Securing the Skill of Parallel Parking

This is how you can master the art of parallel parking.

  1. Analysing the available parking spot carefully to determine whether your car will fit there is necessary for parallel parking. As a general guideline, the parking spot must be 1.5 times as long as your vehicle.

  2. Place your vehicle parallel to the vehicle in front of the available space. Keep a distance of three to four feet from the vehicle.

  3. To prevent hitting your car, check all the mirrors.

  4. Then slowly reverse until the middle of your car is parallel to the rear bumper of the vehicle in front.

  5. Once you approach the available space, reverse your vehicle. Cut the steering wheel to the right at a 45° angle to continue in reverse gear. Look into your rearview mirror to observe how close your car is to the car in the parallel parking space behind. Then continue to move backwards in reverse and start straightening your steering wheel.

  6. Check your vehicle's mirrors, windows, and front windscreen frequently while navigating to ensure you are not in danger of colliding with any of the other vehicles.

  7. The last step is to ensure your car keeps a good distance from the vehicles in front of it, behind it, and on the edge of the road. If not, move your car until it is centred and exhibits perfectly parallel lines.

    A smooth exit

    To leave a parallel parking space, put your vehicle in reverse and back up to the vehicle behind you. Move as near the other vehicle as you can without endangering yourself or the other. Then, move your car into forward gear while turning your steering wheel to the left.

    In the lane you will enter, look for other vehicles. Drive out of the parallel park carefully, being cautious not to get too close to the rear bumper of the car parked in front of you.

A parallel parking pro

Following all these steps, you should be closer and more confident about taking on the parallel parking part. However, like parallel parking, finding a parallel parking spot can also be a hassle and headache for many.

However, with the help of the Park+ app, you can save yourself the trouble. By downloading the mobile app, you can easily find parking spots near you, among various other services, all in the hold of your hands.