Parallel parking is the manoeuvre most learners worry about, and it's one your testing officer may ask you to do on your NSW driving test. The good news is that it's a skill, not a talent. Once you understand the steps and practise them with consistent reference points, it becomes routine. Here's the method our instructors teach, along with the rules you need to know.
The NSW rules for parallel parking
- Park parallel to the kerb and as close to it as practicable, facing the direction of traffic.
- Leave at least 1 metre between your car and the vehicles in front and behind.
- Don't park within 20 metres of an intersection with traffic lights, or 10 metres of one without lights, unless a sign says you can.
- Don't stop within 20 metres before or 10 metres after a pedestrian crossing or bus stop, unless a sign says you can.
- Keep at least 1 metre from a fire hydrant and 3 metres from a letter box.
- Always check the parking signs, and don't block a driveway.
Before you start
- Choose a suitable space. As a guide, look for a gap at least one and a half car lengths long while you're learning.
- Check behind you and signal left early so drivers behind know you're stopping.
- Set your mirrors so you can see the kerb in your left mirror. Some drivers tilt it down slightly.
Parallel parking step by step
- Pull up alongside the car in front of the space. Stop about half a metre to a metre out from it, with your rear bumper roughly level with its rear bumper.
- Select reverse and check all around. Look over both shoulders and in your mirrors for traffic, cyclists and pedestrians.
- Reverse slowly until your rear wheels line up with the other car's rear bumper. Keep the car moving at walking pace or slower, using the brake to control your speed.
- Turn the steering wheel fully to the left and keep reversing until your car is at about 45 degrees to the kerb. A good reference is when you can see the front of the car behind the space in your right-hand mirror.
- Straighten the wheels and reverse straight back until your front bumper has cleared the rear of the car in front.
- Turn the steering wheel fully to the right and keep reversing slowly. The front of your car will swing in towards the kerb.
- Straighten up. Once your car is parallel to the kerb, straighten the wheels and move forward or back to centre the car in the space, leaving at least 1 metre to the vehicles in front and behind.
- Secure the car. Apply the park brake and select park in an automatic.
Keep checking all around you throughout the manoeuvre, not just at the start. Pedestrians and cyclists can appear at any time.
How to fix common problems
- Too far from the kerb: drive out slightly and try again. It's better to fix it calmly than to finish a metre out.
- Touching the kerb: you turned in too early or too sharply. Stop, move forward a little and straighten up.
- Too close to the car in front: you started turning right too early. Next time, reverse a little further before step 6.
- Going too fast: slow, controlled movement makes every step easier and gives you time to check around you.
Parallel parking on your driving test
On your driving test, the testing officer is looking for a car that ends up parallel and reasonably close to the kerb, without hitting it or another vehicle, and with good observation throughout. Taking a moment to adjust your position is fine. Mounting the kerb, making contact with another vehicle or failing to check for other road users are the mistakes that cost you.
Parking on a hill
When you park parallel to the kerb on a hill, turn your front wheels so the car won't roll into traffic. Facing downhill, turn your wheels towards the kerb (to the left). Facing uphill, turn them away from the kerb (to the right). Always apply the park brake firmly.
Frequently asked questions
How much space do you need to leave when parallel parking in NSW?
Leave at least 1 metre between your car and the vehicles in front and behind, and park as close to the kerb as practicable, facing the direction of traffic.
How big a gap do you need to parallel park?
As a guide while you're learning, look for a gap at least one and a half car lengths long.
Is parallel parking on the NSW driving test?
Your testing officer may ask you to parallel park. They're looking for a car that ends up parallel and reasonably close to the kerb, without hitting it or another vehicle, and with good observation throughout. Taking a moment to adjust your position is fine.
Which way do you turn your wheels when parking on a hill?
Facing downhill, turn your front wheels towards the kerb (to the left). Facing uphill, turn them away from the kerb (to the right). Always apply the park brake firmly.
Practise until it feels automatic
Most learners need regular practice before parallel parking feels natural. Start in quiet streets with plenty of room, then build up to tighter spaces and busier roads. Our instructors use simple reference points that work in our dual-control cars and will help you practise at the locations around your test centre.
If you're under 25, each hour with a licensed NSW driving instructor counts as 3 hours in your log book, for up to 10 hours of lessons. That's up to 20 bonus hours.
See our driving lesson prices or read our guide to reverse parking.