In short
Pull alongside the front car about half a car width away, reverse straight until your back wheels are level with the car's rear, full lock toward the kerb, reverse until the front car is in line with your driver-side mirror, then opposite lock to straighten. Recover by going forwards and trying again if needed — that costs you a control fault, not a fail.
Updated 2026-06-06 · 7 min read · By Driving Routes Editorial
Reference points
Drive past the gap and stop a half-car width from the front car. Match your wing-mirror to their wing-mirror as a reference. From there: a) reverse straight until your rear bumper is level with their rear bumper, b) full left lock (UK), c) reverse slowly until the rear corner of the front car appears in your driver-side door mirror, d) straighten, e) opposite lock to swing the front in.
The control
Bite-point clutch, no gas, gentle steering. Speed is the enemy. You can stop at any time and check — that costs you nothing in marking terms as long as you are not blocking other traffic.
Common faults
- Too far from the front car at the start — leaves you no swing room.
- Lock applied too late — you end up parallel three feet from the kerb.
- Not looking out of the back window — the examiner wants to see observation, not mirror reliance.
- Touching the kerb (control fault, not always a fail).
- Ending up at an angle (re-position; better to take a control fault than walk away with a parking fail).