Parking lessons · The one everybody worries about
Parallel parking
Back into a space along the curb in six moves, ending up close to it.
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Step 1 of 6
Find a space and signal
Look for a space at least 3 feet longer than your car. Check your mirrors and signal toward the curb so drivers behind know you are stopping.
From: California DMV, California Driver's Handbook: Parking; New York State DMV, Drivers Manual, Chapter 7: Parallel Parking
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Step 2 of 6
Pull up beside the car ahead
Stop beside the car in front of the space, about 2 feet away from it, with your rear bumper lined up with its rear bumper.
From: California DMV, California Driver's Handbook: Parking; New York State DMV, Drivers Manual, Chapter 7: Parallel Parking
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Step 3 of 6
Look all the way round
Check the mirrors and look over both shoulders for people, bikes and traffic before you move.
From: California DMV, California Driver's Handbook: Parking; New York State DMV, Drivers Manual, Chapter 7: Parallel Parking
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Step 4 of 6
Back in at about 45 degrees
Reverse slowly with the wheel turned toward the curb until the car sits at roughly a 45-degree angle to it.
From: California DMV, California Driver's Handbook: Parking; New York State DMV, Drivers Manual, Chapter 7: Parallel Parking
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Step 5 of 6
Swing the front in
When your rear wheel is about 18 inches from the curb, turn the wheel the other way, away from the curb, and keep backing slowly without touching the car behind.
From: California DMV, California Driver's Handbook: Parking; New York State DMV, Drivers Manual, Chapter 7: Parallel Parking
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Step 6 of 6
Straighten up and settle
Straighten the wheels and ease forward to leave room in front and behind. Finish within 12 inches of the curb in New York and Pennsylvania (California allows up to 18 inches); small moves forward and back fix it. Set the parking brake and check before opening a door.
From: New York State DMV, Drivers Manual, Chapter 7: Parallel Parking; PennDOT, Pennsylvania Driver's Manual: Parking; California DMV, California Driver's Handbook: Parking
Practice it
Try it first in an empty lot with cones, with a licensed adult beside you. Work out the cone spacing for your car, then rate it on your next logged drive.
Lessons are written in Park Weldon's own words from the manuals cited on each step (fetched October 2026). Rules differ between states and change: your own state's driver manual wins.