4 Steps For Parallel Parking That All New Drivers Should Know

Are you preparing to take your driver's test to get your license, but do not feel comfortable with your parallel parking skills? This is one aspect of driving that you will need to know, especially if your area is filled with street parking. These steps can help you parallel park like a pro.

Step 1: Get Your Car in Alignment

The first tip for setting you up for parallel parking success will be to get your car in the right position. You want to position your car next to the car in front of the parking space, and then align your rear tires with the other vehicle's rear bumper. This is important because all vehicles are slightly different lengths, and the rear bumper will consistently be a good alignment point for your vehicle. If you try to align your steering wheels or front bumpers, you could end up hitting the other vehicle accidentally.

Step 2: Turn the Steering Wheel in the Correct Direction

If you are parallel parking on the right side of the road, you should turn the steering wheel clockwise towards the right until it is as far as it will go. The opposite is true if you are on a one-way street and parallel parking on the left since you would turn your steering wheel counterclockwise to the left.

Step 3: Reverse and Straighten Out the Vehicle

Put the vehicle into reverse and start backing up until your vehicle is at a 45-degree angle compared to the car you are parking behind. Then you can start to quickly straighten out your vehicle to continue moving backward at a 45-degree angle. You can stop the car as you straighten out the vehicle since you do not have to be moving backward and straightening out the vehicle at the same time when starting out.

Step 4: Turn the Opposite Direction to Clear the Front Vehicle

As you are going in reverse at a 45-degree angle, you do not want to start cutting the steering wheel in the opposite direction until your front bumper has cleared the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you. If parking on the right side of the road, this means turning the steering wheel counterclockwise to the left. Your vehicle should then straighten out until it is parallel with the curb.

Parallel parking is just one technique that you need to know as a new driver. If you do not feel confident in your driving skills, know that you can always seek out private driving lessons to improve your skills. For more information about how driving lessons can help you prepare for your driver's test, contact a local instructor.