Street parking can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are a few refresher tips and tricks to help you easily parallel park.
Find the Right Spot
The most important thing when parallel parking is making sure you have enough room to maneuver into your space. If you’re a less experienced parallel parker, a good rule of thumb is to try to look for a spot that is at least 1.5 times the length of your car. You can check this by pulling up to the front edge of the spot. If you can see the other car’s hood in your rear-view mirror you should have enough room!
Line ‘em Up
Line ‘em Up
One thing that can intimidate less-experienced parallel parkers is they aren’t sure where exactly to position their cars before they start to reverse into the spot. It’s all in the name! Before you start to reverse into the spot ensure that your car is parallel to the car you will be parking behind. An easy trick to remember is to check your side mirrors. If your mirrors are lined up with the car you are parking behind and you have roughly 2 feet between your car and theirs, then you’re ready to start reversing into the spot!
Turn Baby, Turn
One thing that can cause drivers to make repeated attempts to back into a spot is that they aren’t sure when to start turning. It’s sooner than you think. Right after you line your car up, turn the wheel to the right as far as it will go, then slowly start to reverse. When you can see the full front of the car behind you in your left side mirror, straighten out your wheels! If you’re worried you may hit the curb, adjust your right side mirror to see your tires, you’ll see it coming!
Scooch over
Once you’ve backed into the spot, don’t forget the most important step: pull your car forward! This will ensure that the vehicle behind you has enough room to get out of their spot, and ensure you are straightened out. Now you just have to enjoy your success! You parallel parked!
