How to Park a Car

Co-authored by Simon Miyerov

Last Updated: November 19, 2023

You can't drive a car without knowing how to park it. If you want to know how to park your car in a variety of situations, you just have to approach the spot slowly, position the car correctly, and know when to shift gears. If you want to know how to park a car, just follow these steps.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Park Forward with a Manual Transmission

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Move the wheel left or right to maneuver your car in the direction of the spot.^{[1]
X
Research source} You should approach the spot going no faster than 5 mph (8.0 km/h).
This will help you pull into the spot at the right speed and not overshoot your target. This is particularly useful if you're parking in front of a wall and. It'll help you maintain control of the car.

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Take care to avoid hitting the curb or other cars in your way. Focus on your depth perception: have a firm sense of how close all of the objects in your way really are.
Once you've pulled into the spot, it's time to firmly press down on the brake so the car comes to a complete stop.
5
Turn your wheels in the right direction. Keep your foot on the brake as you turn your wheels in the right direction. If you're pulling into a flat spot, just straighten your wheels. If you've parked uphill, you can turn your wheels away from the curb, and if you've parked downhill, you can turn your wheels toward the curb.^{[2]
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Research source} This will keep your car from rolling away if your brakes are disengaged.
1. Shift to first gear (or reverse) and set the parking brake.^{[3]
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  Research source} By leaving both the transmission and the parking brake engaged, you have 2 systems holding your car in place, which can help protect you in case one of them fails.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Park Forward with an Automatic Transmission

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1
Slowly steer the car in the direction of the spot. Move the wheel left or right to position the car into the spot. You should approach the spot going no faster than 5 mph (8.0 km/h).
- If you're directly in front of the spot, this part is easy. If you're trying to maneuver into a space between two cars that is perpendicular to you, then you have to create an arc wide enough for you to turn into the spot. When you're first turning, it may feel like you're overshooting the spot and will hit the car further away from you. Just lightly apply pressure to the brake and quickly turn the wheel in the direction of the spot to comfortably slide the car into place.
This will help you maintain control of your car while moving it in the right direction.
You can lightly put your foot on the brake to make sure that you don't overshoot the spot.
Instead of lightly hitting the brake, you should firmly press the brake so the car comes to a complete stop.
Keep your foot on the brake as you turn your wheels in the right direction. If you're pulling into a flat spot, just straighten your wheels. If you've parked uphill, you can turn your wheels away from the curb, and if you've parked downhill, you can turn your wheels toward the curb. This will keep your car from rolling away if your brakes are disengaged.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Park Backward with a Manual Transmission

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Once you're within just a car's length or further away from the spot, you should switch into Reverse before you start backing up.
This will help you maintain control of your car as you back up.
This is a bit trickier when you're parking backwards, because you'll actually have to steer the wheel in the opposite direction that you want the car to go, instead of the same direction. If you want your car to move left, you'll have to steer to the right.
You can check your mirrors to start moving backwards -- or better yet, put your right arm around the left passenger seat, and look behind you. You'll have a better sense of where to move your car if you're actually looking at the space.
Once you've moved the car in the right space, press the brake firmly until the car comes to a complete stop.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Park Backward with an Automatic Transmission

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Once you're within just a car's length or further away from the spot, you should switch into Reverse before you start backing up.
This will help you maintain control of your car as you back up.
This is a bit trickier when you're parking backwards, because you'll actually have to steer the wheel in the opposite direction that you want the car to go, instead of the same direction. If you want your car to move left, you'll have to steer to the right.
You can check your mirrors to start moving backwards -- or better yet, put your right arm around the left passenger seat, and look behind you. You'll have a better sense of where to move your car if you're actually looking at the space.
Once you've moved the car in the right space, press the brake firmly until the car comes to a complete stop.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Parallel Park a Car

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Make sure that there's no car behind you before you try to parallel park. If there is a car behind you, wait for it to pass or pull into a driveway or side-street ahead, and then approach the spot again.
This will let other cars know that you're parking.
Shift your transmission down so that you approach the spot at no more than 2–3 mph (3.2–4.8 km/h). If you're driving an automatic car, just lightly press the brake, and if you're driving a manual car, shift down to a lower gear and lightly press the brake.
It should be at least a foot apart from the car. If it's too close, then you may hit the car when you start moving backward.^{[4]
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Research source}
Continue to check your mirrors and blind spots to make sure that the coast is still clear.^{[5]
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Research source} Turn around before you begin to move backwards.
If you're driving an automatic car, that's all you need to do. If you're driving a manual car, then you should slowly let go of the clutch as you press the gas. If you're parking on a hill, then you can keep pressing the clutch and just slowly move your foot off the brake.
Continue to back up until you're fully in the space. You may not get it on your first try. You can move back and steer your wheel away from the curb, then move forward again while steering your wheel toward the curb, and repeat this process until you've got it right.
Shift it into first gear if you're driving a manual car, and shift the car into Park if you're driving Pull forward until you're evenly positioned between the car in front of you and the car behind you.
Keep your foot on the brake as you turn your wheels in the right direction. If you're pulling into a flat spot, just straighten your wheels. If you've parked uphill, you can turn your wheels away from the curb, and if you've parked downhill, you can turn your wheels toward the curb. This will keep your car from rolling away if your brakes are disengaged.
Pull forward until you're evenly positioned between the car in front of you and the car behind you.

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Question

How do I get better at angle parking?

Simon Miyerov
Driving Instructor
Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to make New York a safer and efficient driving environment.

Simon Miyerov

Driving Instructor

Expert Answer

With angle parking, you want to make sure that you pull away from the spot at an angle where you're giving yourself enough room to adjust as you back up. Also, make sure that you go slowly since one of your wheels is going to bump the curb before the other, which can throw your sense of space off. Also, make sure that you leave enough space on the left to open the door!

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Is it okay to double park?

Simon Miyerov
Driving Instructor
Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to make New York a safer and efficient driving environment.

Simon Miyerov

Driving Instructor

Expert Answer

No! Don't do it! Double parking can really create some serious congestion. It's always better to take a few extra minutes to find a legitimate parking space.

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How can I park a car backwards with a manual transmission on a steep hill?

Community Answer

Clutch down, reverse gear, keep the engine speed moderately high, release the clutch gently and release the hand-brake. Maneuver to the location. Apply the hand-brake firmly and consider leaving the engine "in gear" when it is switched off to prevent it from rolling if the hand-brake fails.

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Tips

Make sure to drive slowly.

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If it is not perfect, fix the car by making adjustments.

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Check if your car is parked perfectly in the space. To make sure, look if the car is in the middle of the space, parallel to the lines, and not too close to the car driving area.

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Warnings

Remember that the controls are reversed when you use reverse. If you drive the normal way when you use reverse, you can cause an accident.

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