How to Parallel Park — Step-by-Step Guide

When You Will Need Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is one of four possible manoeuvres on the driving test. The examiner may ask you to park on the left behind a parked vehicle. In daily driving, parallel parking is essential for parking on residential streets, high streets, and anywhere without a car park. Manchester's busy residential areas — Chorlton, Didsbury, Fallowfield, Rusholme — make parallel parking a daily skill.

Step-by-Step Method

• Pull alongside the car you want to park behind, leaving about a door's width gap, and stop when your door mirrors are level
• Check all mirrors and blind spots. Select reverse gear
• Reverse slowly until your rear bumper is level with the other car's rear bumper
• Steer one full turn to the left (towards the kerb) while continuing to reverse slowly
• When your car reaches a 45-degree angle, straighten the wheel
• Continue reversing straight until your nearside front corner is level with the other car's rear bumper
• Steer one full turn to the right to bring the front in towards the kerb
• Straighten up when parallel to the kerb, leaving a small gap from the kerb (no more than a ruler's width)

Reference Points

Reference points help you judge position. Your instructor will help you find reference points specific to your car. Common ones include: your left door mirror aligning with the rear of the target car for when to start turning, and your front wheel arch aligning with the kerb line for when to straighten. These vary between cars, so practice in the car you will use for your test.

Common Mistakes

• Reversing too fast — slow speed gives you more time to steer accurately
• Not checking mirrors and blind spots continuously throughout the manoeuvre
• Ending up too far from the kerb — aim for 30cm or less
• Mounting the kerb — if you feel the wheel touch, stop, pull forward, and adjust
• Rushing — take your time, the examiner is assessing accuracy not speed

Practice Tips

Start practising in quiet residential streets with plenty of space between parked cars. As your confidence grows, try tighter spaces. Practise on both flat roads and slight hills. In Manchester, quiet streets in Burnage, Heaton Moor, and Stretford are ideal practice locations.

Frequently Asked Questions