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 right lock toward the curb, reverse until the front car is in line with your driver-side mirror, then opposite lock to straighten. Re-positioning is 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 side-view mirror to their side-view mirror as a reference. From there: a) reverse straight until your rear bumper is level with their rear bumper, b) full right lock (US), 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
Brake-and-go technique — keep speed at walking pace. Speed is the enemy. You can stop at any time and check — that costs you nothing as long as you are not blocking other traffic.
Which states test parallel parking?
California (CA), New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), and many others. Texas (TX), Florida (FL), and some others test only forward and reverse parking. Check your state DMV's road-test syllabus.
Common faults
- Too far from the front car at the start.
- Lock applied too late — you end up parallel three feet from the curb.
- Hitting the curb (control fault, often not a fail).
- Ending up at an angle.