Don’t let the fear of parallel parking scare you from where you need to be. Here’s a step-by-step guide to do it right.

For many drivers, it is the driving manoeuvre that causes them to break out into a cold sweat more than any other — parallel parking.

And the parallel-o-phobia among Aussies is real. A recent survey by insurance company Budget Direct showed almost three in five or 57 per cent of Australians feel stressed or anxious about parallel parking. 

Meanwhile, 22 per cent or one in five of the 1,014 drivers surveyed stated they had “minimal to no confidence at all” in their parallel parking skills.

In fact, this fear factor from the prospect of a parallel parking spot is causing people to even change their commute habits. Two out of five people said they even avoid certain destinations, while some just choose to take the public transport or even walk. 

And despite the rise of parking assist technology to make the dreaded task easier, the fear of scraping against someone else’s car or hearing an expensive bump continues to be real for even experienced drivers. 

Here are the six proper steps to parallel park and become a pro at manouevring into tight parking spaces.

What Are The Proper Steps of a Parallel Parking?

Parallel parking is a technique of parking parallel to the road, in line with other parked vehicles and facing in the same direction as traffic on that side of the road. Remember that some one-way streets may have parallel parking spaces on both sides of the road.

1. Find a parking space that is longer than your vehicle

The first step to parallel parking like a pro is to find a parking space that gives you room to back into. 

The space needs to be at least 3 feet (1 metre) longer than your vehicle for parallel parking. 

But for those who are starting to try out this manoeuvre, it’s recommended to ensure there is at least a vehicle-and-a-half’s worth of space separating the two cars you’re going to park in between. For reference, that’s at least 2 metres of extra space. 

Finding it difficult to gauge spaces? To help you have more spatial awareness, consider bringing plastic bins or cones to a car park and practice parallel parking between them.

Parkhound tip:  Always make sure it’s safe and legal to park in a spot you’re eyeing. Take note of any time limits in the parking space or pay-for-parking signs so you aren’t served with a parking ticket later on. 

One of the easiest ways to avoid getting a parking fine is to use Parkhound.

With Parkhound, you can conveniently locate legal and secure parking options, ensuring a stress-free and not to mention, law-abiding parallel parking experience.

Parkhound has hundreds of spaces in all of Australia’s major cities. Whether you need night parking, an all-day stay, evening parking, or a long-term monthly parking space, we have convenient and secure parking spaces for you in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin and other locations!

Say goodbye to the hassle of searching for parking spaces and experience a smoother parallel parking process, thanks to Parkhound.

2. Position your car alongside the front one

Here’s where the real parking skills come in. Pull up as close as possible to the front car to start parking. 

Stop when your rear bumper are lined up with the rear bumper of the car in front – this positions you in the correct angle for reversing. Ideally, leave around more than a half a metre of between your vehicle and the one beside you.

Parkhound tip: Use your right turn signal if you’re parking on the right side of the road. But if you’re parking on the left side of the road, use your left turn signal.  

3. Turn your steering wheel as far as you can

Turn the steering wheel to the right or left, depending on which side you will park, as far as you can.

This will help you maximise the entry angle into the parking space and will help you have a good foundation for proper alignment. 
Parkhound tip: Don’t swing the front of your car into the space too early! You may hit the vehicle in front of you.

4. Slowly reverse into the parking space

Shift your car into reverse gear. Then, back into the parking space slowly, with vehicle at a 45-degree angle as it enters the spot. Use your rear view mirrors and a backup camera if available, carefully estimating the distance between your vehicle and the one behind. 

As you do this, make sure to check your blind spot and check if there’s no car or traffic behind you.  Take your time and stay aware of your surroundings.  Check over your shoulder toward the parking spot. 

Keep your steering wheel to the right (or left, depending on which side you park) as you reverse. Keep going until your front right wheel aligns with the back left corner of the car in front. 

Parkhound tip: A helpful tip to ensure you have the right angle is to check your side mirror – you should be able to see the licence plate of the vehicle behind the empty space.

5. Turn the steering wheel to the opposite direction

Once the back of your seat is even with the back of the vehicle beside you, turn the wheel to the opposite side. With this manoeuvre, your car should align parallel to the curb.

Parkhound tip: Imagine guiding the back of the car by visualising pushing the steering wheel direction that you want the back of the car to go.

6. Fix your car’s position

Congratulations! Your car should now be positioned in-between the two cars. Unfortunately each parallel parking space is different, which will require you to make small adjustments during the actual parking. The key is to adjust your car’s position before you’re in the centre. 

Move either forward or backward, to allow enough space for drivers of neighbouring vehicles to exit.

Parkhound tip: Keep in mind that you’re still in reverse at this point. If you need to move forward, switch to drive first.

What If Your Parallel Parking Goes Wrong?

If you’ve made a mistake while parallel parking, don’t worry. You can try again. This is a difficult manoeuvre to master, and practise will help you hone your parking skills. 

What to do if you made a mistake parallel parking

• Drive out of the parking spot 
• Put your signal light on
• Make sure there’s no traffic in the road behind your vehicle
• Start from step 2 and pull up next to the front vehicle again

Tips for Successful Parallel Parking

Here are our tips to help get you parallel parking like a pro in no time.

Practice

The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become. Find an empty car park or quiet street to practice parallel parking until you feel comfortable and more confident.

As you practice, you’ll develop a better understanding of your vehicle’s dimensions and gain the confidence to execute this move smoothly. It’s also advised to practice in various conditions, such as different lighting or weather, to enhance your adaptability as a driver.

Use reference points

Identify reference points on your vehicle, such as the rear window or side mirrors, to gauge distance from the curb and other cars.

Be patient and  don’t rush the process

Take your time, especially if you’re a learner driver. With patience and a lot of practice, you’ll surely be able to parallel park with ease in no time.

We hope our parallel parking guide helped you get started in the right direction. But for more parallel parking tips, make sure to check out our How To Pass Your Driver’s Test article.