8 Parallel Parking Tips To Help You Secure the Perfect Parking Spot

Have you avoided parallel parking ever since you took your road test to get your driver's license? You're not alone. For both brand new drivers and veteran drivers who have been parking for decades, the fear of parallel parking typically ranks somewhere between public speaking and getting a root canal. In fact, 19 million Americans suffer from driving anxiety of some kind.

While many people may choose to simply avoid parallel parking altogether, developing this skill will give you a huge advantage for securing great parking spots. While it can take a bit more time and maneuvering than simply pulling into a spot in a parking lot, learning how to parallel park can give you the ability to snag spots closer to your destination and can save you the time you'd spend driving around looking for an "easier" place to park.

Brushing up on your parallel parking skills is a smart idea, especially if you frequently drive and park in big cities or other congested places. Plus, if you know how to do it right, parallel parking can actually be easy, and you don't have to go to driving school to learn the ins and outs. We've put together a step-by-step guide to parallel parking to help you feel more confident behind the wheel.

1) Find the Right-Sized Parking Spot

When you're sizing up a space to determine if it’s a viable parallel parking opportunity, you’ll want to avoid trying to park in a spot that's too small for your vehicle. You'll grow frustrated trying to fit your car into a spot that isn’t wide enough for your car, and you might even hit one of the cars you're trying to park between. Aim for a spot that's at least one-and-a-half times the size of your vehicle when you’re first learning how to parallel park. This allows three feet or so on either side of your vehicle, which should easily be enough space to let you maneuver. Once you’re more comfortable parallel parking, you can aim for a spot that’s closer to four to six feet longer than your vehicle.

2) Signal and Pull Beside the Vehicle in Front of the Spot

Using your turn signal light properly is one of the best driving tips in general, and it is especially important when you're parallel parking. When you see a parallel parking spot you want (one that offers enough room based on Step 1 above), turn on the appropriate turn signal and check your rearview mirror to see if there's anyone behind you. Hit your brakes carefully and slow down as you approach the space. Make sure the car behind you has enough time to stop or navigate around you.

Line up your vehicle by driving up and stopping directly parallel to the car in front of the empty space, leaving about two to three feet of space between you and the other vehicle.

If another car comes up behind you and stops while you're trying to parallel park, give the other driver time to see your signal and figure out what you're doing. Distracted drivers may just wait for you to move, so if they sit there for more than half a minute, you might consider rolling down the window and motioning for them to go around you. Try not to get too annoyed or stressed and drive off, even though it may be tempting to do so the first time it happens (especially if there is an impatient driver behind you). Parallel parking can be nerve-wracking the first few times, but do your best to keep a clear head and be patient with yourself and other drivers.

3) Turn Your Wheel All the Way to the Right

This next step is where many people mess up. When you're completely stopped directly beside the parked vehicle, turn your steering wheel all the way to the right. This part is important, as a half a turn won't give you the angle you need to park correctly. Keep your vehicle at a complete stop and make sure your steering wheel cannot turn any further to the right before moving on to the next step.

4) Reverse Until Your Front Hood Is at a 45-Degree Angle

Put your car in reverse and start moving slowly, checking your rearview and both side mirrors for any cars or pedestrians. The key is to back up until your car is at an approximately 45-degree angle to the curb. The back half of your vehicle should be in the parking space, with the car's front bumper still sticking out into the road. From this position, you should be able to see the car behind you in your left-side mirror.

5) Turn Your Wheel All the Way to the Left

Slowly brake to a stop and prepare to straighten your vehicle into the spot by turning your steering wheel all the way to the left. Again, all the way—as far as it will go.

6) Reverse Into the Spot

This step is where it all starts coming together. Check your mirrors again and, if it's all clear, slowly start reversing your car into the space again. Pay close attention to your car's front bumper and make sure it doesn't hit the back bumper of the car in front of you.

Note: If you're coming too close to the car in front of you, don't panic. With your steering wheel still turned all the way to the left, put your car in drive and pull forward a few feet before continuing.

Reverse a couple of feet or until your passenger side mirror aligns with the driver’s side rear bumper light of the vehicle in front of you. Begin straightening the wheel and reverse your vehicle until you fit comfortably in the parking space and your car is parallel to the curb. Keep an eye on the car behind you through your rearview mirror. You may also wish to turn your head around and look behind you out your rear window. If it looks like your back bumper is going to hit the vehicle behind you, drive forward slowly, straighten the steering wheel, and then start reversing again.

7) Position Your Vehicle

Your vehicle may be a bit crooked, or its front end or back end may be too close to the other vehicles. Pull forward slightly and then reverse slowly to adjust your vehicle’s position in the parking space without crowding the other car. There should be enough room for a person to walk between your car and those on either side of it. It’s important to make sure the cars in front of you and behind you have enough room to get out.

8) Inspect Your Parallel Parking Space

Open your car door and look at the markings on the pavement to make sure you're inside the parking spot lines. If there are no lines, put your car in park, turn off your engine, set the parking brake, and get out of your vehicle. Inspect your car to make sure it's straight and that it’s far enough out of the road to avoid being hit by passing vehicles. A good rule of thumb is that your vehicle should be between 12 and 18 inches from the curb and centered between the cars on either side of it to ensure that all drivers have plenty of room to leave their spaces.

If you're happy with your parking, congratulations! You just parallel parked like a pro. The more you follow these steps and put them into practice, every single time after this should continue to get easier. Drivers spend 17 hours a year looking for parking—your new skill just dramatically reduced that for you.

Once you’re safely parked, make sure you feed the parking meter before you head on your way. While some street parking setups still use coins, many have moved to a pay-by-phone model, so check for signage around where you parked. These signs will indicate how you’ll need to pay and will provide other vital information, like parking hours and restrictions.

When you’re back in your car and are ready to leave your parking spot, pulling out is the easy part! Before you pull out of your parallel parking space, check for oncoming cars, bicycles, and pedestrians by looking at all your mirrors and looking over your shoulder. Put your car into drive and use your turn signal to indicate your intention to pull out of the space. Then, turn your steering wheel one full turn toward the road, and pull out when the coast is clear.

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