Last Updated October 2026

To parallel park, signal and pull up beside the car in front of an open parking space. Then back up slowly, first turning the wheel toward the curb to angle your car into the space, then turning the wheel the other way as your car slides in. Straighten out and center your car in the space.

It sounds simple, and practice will help. The hard parts are that steering in reverse feels wrong, you’re judging distances you can’t fully see and there’s often traffic waiting for you. Knowing the steps, the reference points to watch for and how to avoid common mistakes takes a lot of the guesswork out of it.

Understanding parallel parking

Parallel parking means parking in line with other cars along a curb, usually by backing into a gap between two parked vehicles. It’s the standard way to park on most city streets, and in some states you’ll be tested on it when you go for your driver’s license.

Most of the difficulty comes down to a few things:

• Steering in reverse feels counterintuitive. The back of your car goes the way you turn the wheel, while the front swings the opposite way.
• You can’t see everything. The corners of your car, the curb and the car behind you are partly or fully out of view.
• Sizing up the space is tricky. A gap that looks big enough from the driver’s seat might not be, especially if you’re in a larger vehicle.
• There’s pressure. Traffic waiting behind you can make you rush, and rushing makes mistakes more likely.

Step-by-step parallel parking instructions

These steps are for parking on the right side of the street. Every vehicle handles a little differently, and your state’s driver’s manual has the final word on local rules. If at any point you risk bumping another car or the curb, pull out and start again.

1. Find a space that fits

The California Driver’ Handbook suggests finding a space at least 3 feet longer than your car.. If you’re a new driver, you might want one that’s longer. Check for parking signs, fire hydrants, crosswalks and driveways. In New York, for example, you can’t park within 15 feet of a hydrant or 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, according to the New York State DMV. Parking in the wrong place can get you ticketed.

2. Signal and pull up alongside

Turn on your turn signal as soon as you identify your spot, to give cars behind you time to stop. Pull up next to and about 2 feet away from the car parked in front of the space. Too close and your front corner may clip that car as you swing in; too far and you’ll end up too far from the curb. Your rear bumper should be about even with theirs.

3. Check, then back in at an angle

Shift into reverse. Check your mirrors and look over both shoulders for cars, cyclists and pedestrians. Watching over your right shoulder, with quick checks to the front and in your mirrors, turn the wheel all the way toward the curb and back up slowly. Stop when you can see the curbside front corner of the car behind you in your driver-side mirror.

4. Straighten and back up

Straighten the wheel and back up slowly in a straight line until your passenger-side front wheel lines up with the back corner of the car ahead.

5. Turn the wheel the other way

Turn the wheel all the way away from the curb and keep backing slowly. The front of your car will swing into the space. Keep backing until your car is parallel to the curb. Watch the car behind you and stop before you get too close.

6. Straighten out and center

Straighten your wheels and pull forward to center your car, leaving room for the cars in front and behind to get out. Check your distance from the curb. New York requires you to be no more than 12 inches away; California allows up to 18. If you’re too far out or crooked, pull forward and try again.

Tips for successful parallel parking

• Adjust your mirrors first. Set your side mirrors so you can see the lanes beside and behind you. Tilt the passenger-side mirror down slightly so you can see the curb and your rear wheel; some vehicles do this automatically in reverse.
• Practice with different vehicle sizes. A longer SUV or truck needs a bigger space and a wider swing than a compact car.
• Treat the backup camera as a helper. It won’t replace what you can see looking over your shoulders and in your mirrors, but it can help you judge how close you’re getting to the car behind you.
• Put the phone away. Squeezing into a tight space takes your full attention. Even a quick glance at a text can end in a scrape. Learn more about distracted driving and how to avoid it.
• Run a safety check after you park. Shift into park, set the parking brake, turn off your turn signal and check your side mirror for cyclists before you open your door.

Parallel parking gets easier every time you do it. If you end up too far from the curb and get a ticket, here’s what you can do. And if a tight squeeze ever ends in a crunch, car insurance can help.

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