In short Pull up alongside the parked car about a metre away, then reverse slowly while looking all round. When the back of your car is level with the back of the parked car, steer left; when your car is at about 45 degrees, steer right to bring the front in; straighten up as you become parallel. Finish reasonably close to the kerb within about two car lengths of the parked car. You may correct the position; hitting the kerb, or ignoring a pedestrian or car, are the faults to avoid.
Updated 9 November 2026 · Source: GOV.UK car driving test guidance, checked 9 November 2026
The steps
- Position. When the examiner asks, check mirrors, signal left and pull up alongside the parked car, level with it or slightly ahead, about a metre away.
- Prepare. Select reverse. Look all round, including both blind spots, before you move.
- Reverse slowly in a straight line until the back of your car is level with the back of the parked car. Keep the speed down with clutch control (or the brake in an automatic).
- Steer left (about one turn, or full lock in a tight space). Look over your right shoulder for traffic as the front of your car swings out.
- At about 45 degrees (your left door mirror lines up with the kerb, in many cars) steer right to bring the front of the car in.
- Straighten up as the car becomes parallel to the kerb, and stop. Aim to finish within about two car lengths of the parked car.
Reference points differ between cars and seat positions. Use these as a starting point and fix your own with your instructor.
Know the streets around your test centre before the examiner picks one, with the Driving Test Routes app
How close to the kerb?
There is no fixed measurement in the test; the examiner looks for "reasonably close" and parallel. Many instructors use about 30 cm (roughly a foot) as a target. Finishing a long way out, at an angle, or touching the kerb are the usual accuracy faults.
Observation is where most faults come from
- Look all round before you start, and keep looking while you move.
- If a car or pedestrian comes near, stop and let them pass or decide what they are doing. Carrying on regardless is a serious fault.
- When the front swings out, check the road behind you on the right.
Correcting a bad attempt
If it is going wrong, stop, look all round and pull forward to straighten up, then reverse again. A safe correction is better than finishing on the kerb. Several corrections in a row will usually be marked as a fault, so practise until one attempt is normal.
Frequently asked questions
How far behind the parked car should I finish?
Within about two car lengths, reasonably close and parallel to the kerb.
Do you fail for touching the kerb when parallel parking?
Lightly touching it is usually a driving fault. Mounting the kerb, or hitting it hard, is likely to be serious.
Is there a time limit for parallel parking?
No. Take it slowly; control and looking all round matter far more than speed.
What if a car comes while I am parking?
Stop, look, and wait for it to pass or to see what it does. Reacting to other road users is part of the marking.
Read next
Practise on the roads around your test centre
The Driving Test Routes app turns your phone into a practice coach for the practical test.
- Practice routes around UK test centres, with voice directions
- Mock tests that score the drive and list the faults to work on
- All 21 show me tell me questions, with photos of each control
- An emergency stop drill that times your reaction