How to Master Parallel Parking for Your Driving Test in 2026

What Is Parallel Parking on the Driving Test?

Parallel parking (officially called “parking at the side of the road” by the DVSA) is one of the three possible manoeuvres you might be asked to perform during your practical driving test. The examiner will ask you to pull up alongside a parked car, then reverse into the space behind it, finishing reasonably close to and parallel with the kerb.

You won’t necessarily get this manoeuvre on your test — the examiner randomly selects one from parallel parking, bay parking (forward or reverse), or pulling up on the right and reversing. But since you won’t know which one you’ll get until the examiner asks, you need to be confident with all of them. Parallel parking tends to be the one that causes the most anxiety among learners.

The Step-by-Step Technique

While every instructor has their own reference points and method, the core technique remains the same. Here’s how to approach it systematically:

Step 1: Pull up alongside the target car. Draw level with the parked car, positioning your vehicle roughly half a metre to a metre away from it. Your cars should be roughly parallel, with your door mirrors approximately level. Signal left to let other road users know your intention.

Step 2: Check all around. Before you begin reversing, check your interior mirror, both door mirrors, and look over both shoulders. You need a complete picture of what’s behind and around you. If there’s a vehicle approaching from behind, wait for it to pass.

Step 3: Begin reversing slowly. Using clutch control (or gentle brake in an automatic), start moving backwards very slowly. The slower you go, the more control you have. As the back of your car reaches the back of the parked car, begin turning the steering wheel to the left (towards the kerb).

Step 4: Check the angle. As your car begins to angle in, keep checking your left door mirror to judge the distance to the kerb. You’re also glancing around for other road users, pedestrians, and cyclists throughout the manoeuvre.

Step 5: Straighten up. Once your car is at roughly a 45-degree angle to the kerb and your front is beginning to clear the car in front, start turning the wheel to the right to straighten your car into the space. Continue reversing slowly as you do this.

Step 6: Final adjustments. Finish the manoeuvre with your car reasonably parallel to the kerb and within about two car lengths of the vehicle you parked behind. You don’t need to be perfectly parallel — the examiner is looking for a safe, controlled manoeuvre with good observation, not mathematical precision.

Common Mistakes That Cost Marks

Forgetting to observe throughout. This is by far the most common fault. You must keep checking all around you during the entire manoeuvre, not just at the start. If a pedestrian walks behind your car while you’re reversing, you must stop and wait. Continuous observation is what separates a pass from a fail on this manoeuvre.

Going too fast. Speed is the enemy of control during parallel parking. If you’re moving too quickly, you won’t be able to make the steering adjustments needed to park accurately. Use the clutch biting point to creep backwards — you should be moving no faster than a slow walking pace.

Mounting the kerb. Clipping or mounting the kerb during the manoeuvre is a serious fault. If you feel you’re getting too close, stop, pull forward slightly with a correction, and try again. The examiner would far rather see you correct a mistake calmly than plough into the kerb.

Finishing too far from the kerb. Ideally, you should end up within about 30 centimetres of the kerb. If you’re more than a couple of feet away, you haven’t completed the manoeuvre adequately. Use your left door mirror to gauge the distance as you park.

Not responding to other traffic. If another vehicle is waiting behind you while you park, don’t panic and rush. However, you should be aware of them and adjust your timing if necessary. If a car is approaching, you may need to pause and let them pass before continuing.

Expert Tips to Build Confidence

Practise in a quiet street first. Find a residential road with parked cars and plenty of space. Practise the manoeuvre repeatedly until the steering inputs become automatic. Once you’re confident, move to busier streets where the pressure is closer to test conditions.

Use consistent reference points. Your instructor will help you identify reference points specific to the car you’re learning in — such as when the back of the target car appears in a certain part of your rear window. These reference points make the manoeuvre repeatable and reliable.

Practise on both sides of the road. While the test will always be on the left side of the road (parking behind a car on your side), practising observation and spatial awareness in different scenarios builds overall skill.

Don’t aim for perfection. The DVSA pass criteria for manoeuvres allows for reasonable accuracy. You’re assessed on control, observation, and accuracy — in that order. A slightly wonky but safe park is better than a perfectly straight park done without checking mirrors.

Remember: you can adjust. If you finish the manoeuvre and you’re not happy with your position, you’re allowed to pull forward and straighten up. This shows the examiner that you can recognise and correct errors, which is a positive sign.

Frequently Asked Questions