How to Parallel Park: Expert Tips for Smooth Parking

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A guide to help anyone learn to parallel park

Co-authored by Ibrahim Onerli and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: September 26, 2025 Fact Checked

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You’re circling the block, looking for parking spots, but all you can find is parallel parking on the street. No biggie: you’ve got this. But if you’re still feeling a bit nervous about parallel parking, you’re not alone—many drivers, new and experienced alike, get a little bit flustered when it comes time to parallel park. That’s where we can help! We talked to driving instructor Ibrahim Onerli to find out everything you need to know to get better at parallel parking so you can nab the very best parking spots with ease.

Parallel Parking Step-by-Step

Driving instructor Ibrahim Onerli says these are the steps to perfect parallel parking:

Put your turn signal on to indicate that you’re parking.
Drive up next to the vehicle in front of the open parking space.
Crank your steering wheel to the right, then slowly reverse into the spot.
Straighten the wheel once the front car’s rear bumper is lined up with your passenger door, then keep backing in.
Pull forward if you need to adjust, then put your car in park.

1

Find a parking space a little bit longer than your car.

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Look for a space that gives you enough room to back into. Find an open space that’s at least 6 ft (1.8 m) longer than your vehicle. With practice, you’ll be able to park in spots with about 3 ft (0.91 m) of extra space, but it’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of room when you’re starting out.^{[1]
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- If you've never parallel parked before, practice by setting up plastic bins or cones in a parking lot. Try to park between them without knocking them over. If you want, gradually decrease the distance between them as you get more comfortable.
- Only park in designated parking spots. Note any time limits or pay-for-parking signs so you aren’t surprised later on.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Ibrahim Onerli is a driving instructor and the manager of Revolution Driving School in New York City. He specializes in teaching defensive driving and stick shift driving.

2

Pull up next to the car in front of the space.

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Drive as close to the front car as possible to begin parking. Brake gently, then turn on your right turn signal to indicate that you’re going to park. Pull your car up next to the front car so there’s about 2 ft (0.61 m) between the two vehicles. Stop when your rear bumper is aligned with their rear bumper.^{[2]
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- If you’re parking on the left side of the road, use your left turn signal instead.

3

Back up while turning your steering wheel to the right.

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Reverse to line up your car, then turn your wheel to start backing into the spot. Double-check that the road behind you is clear before you start reversing. Then, “back straight up until the taillight of the other car is in the middle of your back door,” says Onerli. “At that point, cut the wheel all the way to the right and back up until the taillight of the car in front of you is at the beginning of your front door.”^{[3]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview}
- To check your position, Onerli says, “Look at your passenger side mirror—you should see a 45° triangle formed by your car, the curb, and the road.”^{[4]
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  Ibrahim Onerli
  Driving Instructor
  
  Expert Interview}
- To remember which way to turn, try to envision pushing the wheel in the direction that you want the back of the car to go.
- Avoid swinging the front of your vehicle into the space too early, as you may hit or scrape the vehicle in front of you.

4

Straighten the wheel, then cut it to the left.

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Turn your wheel once your rear tire is 18 in (46 cm) from the curb. Onerli says, “Turn the wheel back to straight and back up until the triangle in your passenger mirror disappears.” At this point, your front bumper should be next to the rear vehicle of the car in front of you. Then, “cut the wheel all the way to the left and back up until your car is parallel to the road.”^{[5]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview}
- Another good indicator to begin turning the wheel the other way is when the license plate on the vehicle in front of your space is centered in your windshield.

5

Pull forward if you need to.

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Center yourself in the space between the 2 cars. Once you’re lined up in the space, “turn the wheel back straight and pull up into the space in front,” says Onerli.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Ibrahim Onerli
Driving Instructor

Expert Interview} If you need to adjust again, pull forward or backward so there’s roughly an even amount of room in front of you and behind you.^{[7]
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- You’ll still be in reverse at this point. If you need to drive forward, switch to drive first.
- Leave enough room in front of you and behind you so that the cars around you can pull out if needed.

6

Start over if anything goes wrong.

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Drive out of the spot and back in again if you need to. When you’re new to parallel parking, you might have to try the spot a couple of times, and that’s okay! Put your turn signal on, make sure there’s no one in the road behind you, and pull up next to the front vehicle again.
- Use your rear view mirror and your side mirror as well as turning in your seat to triple check that no cars are coming before you pull out again.

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How do I pick a place to parallel park?

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Your space should be about one and a half times the size of your car. It's always better to go with a bigger space rather than a smaller one.

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How far from the curve do you need to be?

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Your tires should be within a foot of the curb so your car isn't sticking out into the traffic lane.

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What if I can't get into the spot during a road test?

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As long as you don't crash into the other cars, you will still pass the exam normally even though this will make you lose some points.

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Tips

Parallel parking is a lot easier with a rear-view or backup camera. If your car doesn’t have one, consider installing a rear-view camera yourself.

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