How to Parallel Park: Step-by-Step Instructions

Updated October 2026

Parallel parking is one of the skills learners worry about most, but it becomes easy once you follow a consistent method and practise it. These steps describe parking on the left side of the road in Australia.

Before you start

• Choose a space roughly one and a half times the length of your car.
• Check that parking is allowed. Look for signs and yellow lines, and stay clear of driveways, hydrants and intersections.
• Check your mirrors and signal left early to show other drivers you are about to park.

Step by step

1. Line up. Stop beside the car in front of the space, about half a metre to a metre away, with your rear bumper roughly level with theirs.
2. Check all around. Look in your mirrors and over your shoulder for traffic, cyclists and pedestrians.
3. Reverse slowly and turn left. Reverse at walking pace. When your rear wheels are level with the other car's rear bumper, turn the steering wheel to the left, about one full turn.
4. Watch your angle. When your car is at about 45 degrees to the kerb, or you can see the kerb in your left mirror, straighten the wheels and keep reversing slowly.
5. Turn right to bring the front in. When your front bumper clears the rear of the car in front, turn the wheel right to swing the front of your car into the space.
6. Straighten and adjust. Stop when you are parallel to the kerb. Straighten the wheels and move forward or back to leave room for the cars in front and behind.

How close to the kerb?

Aim to finish close to the kerb, ideally within about 30 centimetres, without touching it. Parking rules and driving test requirements differ between states and territories, so ask your instructor what is expected where you will sit your test.

Common mistakes

• Reversing too fast. Slow movement gives you time to correct.
• Turning too early or too late. Use the same reference points every time.
• Forgetting observation. Keep checking around the car throughout the manoeuvre, not just at the start.
• Mounting or hitting the kerb. If it goes wrong, stop, move forward and try again.

Practice tips

Practise in a quiet street with a gap between two parked cars, or use witches hats or wheelie bins as markers. Your instructor can show you reference points that suit your car and help you practise until it feels routine.