Parallel Parking Step by Step
Parallel parking tests how well you control the car at low speed while keeping track of everything around you. A calm approach and steady hands make all the difference.
The full guide
The examiner will ask you to pull up alongside a parked vehicle and reverse into a space behind it. You will have approximately two car lengths to work with. Success comes from careful positioning, steering at the right moment, and making small, controlled corrections.
Align your car with the parked vehicle, leaving about a metre of space. Your back bumper should be level with the back of the other car. Stop, select reverse, and check all around. Look over your left shoulder and begin reversing very slowly. When the back corner of the parked car lines up with your left rear window, steer one full turn to the left.
As your car swings inward, watch your right mirror. When the kerb appears at roughly a 45-degree angle in that mirror, steer two full turns to the right to straighten up. Continue reversing slowly until your car is parallel to the kerb, about 30cm away. Stop, apply the handbrake, and select neutral.
Because every car has different dimensions, the reference points that work for one vehicle may not work for another. Spend time with your instructor finding the markers that suit your test car. The examiner is judging control, observation, and reasonable accuracy — they are not expecting millimetre precision.
Common faults
- Starting either too far from or too close to the reference vehicle
- Steering too soon or too late, causing the car to swing too wide or too tight
- Reversing too fast and losing the ability to correct smoothly
- Finishing a long way from the kerb or at a noticeable angle
- Not checking around the car physically while reversing
- Hitting the kerb or making contact with the other vehicle
What the examiner looks for
- You position your car correctly alongside the target vehicle
- You reverse at a slow, steady walking pace
- You steer at the correct moments to guide the car into the space
- You finish reasonably close to the kerb and reasonably parallel
- You maintain all-around observation throughout the manoeuvre
- You stop safely if another road user approaches the area
Quick tips
- 1Align your back bumper with the back of the other car — this is your starting anchor
- 2Keep your speed at walking pace; slower gives you thinking time
- 3Use a left shoulder check before you begin reversing — do not rely on mirrors alone
- 4If the first attempt is off, you may pull forward and adjust within the allowed time
- 5Repetition builds muscle memory; practise until the sequence feels automatic
Common questions about parallel parking step by step
How close to the kerb should the final position be?
Can I use parking sensors during parallel parking?
What happens if a car pulls up behind me while I am reversing?
How many vehicles do I need to park behind?
Should I alternate between looking left and right while reversing?
What if I finish at an angle?
Ready to put this into practice?
These guides are a great starting point, but nothing replaces working with a DVSA-approved instructor who can give you real-time feedback.