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Let’s face it.. parallel parking can be downright scary to a beginning driver. It even strikes fear into the hearts of many experienced drivers! But trust us - this is definitely a skill worth having. And not just for your test: it will come in handy many times throughout your life. Not to mention how cool you’ll look easily reversing your car into a small parking space! So whether you’re frantically preparing for your drivers test or just want to brush up on your P-parking skills, we’re here to help you conquer those tight squeezes.

To start, here’s what it’s all about: parallel parking is a method of parking in line with, or parallel to the curb, commonly lined up bumper to bumper with other vehicles. This is most often encountered in large metropolitan areas, where there are few parking lots and street parking is the norm. Parallel parking is required knowledge for the drivers license exam, since you will be tested on your abilities. There are states, such as Ohio, which implement a “maneuverability test” instead, but this is basically parallel parking inside of a traffic cone formation instead of with other cars - so the same rules apply.

Rule number one: don’t get intimidated. Even if you’ve already tried (and failed) before, DO NOT be discouraged! Start slow, and your confidence will increase with each practice session as you become more comfortable. It has less to do with “natural talent” or good hand-eye coordination than it does with simple, consistent repetition. Stay calm and allow yourself the time you need to become successful - it won’t happen overnight, but it becomes less and less difficult with time. And pretty soon you’ll be maneuvering with ease!

Ready? Here are the general rules for parallel parking:

1. Look for a parking spot which is at least one and a half times the length of your car that you are confident you can park in.

2. Signal and drive up so that you are a 2-3 feet next to the car you want to park behind, and align your car’s rear bumper with the other one’s.

3. Look into your side and rear-view mirrors, then check over your shoulder to make sure there are no cars approaching you from behind. Once it’s clear, hit the brake and put your car in reverse.

4. Gently remove your foot from the brake. When your car starts to roll backwards, turn the steering wheel all the way in the direction of the curb. The car should now be reversing towards the curb at an angle. (If you think the angle’s not working, you can always shift into drive and begin again.)

5. Once the back of your car is mostly in the space, turn the steering wheel all the way back towards the opposite direction in order to straighten out your car’s wheels.

6. You’re pretty much centered once you’re no more than 12 inches from the curb and parallel to it. If you need to, drive forward slightly to adjust your wheels. Now you’re parked!

These are just the basic guidelines; each situation varies so you’ll learn to use your own judgment based on the circumstances. Obviously the bigger the space, the easier parking will be. Things like how sharply your wheel will need to be steered also differ based on the car you drive, since each vehicle is unique.

Whatever you do, don’t start off by trying to parallel park on a busy road - it’s very anxiety-provoking! So here’s an induction plan you can use to build up your confidence, move up only when you feel more than ready:

- Park beside an empty curb in a quiet street or parking lot.

- Next, parallel park behind ONE car.

- Look for two parked vehicles that are far enough apart where you feel comfortable parking in between them. (Find a street that’s not too busy for this)

- Look for cars parked closer & closer together and practice entering the space. When you’re able to do it in spots that are about one and a half times your car’s length, you’ve reached your goal!

Parallel parking has a reputation for difficulty, but it’s really not as hard as you may think. Just keep on practicing and you’ll be doing it perfectly in no time. Now there’s no excuse! Go forth and master the art of the parallel park.

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