How to Parallel Park: Tips & Tricks for Smooth Parking

A beginner’s guide to parking between 2 cars

You’re circling the block, looking for parking spots, but all you can find is parallel parking on the street. No biggie: you’ve got this. But if you’re still feeling a bit nervous about parallel parking, you’re not alone—many drivers, new and experienced alike, get a little bit flustered when it comes time to parallel park. That’s where we can help! Whether you’re getting ready to take your driver’s test or you just need a refresher, read through our article to get better at parallel parking and nab those in-demand parking spots.

Things You Should Know

  • Put your turn signal on to indicate that you’re parking as you drive up next to the vehicle in front of the space.
  • Crank your steering wheel to the right, then slowly start reversing into the spot.
  • Straighten the wheel once your rear tire is 18 in (46 cm) from the curb, then keep backing in.
  • Pull forward to adjust if you need to before putting your car in park.
1

Find a parking space a little bit longer than your car.

  1. Look for a space that gives you enough room to back into. Once you get better at parallel parking, you may be able to park in tighter spaces, but you may want to start with spaces that have 6 feet (2 meters) of extra space. The space needs to be at least 3 feet (1 meter) longer than your vehicle.[1]
    • If you've never parallel parked before, consider bringing plastic bins or cones to a parking lot and practice parallel parking between them.
    • Always make sure it’s safe and legal to park in a spot beforehand. Note any time limits or pay-for-parking signs so you aren’t surprised later on.
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2

Pull up next to the car in front.

  1. Drive as close to the front car as possible to begin parking. Brake gently, then turn on your right turn signal to indicate that you’re going to park. Pull your car up next to the front car, stopping when your rear bumper is aligned with their rear bumper. Give yourself about 2 ft (0.61 m) of space between your car and the car next to you.[2]
    • In most cases, you’ll be parallel parking on the right side of the road, which is why you’ll use your right turn signal. If you’re parking on the left side of the road, use your left turn signal instead.
3

Back up while turning your steering wheel to the right.

  1. Shift into reverse, then turn your wheel as you start backing up. Make sure the street behind you is clear of traffic. Look over your shoulder towards the space. Once the back of your seat is even with the back of the vehicle beside you, turn your steering wheel quickly and evenly towards the spot until your vehicle is at a 45-degree angle as it enters the spot.[3]
    • Conceptually, envision pushing the steering wheel in the direction that you want the back of the car to go.
    • Avoid swinging the front of your vehicle into the space too early, as you may hit or scrape the vehicle in front of you.
    EXPERT TIP
    Ibrahim Onerli

    Ibrahim Onerli

    Driving Instructor
    Ibrahim Onerli is a Driving Instructor and the Manager of Revolution Driving School in New York City. His mission is to make the world a better place by teaching safe driving. Ibrahim trains and manages a team of over eight driving instructors. He specializes in teaching defensive driving and stick shift driving.
    Ibrahim Onerli
    Ibrahim Onerli
    Driving Instructor

    Think of parallel parking as a three-point process. Back up until the tail light of the other car is in the middle of your back door, then cut the wheel all the way to the right. Continue backing up until the tail light comes to the beginning of your front door, then turn the wheel back straight. As you're watching the mirror, you'll see a 45° angle appear that looks like a triangle. Follow that triangle until it disappears, then turn the wheel all the way to the left and back into the spot. From there, you just have to straighten the wheel, pull into the space, and put the car in park.

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4

Straighten the wheel once you’re most of the way in.

  1. Turn your wheel once your rear tire is 18 in (46 cm) from the curb. Turn the steering wheel back towards the road once the rear of your vehicle is mostly in the space, and still slowly moving backwards. Do this when your front bumper is next to the rear bumper of the vehicle in front. This final maneuver moves the vehicle into the space and straightens it out simultaneously.[4]
    • Another good indicator to begin turning the wheel the other way is when the license plate on the vehicle in front of your space is centered in your windshield.
5

Pull forward if you need to.

  1. Center yourself in the space between the 2 cars. Once you’re in the space, you’ll likely need to do some adjusting before you’re in the exact center. Either pull forward or scoot back so there’s roughly an even amount of room in front of you and behind you.[5]
    • Remember, you’ll still be in reverse at this point. If you need to drive forward, switch to drive first.
    • Leave enough room in front of you and behind you so that the cars around you can pull out if needed.
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6

Start over if anything goes wrong.

  1. Image titled Parallel Park Step 10
    Drive out of the spot and back in again if you need to. When you’re new to parallel parking, you might have to try the spot a couple of times, and that’s okay! Put your turn signal on, make sure there’s no one in the road behind you, and pull up next to the front vehicle again.
    • Use your rear view mirror and your side mirror as well as turning in your seat to triple check that no cars are coming before you pull out again.

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Do you have to use a turn signal when parallel parking?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, using a turn signal is required for parallel parking. It lets the drivers behind you know that not only will you be stopping, but you'll be reversing, too.
  • Question
    How do I pick a place to parallel park?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Your space should be about one and a half times the size of your car. It's always better to go with a bigger space rather than a smaller one.
  • Question
    How far from the curve do you need to be?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Your tires should be within a foot of the curb so your car isn't sticking out into the traffic lane.
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Warnings

  • Always check your surroundings for people, bicyclists, and other cars while parallel parking.[6]
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/parallel-parking.php
  2. ↑ https://www.penndot.pa.gov/PennDOTWay/pages/Article.aspx?post=46
  3. ↑ https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/parking/
  4. ↑ http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/parallel-parking.php
  5. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2010/01/23/122880263/the-formula-for-perfect-parallel-parking
  6. ↑ https://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/parallel-parking.php

About This Article

Ibrahim Onerli
Co-authored by:
Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor
This article was co-authored by Ibrahim Onerli and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Ibrahim Onerli is a Driving Instructor and the Manager of Revolution Driving School in New York City. His mission is to make the world a better place by teaching safe driving. Ibrahim trains and manages a team of over eight driving instructors. He specializes in teaching defensive driving and stick shift driving. This article has been viewed 2,200,450 times.
7 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 52
Updated: January 16, 2023
Views: 2,200,450
Categories: Parking Vehicles
Article SummaryX

To parallel park, first pull up next to the car in front of the open parking spot. Leave about 2 to 3 feet (½ to 1 meter) of space between your car and the other car. Turn on your blinker so other drivers know you’re parallel parking. Next, reverse until the middle of your car is lined up with the rear bumper of the other car. Then, turn the steering wheel all the way toward the curb, and slowly reverse at a 45-degree angle until you can see the headlights of the car parked behind you in your driver's side mirror. Slowly straighten out your wheel as you continue to reverse into the parking spot. Finally, stop reversing once your car is parallel with the curb. You may have to turn your wheel to the right and drive forward to correct your car’s angle in the spot. Finally, always make sure there are 12 to 18 inches of space (30 to 45 cm) between your car and the curb. If you want to learn how to make adjustments to your vehicle in tight parking spaces, keep reading!

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