How to Parallel Park

LifestyleMedium4:176 steps

To parallel park: find a space at least 1.5 times your car's length, pull forward so your car is parallel to the car in front with your rear bumpers aligned, then crank the wheel fully right and reverse until your car sits at about a 45-degree angle to the curb. Straighten the wheels and keep reversing until your front bumper clears the other car's rear, then crank the wheel fully left and continue reversing to swing the front in. Straighten up, center yourself between the cars, and shift to park.

Find a parking spot at least 1.5 times your car's length.
Line up next to the car in front with your rear bumpers aligned, about 2-3 feet apart.
Crank the wheel fully right and start reversing slowly until the car sits at a 45-degree angle.
Straighten the wheels and keep reversing until your front bumper clears the car in front.
Crank the wheel fully left and back in to swing the front into the spot.
Straighten up and center yourself between the two cars, then shift to park.

Parallel parking looks like geometry you have to calculate in real time. It isn't — it's a six-step recipe with mirror checkpoints at each stage. Go slow, check the curb in your side mirror after step 3, and don't be afraid to pull out and re-try if the angle is wrong.

Step-by-Step Guide

Find a Parking Spot Big Enough

0:15

Before you commit, eyeball the gap. You need at least 1.5 times the length of your car to fit comfortably, which is about 18 feet for a typical sedan.

If the space looks like a snug fit from outside the car, it's almost always too tight. Experienced drivers can squeeze into less, but if you're learning, give yourself margin.

It's faster to find a bigger spot than to back out of a failed attempt and try again.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

To practice safely, place two traffic cones 15 feet apart in an empty lot. That's close to a real spot size. Once you can park between the cones without knocking them over, you're ready for actual cars.

Products used in this step

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Line Up Next to the Car in Front

0:38

Pull up alongside the car in front of the spot. Your right passenger-side mirror should line up roughly with the driver-side mirror of that car.

Keep 2 to 3 feet between your car and theirs. Close enough to swing in cleanly, but not so close that you risk clipping their bumper.

Stop when the mirrors are aligned and put the car in reverse. Check the rear-view mirror and both side mirrors for approaching traffic before you start moving.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

If a car is behind you, use your turn signal to indicate you're parking. It tells them to go around instead of waiting directly behind you.

Crank the Wheel Right and Start Reversing

1:00

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and start backing up slowly. Don't tap the gas. Let the car creep on idle.

Watch your left side mirror as you move. You're waiting for a specific moment: the full front of the car behind you becomes visible in that mirror. Stop when you see it.

Cranking the wheel all the way matters. A half-turn leaves you at the wrong angle and you'll have to start over.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

Your car should be at roughly a 45-degree angle to the curb at the end of this step. If it's much more or less, the rest of the maneuver won't line up. Stop and restart rather than fighting it.

Straighten the Wheels and Keep Reversing

1:22

Turn the steering wheel back to center so the front tires point straight ahead. Continue reversing slowly.

You're bringing the car closer to the curb without touching it yet. Keep going until your right side mirror lines up with the rear tail light of the car in front of you.

This straightens your path and sets up the final swing in Step 5.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

Counting your steering-wheel turns helps: from fully-right to center is usually about 1.5 full rotations. Know your car so you can go back to center by feel instead of looking down.

Crank the Wheel Left and Back In

1:45

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and continue reversing slowly. The back end of your car swings toward the curb as the front swings away from the car in front.

Go easy on the gas. If you feel the car hesitate, you might be on the curb - stop and check.

When your car sits parallel to the curb with a safe gap behind you, stop. This is the trickiest step. It's fine to pause midway and adjust.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

If you hit the curb or get too close to the car behind you, don't panic and gun it forward. Stop, shift to drive, pull forward a foot while straightening the wheel, then try again. Most failed parallel parks recover with one pull-forward-and-try-again.

Straighten Up and Center Yourself

2:15

Turn the steering wheel back to center to straighten your tires. Shift into drive and creep forward an inch or two to center yourself between the two cars.

Aim for roughly equal space front and back. A foot or two on each side is fine.

If you're parked on a hill, angle your tires toward the curb (downhill) or away from it (uphill) so a failed parking brake won't send the car into traffic. Kill the engine. You're done.

Watch this moment in the video.

Tip

When you get out, check the distance between your driver-side tires and the curb. In most states you need to be within 12 to 18 inches to pass the driving test. Step out and eyeball it if you're not sure.

Products Used

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