How To Parallel Park Step By Step

When it comes to learning how to parallel park it's important to be patient and make sure that you don't do any damage to your car or anything around it. As with most things it will take some practice before you get good at it, so do some trial runs on a quiet street. The following instructions will show you how to parallel park step by step to get you started.

As you approach a potential parking spot, slow down and signal your intention. Align your car so that the passenger side is approximately one foot away from the vehicle on the right. Slowly drive past the space, making sure that its big enough as you go by. Initially you will want to pick a spot quite a bit larger than your car, but with experience you will be able to comfortably park in smaller spaces. Stop when your rear bumper is about a foot behind the rear bumper of the vehicle in front.

Start backing into the spot while turning the steering wheel to the right. When your car is at a 45 degree angle with the curb, begin to turn the wheel to the left as you reverse. As your car swings into the parking spot watch your front corner to ensure that it doesn't collide with the vehicle in front of you. While looking behind you, align your car within a foot of the curb and stop before you hit the vehicle behind you. Pull forward so that you are in the middle of the spot with equal space in front of and behind your car.

If you're having problems getting into the spot, here are some parallel parking tips. If your rear wheel hits the curb as you back in it means that you either started too far forward, came in at too steep an angle, or didn't straighten out soon enough. If you are too far away from the curb it probably means that you didn't come in at steep enough an angle, or straightened out too soon. If your car is coming too close to the one behind then you aligned your car too far back, didn't come in at sharp enough an angle, or the space is just too small.