Tips for Parallel Parking

This post is part of a series of sponsored posts. 

I grew up in the suburbs of Minnesota where parallel parking is nonexistent. So it wasn’t until I went to college that I realized that it was actually a necessary skill. It took me months of forward, backward, wheel turn, backward, forward, wheel turn… to get down the whole parallel parking concept. It can be tough at first, but with a few tips from yours truly, it may be a little easier to get into those tight spaces when it’s your only option.

First, let’s cover the ‘right way’ to parallel park. I’ll source Yishan Wong and his explanation of the process on Quora. He’s been an IAM advanced driver since 1999 and knows his stuff.

1. Your starting point will be pulled up next to the car you will be parallel parking behind. You want to line up the back ends of your vehicles, then come to a complete stop.
2. While stopped, turn your steering wheel all the way to the right. Then look back, and proceed in reverse until the car behind you’s front right bumper is lined up with the middle of your windshield. Then stop.
3. Turn your steering wheel back to the middle, and proceed in reverse until you reach the point where your front bumper just barely sneaks past the car in front of you. Stop again.
4. Turn your steering wheel all the way to the left and proceed in reverse again and slowly move into the space.
5. Straighten the wheel, and if you need to, pull forward to even out your vehicle.

Wong emphasizes there is no judgment involved in parallel parking; except one aspect; will your vehicle fit into a certain space or not. The rest is science.

Tips:

• Make sure your vehicle will fit in a space.
• Take each steering wheel direction literally all-the-way, and hold it there until you’ve reached the next step.
• Make sure you come to a complete stop and turn the wheel while you are stopped at the times you need to.
• When parked, you should be less than 12″ from the curb.

I hope these tips help you during your next encounter with a parallel parking spot! With a little practice, and these directions, you’ll be a pro in no time! Or, you could always make sure your next new vehicle comes equipped with a backup camera! 🙂