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Step 1
Use your turn signal to indicate the direction of the parking spot.
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Step 2
If the space is not yet vacant but the car in it is about to leave, wait behind the spot.
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Step 3
When the space is vacant, pull ahead of it until you have pulled up beside the car parked in front of the space. Your rear bumper should be even with that car's rear bumper with about 2 feet of road between you.
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Step 4
Put the car in reverse. Begin to back up slowly; as soon as the car starts moving, turn the wheel as far as it will go toward the curb.
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Step 5
Back slowly into the space.
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Step 6
When the back of your car's front door is even with the rear bumper of the car beside you, begin turning the wheel away from the curb.
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Step 7
Continue turning the wheel away from the curb and backing slowly into the space.
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Step 8
Straighten out the wheel, then pull forward or back in the space as needed to center yourself between the cars in front of and behind you. Your car should be 6 to 8 inches from the curb when you are parked.
Comments
examinercash said
on 7/31/2009 You have 8 good steps to parallel parking. Here's a few more handy tips:
http://newtodriving.com/?p=119
Anonymous said
on 12/22/2008 There are so many ways to do this, but my driving instructor used a method that got me between 1-3 inches from the curb every time. You first pull up to the car and put your right signal on. Then you reverse until the "little window" or rear tire is lined up to the back bumper of the other car. At this point you turn the steering wheel "two faces" to the right. By this I mean the design in the middle of your wheel. For instance, on a Pontiac it's the Pontiac triangular symbol .
You reverse until the back bumper of the other car is aligned with the back of the passenger's front window (it's basically when that rear bumper initially becomes visible in the passenger's front window). This is the point when you're at a perfect 45 degree angle, and when you have to turn the steering wheel one face to the left. When the rear bumper of that car is visible to you through the windshield you turn the wheel another face to the left. Finally, when your front bumper reaches the back bumper of the other car you turn the wheel all the way to the left. This should leave you in a perfect spot. You should then straighten out the wheel and move up but remember to give that car enough space so they can back out as well. This method will get you to pass the road test with ease.
Anonymous said
on 12/22/2008 My father was a driver's ed instructor. I was taught that you do not start turning your wheel into the curb until your bumper is even with the parked car's steering wheel. Otherwise, when you go to straighten your wheel you would either hit the curb or your front end would hit the other car's rear bumper. Works every time.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 1. Go slowly and size up the parking space by pulling beside it.
2. Flash your brake lights and put on your turn signal. Always look behind to check for traffic.
3. Pull approximately 2 to 3 feet away from the car in front of the parking space. Align your rear tires with this cars rear bumper.
4. Turn your wheels all the way toward the empty parking space and put your car in reverse.
5. Slowly back up until you are at a 45-degree angle and stop. Your front door should be about even with the rear bumper of the car beside you.
6. Turn wheels all the way away from the curb.
7. Slowly ease into the spot until you are parallel with the curb, less than 12 inches away.
8. You can pull forward or backward in the space to center yourself between the car in front of you and behind you. Be courteous and leave enough room for other cars to exit their parking spaces.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Here in California (San Francisco) I see the worst parkers. I'm from Boston, where we know how to drive and park in tight spaces. I very often see 5 cars wasting 8 parking spaces because people here are so selfish that they can't seem to wrap their brains around the idea that there are other people in the city who need to park. They can only conceive of the idea that they want 5 feet in front of their car to ensure that (heaven forbid) they won't have to put their car in reverse when they leave 8 hours later. As for the directions, I was taught to straighten the wheel when the driver is parallel to the parked car's rear bumper and then crank it away from the curb when my front bumper is parallel to their rear bumper.