Parallel parking: Step by step

By Martin Pretorius

Many of us saw parallel parking as one of the biggest obstacles in our driver's licence test, and it's something most people try to avoid as far as possible. This is why many modern cars even come with self-parking abilities. And it's quite understandable: coming to a stop in a busy street, and then reversing into a parking bay, while twirling the wheel this way and that, is a daunting experience – especially when there's a chance that it might take you more than one try. Best to give up that parking spot for someone with more driving dexterity, then? No! Let's simplify the process, so you too can parallel park like a pro.

Please note: some of these practices are frowned upon in the K53 driver's test (such as turning the steering wheel when stationary), so remember to only use this technique once you're in possession of your licence. The general sequence stays the same even for K53, however.

Draw up next to the car behind which you want to park.

Align your car's rear-view mirror with the one of that car, then come to a complete stop about half a metre from it.

This alignment is the most important step. If you're too close to that car, you won't be able to make the required turns, and if you're too far away, you'll end up too far from the kerb.

Why align the mirrors?

If cars are roughly the same size, lining up the mirrors will have the rear bumpers also about in line. If your car is longer than the parked one, have its mirror slightly behind yours, and if it's shorter, stop when your mirror is slightly behind the other car’s mirror.

Turn the wheel all the way to the side of the parking spot you want to occupy.

If the open parking spot is on your left, turn the wheel to the left. If you want to park on the right, turn the wheel to the right.

Look around you.

Make sure there are no pedestrians, cyclists or other cars in your way. Also try to familiarise yourself with the orientation of the two cars between which you're going to park, so you know where they are in relation to your car.

Engage reverse gear and pull away slowly.

Parallel parking shouldn't be rushed. The idea is to ease into the spot, and the slower you go, the easier it will be to execute the moves properly.

Let the car's rear end swing into the gap, then stop.

Keep going until your car is at a 45-degree angle to the road. Or just use a marker: when your middle roof pillar (the one behind the front door) is roughly in line with the front car's rear bumper, apply the brakes.

Turn the steering wheel until it's facing in the straight-ahead position, then pull away again... slowly.

Easy does it. You're now moving the middle section of your car into the gap.

Start turning the steering wheel to the opposite side from where you started.

This is where your car's front wheels follow the rear wheels – you're effectively making your car move in an S-motion. Look at the movement of your car's kerbside front corner – you'll want it to miss the car in front of you by about half a meter. If it's further away, sharpen your turn, if you're getting too close, straighten the steering slightly.

Your car will now almost be parallel to the kerb.

Keep going until your car is facing straight again, then stop.

Straighten the steering wheel, and pull forward slightly

This will centre you in the parking bay, making it easier for the cars in front of- and behind you to get out.

That's really all there is to it. Keep trying until you get it right, because once you've mastered the art of parallel parking, no parking spot will ever be too daunting again. And you'll be able to stop right in front of the store, where everyone else was too scared to try...