Ask any learner what part of the driving test they dread, and parallel parking comes up again and again. The good news is that it is a technique, not a talent. Once you learn a reliable method and a few reference points, it becomes one of the easiest marks to earn.
Here is a simple, repeatable way to do it.
Set up first
Good parallel parking starts before you reverse.
- Pull up alongside the car in front of the empty space, leaving about a half-metre gap
- Line up so your back wheels roughly match the other car’s back wheels
- Check mirrors and your blind spot, then select reverse
Taking a moment to line up properly makes everything after it easier.
The step-by-step method
With the setup right, the rest follows a pattern:
- Reverse slowly until your rear window lines up with the back of the parked car
- Turn the wheel fully towards the kerb and keep reversing slowly
- When you see the kerb line up in your far side mirror, straighten the wheel
- As the front of your car clears the parked car, turn the wheel the other way
- Straighten up, centre yourself in the space, and adjust as needed
Slow car, quick hands. Move the wheel while the car creeps, not the other way around.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going too fast, which leaves no time to judge the angle
- Forgetting to check mirrors and blind spots during the manoeuvre
- Finishing too far from the kerb, which can cost you the mark
Examiners are not chasing a perfect first attempt. Safe, controlled corrections are fine. A calm reposition beats a rushed, scraping success.
Practise until it is boring
The secret to parallel parking is simply reps. Practise it in a quiet street with a couple of markers until the reference points feel automatic. By test day it should be routine, not a gamble.
Want to master parallel parking and the rest of your test manoeuvres? Our driving lessons in Mitcham drill these skills until they are second nature, and our guide to passing your VicRoads test first go covers the bigger picture. Book a lesson and we will get you parking with confidence.
