Parking masterclass
Parallel, bay and angled with reference points
The reference point method
Pros don't park by feel but by fixed reference points: when is your rear level with the car in front? What does the mirror show at 45°? The points in this lesson suit most compact cars. Fine-tune them with your instructor in the exam car – then parking becomes routine rather than luck.
Parallel parking (in reverse)
- Indicate right, stop parallel to the front car: 50–80 cm apart, rear ends level.
- All-round check, reverse slowly until its rear appears mid rear side window.
- Full right lock, reverse to about 45°: left mirror shows the rear car's whole front.
- Straighten wheels, reverse straight until your front clears the car ahead.
- Full left lock, reverse slowly until the car is parallel.
- Stop, straighten wheels, centre in the gap – max. 30 cm from the curb.
- Indicator off, apply the parking brake.
Test the reference points
Practise the parallel gap in the simulator – with reference points shown and the curb distance in centimetres.
Take a free drive↗Reverse bay parking
- Drive past the bays with about 1–1.5 m lateral distance.
- Stop when your shoulder is about two bay widths past the gap.
- Indicate, all-round check, reverse slowly with full lock towards the gap.
- Check both door mirrors alternately: distance to lines and neighbours.
- Lines parallel in both mirrors? Straighten the steering wheel.
- Reverse straight until your front is level with the neighbouring cars.
- Stop, wheels straight, parking brake on.
Forward bay parking
- Keep as much lateral distance as possible, about 2 m – watch oncoming traffic.
- Indicate, check mirrors, slow to walking pace.
- Door mirror level with the first bay line: steer firmly.
- Watch the inner side: the rear wheel cuts the corner.
- Once centred, straighten the wheel and drive in straight.
- Stop before the curb or end of the markings, wheels straight.
Angled parking
- Bays angled in your direction of travel: park forwards.
- About 1 m lateral distance, indicate, reduce speed.
- When the door mirror reaches the first line: steer briskly, but less than for bay parking.
- Align with the lines, straighten the wheel in good time.
- Drive in straight and stop, wheels straight.
- Reverse angled parking only if bays slope against your direction.
Bay: forwards or in reverse?
Forwards
- Quick to get in
- Needs a lot of lateral space
- Leaving in reverse with poor visibility
In reverse
- More precise thanks to rear swing
- Needs less space
- Leaving forwards with good visibility – safer
What the examiner watches closely
Mounting the curb or touching another vehicle, more than two corrections, no all-round check, or moving on although a pedestrian is behind the car – that costs you the task. Parallel parked, you may be no more than 30 cm from the curb. Remember leaving the space too: indicate, mirrors, shoulder check.
Gap too tight? Say so!
You may decline a gap that is clearly too small. A short sentence like “This gap is too tight for me, I'll look for another one” shows good judgement. For a parallel gap, plan on roughly one car length plus one metre.
You have parked parallel. What is the maximum distance to the curb allowed in the exam?
- 10 cm
- 30 cm
- 50 cm
Check answer
30 cm
When parallel parked, you may be no more than 30 cm from the curb – without touching or mounting it. Up to two corrections are allowed.