Parallel parking is a driving manoeuvre that makes many drivers nervous. However, with the right steps in mind, it becomes a lot more manageable over time! That’s why we’ve worked with Joanna Clarke, Senior Driving Instructor from our partner, Irish School of Motoring (ISM), to create this step-by-step guide to help you master parallel parking. By keeping these steps in mind, and practicing a few times, you’ll soon feel much more comfortable doing it.
How to parallel park
Step 1: Find a suitable parking space
When parallel parking, it’s important to have good visual awareness of the length of your car because the first step is finding a parking space that is 1.5 times the length of your car.
Top Tip: Joanna also recommends having 1 metre, or a car door’s width, between you and the car in front of the space you intend to park in. So, when trying to find a suitable space, look at the width of the road to ensure you will have enough space to comfortably parallel park.
Step 2: Indicate and position your car parallel to the car in front of the space
Once you find a suitable space, signal left to alert other road users to your intention and proceed to drive your car to a position that is parallel to the car you want to park behind, leaving a metre, or a car door’s width between that car and yours. You should also be half a cars’ length in front of the car you want to park behind.
As soon as you are happy with the positioning of your car, stop, put your car in reverse, and turn your indicator off. Putting your car in reverse straight away makes it clear to any vehicle behind you that your intention is to drive backwards.
Step 3: Line your car up with the car in front of the space
Reverse your car until it is level with the vehicle you are parking behind. In other words, if the car is facing in the same direction that you are driving, your back bumpers will be aligned, or if the car is facing in the opposite direction (i.e. towards you), their front bumper will be aligned with your back bumper.
Once your car is lined up with the car in front, this is your point of turn, and you’re ready to move on to the next step!
Step 4: Check surroundings and begin to turn
Now it’s time to straighten up! This is your second point of turn. During this step you will bring the front of your car into the space, in order to get it in line with the cars in front of and behind you.
To do so, you will need to steer your wheel to the right (about double the amount you steered it to the left). Keep in mind that the first three-quarters of this turn is just taking the left steer off, so anything more than that is then turning your wheels to the right and the front of your car should start coming in and straightening up.
Top Tip: Joanna recommends that you steer, hold and watch. Steer your wheel to the right and then proceed slowly to see what the car does. This gives you a chance to reduce or increase the level of steer, as needed.
Step 6: Reposition your car in the space
Once you’re happy that your car is straight and in line with the cars in front and behind, you can straighten up your wheels by reducing the right steer, i.e. turning your steering wheel back to neutral.
Next, make sure you have ample space between your car and the cars in front and behind you. By aiming to have equal space between you and both cars, you will have enough room to drive out of the space later. This also safeguards you against another car taking their place and parking too close to you in the meantime. With enough space left either in front or behind your car, you will be able to drive away without difficulty.
Top Tip: Even with the help of parking sensors, it is good practice to look in your reverse cameras (if you have them) and mirrors to see how close you are to the car behind and if you have space to continue reversing. If you’re still unsure, ask a passenger to get out of the car and guide you on the amount of space left behind you.
Additional top tip! When parking, you should always leave your wheels straight - aligned with the body of the car – to protect them. If they are pointing out, another driver could get too close and clip them, leaving them damaged.
Parallel parking diagram guide
To help you visualise the manoeuvre and your points of turn, please see the diagram guide below.
Is parallel parking on the driving test in Ireland?
No, parallel parking is not part of driving test in Ireland. The RSA have a list on what you will be tested on in the driving test so you know what to prepare for.
However, it is an excellent skill to have as a driver, whether for city driving or parking along a street in any town or village. Joanna recommends practicing in a quiet place so you can get familiar with the movement before needing to parallel park in a busier area. Remember to take your time, don’t rush and try not to feel pressured by other cars and drivers around you.
