🅿️Parallel Parking
Parallel parking is one of the four possible manoeuvres on your UK driving test, and for many learners it's the most intimidating. But with the right reference points and a calm, methodical approach, it becomes one of the most predictable and repeatable skills you'll learn.
Step 1: Position Your Car
Pull up alongside the target vehicle, roughly 1 metre away (about a door's width). Align your wing mirror with theirs, or use the reference point your instructor taught you. Stop, select reverse gear, and perform a full 360° observation — check your left blind spot, right blind spot, and all mirrors.
Step 2: The 45° Angle
Turn the steering wheel one full turn to the left (toward the kerb). Slowly reverse until your car is at roughly a 45° angle to the kerb. As a reference, when the target vehicle's rear number plate is roughly in the middle of your rear windscreen, or when your left door mirror aligns with the target vehicle's rear bumper — start straightening.
Step 3: Straighten & Tuck In
Turn the steering wheel to the right while continuing to reverse slowly. Your goal is to bring the front of your car parallel to the kerb. As the front of your car clears the target vehicle, turn the wheel fully right to tuck the front in. Use your left mirror to monitor the kerb — you want to finish about 20-30cm from it.
Step 4: Final Adjustments
If you're slightly too far from the kerb, don't panic. You're allowed to pull forward and readjust — the DVSA isn't testing perfection, they're testing control and observation. Use pull-forward adjustments if needed, but always perform full observations before moving in either direction.
During the Test
The examiner will ask you to "pull up on the left behind that vehicle, please." You'll then be asked to "reverse into the space behind." You get one attempt, but you can make minor adjustments. Key marking points: control (smooth, slow), observations (constant 360° checks), and accuracy (within 30cm of the kerb, not touching it).
🚫 Common Mistakes
- ✕Hitting the kerb — means you misjudged the angle or reversed too fast
- ✕Ending up too far from the kerb (more than 30cm — a driving fault)
- ✕Not checking blind spots frequently enough during the manoeuvre
- ✕Taking too many shunts — suggests lack of control
- ✕Forgetting to check the right blind spot before swinging the front out
Instructor's Pro Tip
Pick a clear reference point with your instructor and practice it until it's muscle memory. Every car is different — your instructor will give you the exact reference for the Mercedes A-Class we use.
Ready to perfect your parallel parking?
Book a New Driver Assessment — 120 minutes for £70. A DVSA-approved instructor will honestly assess where you are and map the fastest route to your test.
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