Six Simple Steps to Parallel Parking Success

1. 

   Find a place with enough room to back in You may be able to parallel park in spaces with less than 6 feet (2 meters) of clearance once you've gotten the hang of it, but until then, it's best to practice in slightly larger spaces. It's recommended that you have at least 3 feet (1 meter) of space beyond your car in every direction. [1]

   • Those who have never parallel parked before should take some plastic storage containers or traffic cones to a parking lot and practice doing so.
   • Prior to parking, always check to see if it is safe and legal to do so. Be mindful of any parking signs indicating that parking will cost money or a certain amount of time.

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1. 
   To begin parking, get as close as you can to the vehicle in front of you. Put on your brake lights and signal your right turn to let oncoming traffic know that you're about to park. Next, bring your vehicle up alongside the lead vehicle, stopping when the back bumpers of both vehicles are parallel. Dedicate a distance of about 2 feet (0. 61 meters) between your vehicle and the one next to you. [2]

   • Most parallel parking spaces are on the right side of the road, so you'll be using that lane, and your right turn signal, to enter them. Put your left turn signal on instead of parking on the left side of the road.

1. 

   To begin backing up, put the vehicle in reverse and turn the steering wheel. Make sure there is no one coming down that street behind you. Take a peek behind you in the void Quickly and evenly turn the steering wheel toward the spot until the back of your vehicle is at a 45-degree angle as it enters the spot, which you will know is correct when the back of your seat is level with the back of the vehicle beside you. [3]

   • Imagine, conceptually, that you are pushing the car's steering wheel in the direction you wish the trunk to travel.
   • Keep your vehicle's front end from swinging into the parking spot too soon, or you risk colliding with the car in front of you.

   EXPERT TIP

   

   Identified as: Ibrahim Onerli

   Education for the Purposes of Teaching Others to Drive

   New York City's Revolution Driving School is managed by Ibrahim Onerli, a certified driving instructor. Teaching defensive driving is one of his goals in life. Over eight driving instructors are under Ibrahim's supervision and training. Defensive driving and driving with a stick shift are his particular areas of expertise.

   

   Parking in a parallel fashion is best visualized as a three-step procedure. Cut the wheel all the way to the right and retrace your steps until the other car's tail light is in the center of your back door. Once your rearview mirror reaches the threshold of your front door, you can turn the steering wheel back to its original straight position and stop backing up. If you look closely in the mirror, you'll notice a triangle with a 45-degree angle forming. Keep going in the direction of the triangle until it vanishes, then make a full left turn and re-enter the parking space. Straighten the steering wheel, drive into the parking spot, and park the car.

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1. 

   Once your back tire is 18 inches (46 centimeters) from the curb, you should make a U-turn. When your car's back end is mostly in the parking spot and it's still inching forward slowly, you can turn the steering wheel back toward traffic. When your front bumper is in close proximity to the rear bumper of the car in front of you, you should do this. This final adjustment both straightens the vehicle and brings it into the designated parking spot. [4]

   • One more telltale sign that it's time to start steering in the opposite direction is when the license plate of the car in front of you is dead center in the windshield.

1. 

   Locate the middle ground between the two vehicles. It's likely that you'll have to move around a bit once you're inside the room in order to find your way to the exact center. If the space in front of and behind you is roughly equal, then you should either pull forward or scoot back. [5]

   • Bear in mind that you are still traveling backwards. It's imperative that you go forward while driving, so make the switch to drive first.
   • Allow plenty of space for vehicles to pull out from either side of you.

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1. Exit and re-enter the parking lot if necessary. It's normal to have to try a parallel parking spot multiple times if you're a beginner. Turn on your turn signal, double-check that there's no traffic behind you, and move back up alongside the lead vehicle.

   • Ensure that there are no oncoming vehicles by checking the rearview mirror, sideview mirrors, and turning in your seat before proceeding.

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