How To Parallel Park
- March 11, 2009
- 23,548 Views
Writer
Mandyvpalli
Stunt Driver
David Lee Gold
- Show:
- Guide
- Transcript
In busy cities, finding an open parking space is a golden opportunity. Here’s how not to blow it.
You Will Need
- A car
- And space to park in
Step 1: Pull alongside the spot
Pull alongside the spot. Make sure it’s longer than your car.
Step 2: Pull up next to car in front of space
Pull up next to the car in front of the space until your side mirrors align. Put on your signal in the direction of the space to let other cars know you are going to park.
Pull close to the car, but not too close: The DMV recommends two to three feet.
Step 3: Turn wheel toward curb & reverse
Turn your wheel all the way toward the curb, then put your car into reverse.
Look in your mirrors and over your shoulder to make sure there are no obstructions like oncoming cars. Be especially careful to watch for pedestrians. Even a space in downtown Manhattan isn’t worth a vehicular homicide charge.
Step 4: Slowly back in
While continuing to watch for obstructions, slowly back in. Stop when your side mirror is aligned with the back bumper of the car in front of the space.
Step 5: Turn wheel away from curb & reverse
Turn your steering wheel all the way in the opposite direction of the curb, then continue to reverse slowly.
If you have a passenger and would like some help, ask them to get out and guide you into the spot with hand signals—or open the window so you can actually hear them.
Step 6: Continue reversing
Continue in reverse until you are close to the car behind you or until your back tire bumps the curb. Be careful not to back into the car behind you.
Step 7: Straighten wheel & pull forward
Put the car into drive, straighten the steering wheel and pull forward slowly until you occupy the center of the space.
Step 8: Straighten out
Once in the space, you may need to maneuver the car forward and backward a few times in order to straighten out.
Step 9: Put car in park
When you are satisfied, put your car in park. If you’re on a hill, adjust your steering wheel before putting the car in park — turn away from the curb if facing uphill, and toward the curb if facing downhill.
Step 10: Turn off car & put on parking break
Turn off the car and put on the parking brake — you’ve done it! Prepare to be showered with praise. Accept it graciously and go about your day.
In some cities, you may get a ticket if your vehicle is parked more than 12 inches from the curb.
Something wrong? Report this How-To
Video is in Driving Lessons (10 videos)
How To Prevent Road Rage
- 5,280 views
- sendmemedia
How To Avoid Traffic Jams
- 7,472 views
- canning85
How To Practice Motorcycle Safety
- 8,999 views
- NelsonN
Comments (10)
I'd like to add a few tips to this if I may.
1) Aligning your mirrors when pulling up next to the car only works if the cars are of equal size. If the target car is bigger than yours, if you steer immediately you will turn into the side of it! If it is a lot smaller than your car then you will have wasted half the space. In my opinion a better approach is to pull up slightly past the car then reverse back without turning your wheel until the end of your car is level with the end of the target car.
2)Don't turn your wheels while you are not moving, it is bad for the steering linkages and will wear out your tyres very quickly.
3)While backing into the space try turning less than a full lock, this makes it easier to see where you are going, and ensures you can clear the end of the car in front of you.
over 3 years ago by Redline
This was wrong at a few spots. You don't turn your wheel while you are backing up parallel to the car. You only turn the wheel when your mirror is lined up with the rear of the car. And you don't turn the wheel away from the curb, you turn it towards the curb.
over 2 years ago by Nicholas_Errico
Really? Of course you have to turn the wheel away from the curb to get your tires to angle in toward the curb.
over 2 years ago by HeatherM
The ending fist pump was great. Nice big spot for a nice MINI car. haha, try that with an Expedition or Excursion!
over 2 years ago by TwoMaskProductions
wow you coulda fit three minis in that spot
over 2 years ago by Brock_Sheaves
wow you coulda fit three minis in that spot
over 2 years ago by Brock_Sheaves
i like the fist pump. way to go!
over 2 years ago by jimmy
I don't mean to sound rude but you made a mistake...as a current drivers training student, I am well familiar with the propers ways to parallel park a vehicle. The big mistake you made is when you said ";you may have to manuever your car forward/backwards to straighten out."; As a matter of fact, when I reverse in to the spot, I am not aloud to pull forward at all. You should be able to parallel park perfectly where you shouldn't have to pull forward!!!
over 2 years ago by Steven_Richardson
No, no, parking break first, then shift to park.
over 2 years ago by Jonathan_Engel
I love racing cars.
http://www.vkamobi.com
over 2 years ago by mobile
Good advice if you have a huge space to park in and a small car. Great advice if this is is your first try at parallel parking and you have the sense to make the adjustments to avoid the mistakes in these instructions. Living, driving and parking in Chicago for twenty years, and dozens of cities across the globe has taught me this. There are too many variables to learn this by watching a video. Especially one with so many mistakes as this one. If you have been driving for 2 or 3 years and still can't parallel park, consider valet parking and rent a lplace in a lot near your house. If you can't afford that, and even if I could, I would avoid it out of principal, ask a friend who can park to teach you how to do it right. Just don't waste their time by learning it on their time and then 2 days later start doing it the way you did before. Take notes or record the conversation. If you still can't do it, get a scooter!
11 months ago by AlmostIndy
Sign in or create an account to post a comment. Or, sign in using your Facebook to comment
and share your activity with your friends