Parallel Parking Step by Step: Reference Points That Work

To parallel park, pull up alongside the car in front of the space about a door's width away, reverse slowly until your rear wheels are roughly level with its back bumper, steer one full turn towards the kerb, then straighten up and steer away from the kerb as you tuck in. Keep the car slow with clutch or brake control and check all around throughout. It's one of the reversing exercises on the UK practical test.

Every car is different, so treat the reference points below as a starting point and fine-tune them with your instructor.

Before you start

• Choose a legal, safe space at least about one and a half times your car's length. Don't park within 10 metres of a junction (Highway Code rule 243), on a bend, near a school entrance or on zigzags.
• Check your mirrors and signal to show you're stopping.
• Stop alongside the car in front of the space, parallel to it, about a door's width (roughly half a metre to a metre) away, with your rear bumper roughly level with its rear bumper.

Parallel parking step by step

Step 1: get ready to reverse

1. Select reverse gear. Your reversing lights will show other road users what you're doing.
2. Do a full 360-degree check: mirrors, blind spots, and over your shoulder through the rear window.

Step 2: reverse straight back

3. Using clutch control or gentle brake control, reverse slowly in a straight line.
4. Stop when the back of your car is roughly level with the rear of the other car. A common reference point is when its back bumper appears about halfway along your rear side window.

Step 3: steer towards the kerb

5. Look all around again, especially at the front of your car, which swings out into the road as you steer.
6. Steer one full turn towards the kerb (left in the UK) and reverse slowly.
7. Watch the kerb in your nearside door mirror. Stop when your car is at about 45 degrees to the kerb. A common reference point: the kerb appears to meet the bottom corner of your door mirror, or the other car's front corner is visible in the middle of your rear window.

Step 4: straighten up

8. Steer back one turn to straighten the wheels and reverse slowly towards the kerb at that angle.

Step 5: steer away and tuck in

9. When your front passenger corner has passed the back of the car in front, or the kerb looks about to touch your car in the door mirror, steer briskly away from the kerb (right in the UK) while reversing slowly.
10. As the car becomes parallel to the kerb, straighten the wheels.
11. Stop, select neutral or Park, and apply the parking brake.

How to correct a parallel park

• Too far from the kerb: pull forward a little, steering towards the kerb, then reverse again, steering away. Or start again if needed.
• Too close or about to touch the kerb: stop, move forward slightly while steering away, then straighten.
• Not parallel: a small forward-and-back shuffle usually fixes it.

Corrections are fine if you're in control and keep observing. Highway Code rule 203 reminds drivers not to reverse further than necessary, so keep it tidy.

Observation: the part that matters most

Examiners care about safety more than a perfect position. Highway Code rule 202 says to check all around before and while reversing, look mainly through the rear window and watch for pedestrians (especially children), cyclists and obstructions. In practice:

• Look around before every change of direction.
• Remember the front of your car swings out into the road as you steer.
• Stop if another road user is approaching and may be affected; wait or let them pass.

Common parallel parking faults

• Reversing too fast, with poor clutch or brake control.
• Not looking around, especially just before steering.
• Hitting or mounting the kerb.
• Ending up far from the kerb or at an angle.
• Ignoring approaching traffic or a pedestrian.

How to practise parallel parking

1. Start in a quiet street with a single parked car and plenty of space.
2. Use the same car each time while learning your reference points.
3. Gradually practise between two cars and on slight slopes.
4. Practise on both sides only if your instructor suggests it; on the UK test you park on the left.

Once you can parallel park confidently, master the other test options: bay parking and pulling up on the right. Good clutch control makes all three easier.

Summary

Parallel parking is a sequence: line up, reverse straight, steer towards the kerb at the right point, straighten, then steer away to tuck in. Go slowly, look all around before each stage, and use reference points tuned to your car. For more on how manoeuvres are assessed, read the practical driving test explained.

Practise with Co-Drive

Co-Drive is an iOS app that breaks manoeuvres such as parallel parking, bay parking and pulling up on the right into clear steps, from demonstration to guided practice to solo. It's designed to be used alongside lessons with an instructor. See the manoeuvre guides.