Mastering parking skills is an essential part of being a good driver. Whether you’re an experienced driver or a beginner, many people find parking to be the most challenging aspect of driving. The process of finding the right spot and safely parking your car requires skill and patience. Parking is a crucial part of driving education and learning to park properly in a busy environment is a unique test for every driver.

In this guide, we will explore different parking techniques and share important tips to help you improve your parking skills. It’s not just about learning how to park but consistent practice is also essential to become good at it. That’s why most driving schools prioritise teaching their students various parking skills early on.

Why Are Good Parking Skills Important?

When you drive on the road, parking often becomes a challenge. Sometimes, you might struggle to find a good spot or need to deal with parking between two cars, which is known as parallel parking. If you’ve ever wondered what parallel parking is, it’s when you park your car in line with others on the side of the road.

Similarly, parking on a slope adds more challenges. Have you ever parked on a hill and worried your car might roll back? When parking on an incline, you need to be careful, like turning your wheels the right way and using the handbrake. This can be stressful, especially in busy areas, but learning how to park properly can save you time and trouble.

Additionally, parking issues can arise due to external factors. For example, faded lines, unclear rules, or small spaces in a parking lot can make parking difficult, even if you are skilled at parking. This highlights the importance of having strong parking skills, as they allow you to adapt to various situations, whether it’s dealing with unclear parking signs or driving in tight spaces.

Different Parking Techniques And How To Do Them

1. Angle Parking

Angle parking, which is usually done in parking lots with dedicated angled spaces, is parking your car at an angled position to the curb. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you park smoothly:

Locate the Parking Spot: If you’re in a busy area, start by looking for an open angled parking spot. You might find gaps between cars or notice other drivers getting ready to leave. Staying alert will help you spot a space more quickly.

Put on Your Turn Signal: Use your turn signals as soon as you spot a parking place. This minimises the possibility of confusion by making your slowing down easier to spot for the drivers behind you. Additionally, make sure to check for vehicles and any nearby obstacles.

Carefully Turn into the Spot: When both side mirrors align with the closest parking line, start turning into the space. It’s important that you take your time to maintain control. You can prevent overshooting the spot and hitting anything by moving carefully.

Finish Pulling into the Spot: Continue turning until your car is aligned with the vehicles next to you. Make sure to stop at the line, curb, or wall that marks the end of the space.

Put Your Car into Park: Once you’re securely parked, keep your foot on the brake until you’re fully stopped. If you’re on a hill, use the parking brake to keep your car from rolling backward.

2. Back-In Angle Parking

Back-in angle parking is a technique where you reverse into an angled parking space. Here’s how to do it:

Find a Spot: Search for a back-in, angled parking space that is available. Even though it might look difficult at first, reversing provides a safer exit view of approaching vehicles.

Position Your Car and Signal: To alert other drivers that you are backing in, turn on your signal. Just as you would with parallel parking, place your vehicle in front of the parking space.

Back into the Space: Back into the angled area gradually, making sure your vehicle is in line with the parking lines. Use your mirrors to make sure you stay inside the lines.

Adjust and Park: Once you’re in the space, make small adjustments to make sure that your car is straight and within the lines. Take your time, as patience is key to parking correctly.

3. Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is a technique used to park your car between two vehicles that are already parked parallel to the curb. It consists of a series of accurate motions to slide your car into a tight parking position.

Locate a Parking Space: Look out for a spot that is a bit bigger than your vehicle. You’ll find it easier to park without coming too near to the cars in front of or behind you with this extra space.

Signal and Line Up: Turn on your signal to alert other drivers that you are parking. Then, line up. As you approach the spot, move to the side of the vehicle in front of it, giving them roughly two feet of room. Before you begin, make sure your rear bumper is level with theirs.

Reverse and Turn: As you turn the steering wheel in the direction of the curb, gradually begin to reverse. Make sure there is no traffic by periodically checking your mirrors and looking over your shoulder.

Straighten Your Car: Once your car is positioned in the space, straighten the steering wheel and keep backing up. Make little changes to get your car closer to the curb.

Adjust if Needed: If necessary, adjust by moving slightly forward or backward if you’re not exactly in the middle or if you need extra room. Make sure there’s enough room between your car and the others around you.

4. Parallel Reverse Parking

Reverse parallel parking is a parking technique where you back your car into a parallel parking spot, usually situated between two other parked vehicles. To successfully perform reverse parallel parking, follow these steps:

Find a Spot: Look for a parking space that’s a little longer than your car. This gives you enough room to park without hitting the cars in front or behind.

Signal and Line Up: Turn on your indicator to let others know you’re parking. Move your car alongside the space, about 1-2 feet away from the car in front, so your rear bumpers are lined up.

Reverse and Turn: Slowly start backing up while turning the steering wheel towards the curb. Keep checking your mirrors to make sure you’re not getting too close to other cars.

Adjust and Finish: Once your car is partly in, straighten your wheel and keep reversing until you’re fully in the space. Make small adjustments by moving forward or backward if needed, to park neatly between the two cars.

5. Perpendicular Parking

Perpendicular parking involves parking your car at a 90-degree angle, often in parking lots or next to a curb. Though it allows more cars to fit in a small space, it can be a little tricky for beginners.

Look for an Empty Spot: Select a parking space that is large enough for your vehicle. It’s acceptable to move on and locate another one if the current one seems too little.

Signal and Line Up: To inform other cars that you are about to park, turn on your indicator. Place your vehicle in the centre of the lane and point it in the direction of the centre of the area.

Enter carefully: Drive carefully into the parking spot, keeping your car between the lines. If you arrive from the left, you could have more room to turn in easily.

Adjust as Required: Once inside the spot, check to see if the car is straight. If it feels off-centre, don’t be afraid to make little adjustments. Move forward or backward until your car fits perfectly into the area.

6. Parking On A Hills

When parking on a hill, gravity can make things tricky, so it’s important to take extra precautions to keep your car from rolling. Here’s how you can park safely on an incline or decline:

Choose a Suitable Spot: Even on hills, try to choose a parking spot that is as flat as possible. Verify that it is secure and doesn’t impede flow.

Turn Your Wheels: Shift your wheels away from the curb if you’re parking uphill. Turn your wheels in the direction of the curb if you are parking downward. In this manner, the curb will stop your car if it starts to roll.

Use the Handbrake: Regardless of whether the car is automatic or manual, you should always engage the handbrake (also known as the parking brake) after parking. It provides an additional degree of protection to hold your car in place.

Select the Proper Gear: If your vehicle is manual, engage the first gear while parking upwards and the reverse gear when parking downwards. For automated vehicles, simply use the ‘park’ button.

Double-Check: Before you leave, make sure that your car is safely parked next to the curb. Give it a little nudge to see if it stays still.

Additional Tips To Improve Your Parking Skills

Here are some easy tips to make parking feel less stressful for you:

1. Know Your Car’s Size

It’s important to know your car’s size before parking. Determining how much area your car actually uses up can be challenging at first, particularly if you’re just starting out as a driver. You can park your car more easily, even in confined spaces, if you are familiar with its width, length, and height.

2. Judge Parking Spaces

A lot of places have parking spots big enough to fit regular cars. For instance, they are normally 2.4 to 2.6 metres broad and 5.4 metres long specifically in Australia. Selecting the ideal parking area for your car will be easier if you can estimate its size with ease. Before dealing with smaller parking spaces, beginners or those brushing up on their skills should practise in bigger spaces.

3. Use Your Mirrors Effectively

Mirrors are helpful for changing lanes, but they are also needed for parking. Make sure you have a clear vision of your surroundings by always adjusting your mirrors before you drive. By doing this, you’ll be able to park with fewer blind spots and make it easier to see other cars or hurdles. You’ll have more control over the parking procedure if you properly check your mirrors.

4. Use Technology

Modern cars are equipped with helpful features such as parking sensors, rearview cameras, and even parking assistance. These tools can greatly simplify parking, especially in tight or busy areas. Parking sensors alert you when you’re getting too close to an object, while rearview cameras allow you to see behind your car for safer parking.

5. Choose The Right Spot

If you’re still learning, stay away from crowded places. Parking in a peaceful area will help you avoid feeling pressured and getting panicked by other cars. Choosing a location with lots of room will ease the process and help you stay away from any possible problems with nearby cars.

6. Practice Regularly

The ability to park gets better with experience. If it requires multiple attempts to get it correct, don’t give up. You may improve your confidence by practising in quiet or empty spaces, like a parking lot after business hours. With time and experience, you will feel more comfortable parking in busier locations and handling various parking manoeuvres, such as parallel or angled parking.

Conclusion

Leave your parking worries behind with Sprint Driving School in Melbourne. Our driving lessons are not only affordable but also led by expert car instructors who cover everything from beginner lessons to refresher courses, including essential parking skills. Whether you’re a beginner learner aiming to pass the VicRoads driving test or looking to enhance your driving abilities, we make sure you learn all the skills required for successfully passing your test while handling your car safely. With us, learning parking strategies in any situation becomes a practical objective, allowing you to tackle any parking difficulty with confidence.