Parking can be one of the most challenging skills for new and experienced drivers alike. Whether you’re trying to fit into a tight space on a busy city street or backing into a spot in a crowded parking lot, mastering parallel and reverse parking is essential for confident driving. In this guide, we’ll break down both techniques step-by-step, share expert tips, and help you overcome common parking mistakes.

Good parking skills not only help you secure a spot quickly but also improve overall road safety. Poor parking can lead to accidents, blocked traffic, and even fines. Learning to park efficiently will make your driving experience much smoother and stress-free.

Parallel parking is one of the most feared maneuvers, but with the right technique, it becomes much easier. Follow these step-by-step instructions to perfect your parallel parking:

• Look for a space that is at least one and a half times the length of your vehicle.
• Make sure there’s enough room to maneuver safely without hitting other cars.
• Use your turn signal to indicate that you are preparing to park.

• Pull up parallel to the car in front of the parking spot.
• Leave about 2-3 feet of space between your car and the parked vehicle.
• Align your rear bumper with the other car’s rear bumper.

• Turn your steering wheel all the way to the right.
• Slowly begin to reverse while checking your mirrors and blind spots.
• Once your car is at a 45-degree angle, stop.

• Turn the wheel back to the center as you continue reversing.
• Keep moving back until your front bumper is clear of the car in front.

• Turn the wheel to the left to bring your car fully into the parking space.
• Adjust as needed to center your car within the lines.
• Make sure you’re not too close to the curb (ideal distance: 6-12 inches away).

✔ Use landmarks like mirrors and bumpers to guide your positioning.
✔ If you’re unsure, pull forward and adjust before fully parking.
✔ Practice in an empty lot using cones to build confidence.
✔ Keep calm—taking your time is better than rushing and hitting a curb.