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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.
Steps
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Community Q&A
- QuestionHow do I pick a place to parallel park?
Community AnswerYour 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. - QuestionHow far from the curve do you need to be?Community AnswerYour tires should be within a foot of the curb so your car isn't sticking out into the traffic lane.
- QuestionWhat if I can't get into the spot during a road test?
Community AnswerAs long as you don't crash into the other cars, you will still pass the exam normally even though this will make you lose some points.
Tips
- Parallel parking is a lot easier with a rear-view or backup camera. If your car doesn’t have one, consider installing a rear view camera yourself.Thanks
Warnings
- Always check your surroundings for people, bicyclists, and other cars while parallel parking.[5]Thanks
References
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/parallel-parking.php
- ↑ https://www.penndot.pa.gov/PennDOTWay/pages/Article.aspx?post=46
- ↑ http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/parallel-parking.php
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2010/01/23/122880263/the-formula-for-perfect-parallel-parking
- ↑ https://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/parallel-parking.php
About This Article
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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