try the whole thing again (this is the best choice with tight spaces)

7. Curb your wheels if necessary

If you park on a hill, remember to curb or “cramp” your wheels the appropriate way. See our article here for all the details. Doing this will prevent your car from rolling away or into traffic. It will also keep you from getting an expensive ticket. The police are eager to enforce this law, so don’t give them a reason to ticket you!

8. Some additional parallel parking tips

Practice, practice, practice! The more you parallel park your car, the easier it will get. You will develop a “feel” for parallel parking over time, and you will no longer dread the need to do it.

If you have a newer car with a built-in backup camera, you can check it during the process to see how far from the curb your car is, and how close you are to the car behind you.