How can I learn to parallel park without looking like an idiot?

Answer 1

On weekends...go to the parking lot of a businesses thats closed and use their lot.......Just set up a couple of plastic garbage cans to simulate parked cars and then:

PRACTICE

PRACTICE

PRACTICE

Bumping into plastic garbage cans is a lot less expensive than bashing into a tree or a fence.

Good luck.


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Answer 2

Alrighty, this worked for like a charm 4 me and I hope it's easy for you to understand. For illustration, picture me trying to park in a spot on my right hand side.

1) I would adjust/tilt my right side mirror downwards so I could see the curb (in a sec)..

2) I would pull alongside the car parked in front of the space I'm trying to get into, with probably 1-2 feet from that car depending how big my car was.

3) Then I'd put the car in reverse and let it roll with your foot covering the brake pedal while turning the wheel to the right gradually almost all the way;

4) When the car is halfway (50%) into the spot and it looks like this: \ with the top of the forward slash being the front of your car and the bottom of the forward slash being the end of the car ALMOST (but not quite cuz you'll need the space) touching the halfway point on the curb of the empty spot, start turning the wheel the other way! (U can see the curb in ur mirror in this step)

So ur evening out the car for the other 50% of the parking spot. And end it with adjusting the car forward or backward to allow space for them, and you, to move the car out.

I am a gal and the few times I do park downtown, there have been guys who seemed impressed :)

P.S.- When you're done parking, make sure to adjust/tilt your side mirror back up b/c if you were driving at night, the mirror would still be towards the dark ground and you might think it's safe to change lanes but really it's not cuz you can't see the any cars in your side mirror!! Hope this helps!!

Answer 3

I am tractor trailer driver and I have taught others at schools and as a driver trainer here is a trick we do to teach other to back up
find a big parking lot and use a curb get a can of spray paint
then mark the pavement on each end of the vehicle while parked in the position of being parked along the curb the lines you mark front and back would be the cars you are parking in between
then this my sound stupid but spray paint on just the tire tread itself don't worry about the spray paint on the tread it will wear off really quick as you drive the vehicle then pull the car out as if you where pulling away from the curb you will leave tracks to see what you Did to get out of there then use your mirrors to back in following the marks your tires made doing this will make a template for you to follow then it is all repetition follow the lines and do it over and over again to you have it nailed down at least you will not hit any other cars doing this good luck

Answer 4

Practice, practice, practice...
I would go to a local shopping centre carpark when it's empty, or somewhere else quiet and safe, and practice using boxes or witches hats to represent other parked vehicles.
Ok, now here is the secret...
First, position your car so that is parallel to the vehicle in front of the space, about 1/2 a car width out, and at least beside the vehicle. I find being a little in front of beside the vehicle is best as it makes the process a little smoother.
Second, reverse slowly and parallel until the rear wheel of you car is approaching the point opposite the vehicle in front of the space's rear bumber, then turn the wheel and aim the inside rear wheel at a spot on the kerb about 2/3 of the length of your car back from the car in front plus the gap you intend to leave when parked...
When the car is directed at this point, straighten the front wheels to stopthe car turning in any further. Move back a bit more, straight, until the rear inside wheel is about 1/4 of a car width out from the curb. The front of the car should be clearing the rear bumper of the car in front about now.
Then turn the wheel away from the curb slowly while continuing to reverse, and the car should just slip in there nice and parallel.
Like i said, Practice

Answer 5

The best and easiest way to practice, is to go to the DMV on a sunday. They're closed sunday but usually leave access to the driving course, and they have the exact course you'll be driving on for the test, so when the time comes to parallel park on the test (assuming you don't have your license), you don't have to readjust your method.

If you do have your license, you can still practice there, but i'd just avoid parallel parking all together for now. I feel you don't learn it by practicing, you learn it by getting a good feel for your car, and the only way to do that is to drive.

Answer 6

Get cones, or anything you can place in an open parking lot somewhere ....and practice, practice, practice. That's what I did for my kid when I was teaching him. Not sure what the area is....I think it's 9' X 27' Call the DMV for actual dimensions. Please.....an Idiot. Your learning to drive. Soon you'll be cruising in your own car all by yourself , listening to your tunes.....diggin life. Early in the am, on Saturday or Sunday......you'll find plenty of places to go without anybody around. RELAX ! ! ! Enjoy !

Good Luck ! ! !

Answer 7

The idiot is the person who doesn't care to learn.Even some seasoned drivers have a hard time with it.Just relax and do what you need to and don't worry about other people while you are.You can grab two cones or whatever and paractice in a parking lot!

Answer 8

A lot of people feel the same way.
I have been driving for a long time,
I suck at parallel parking cause I
can't back up worth a shi....darn.
It's not easy for anybody.

Answer 9

Considering that trees are most unforgiving - and likely to cause damage to the car... try using to plastic trash cans.. or use small diameter PVC pipe stuck in the ground in your yard to practice. If you hit one of the poles or the trash can, you can call that attempt a failure and try again. A tree will laugh at you and dent your bumper in retribution.

Answer 10

Take a driver's ed course...or public driving course....or use some cones in a big vacant parking lot...use your friend for a spotter....