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Not all driving maneuvers come easily for everybody. Some things, like backing up a trailer or making three-point turns, are just plain difficult to learn how to do. Parallel parking is one of those things. This article will teach you what parallel parking is and provide a step-by-step guide for you to learn how to do it.

What Is Parallel Parking?

As the name suggests, parallel parking is when you park parallel to the road. Most people parallel park when the road is wide enough to support parking spots along its side but too thin for those parking spots to be at an angle. In such cases, the parking spots are flush against the curb or shoulder, making them—you guessed it—parallel to the road.

Parallel parking spots are most commonly found in cities and other densely packed urban areas where there’s just not enough room for parking lots or parking garages. Speaking of parking lots and parking garages, spaces in those locations are great examples of what parallel parking is not.

Parking spaces that you have to turn into from the road and that form a plus symbol shape (+) with the road are not parallel parking spaces.

How to Successfully Parallel Park

According to most drivers, parallel parking is one of the most challenging parking maneuvers to make. People often say that it’s difficult to spot exactly where you need to turn or cut the wheel in order to be fully in the spot. That’s why you may have seen people repeatedly pulling into and out of a parallel parking space: They’re trying to wiggle their vehicle fully into the spot.

All that being said, this process is actually not all that difficult. The five steps outlined below will give you the tools you need to become a better driver and really nail those parallel parking jobs:

Step 1: Find a Spot

First off, you’ll need to find a spot. We talked a little bit about what a parallel parking spot is in the “What Is Parallel Parking” section of this article, but we’ll cover it again here to really drive the point home. Parallel parking spots are spots that are parallel to the road. They’re most often found on the shoulder or next to the curb.

If you can find a parking garage or a parking lot near where you need to be going, then that’s even better! Just park there and you’ll never have to worry about parallel parking—or so they say. If you’re in a rush, it would be easier to find a standard parking space than to learn how to parallel park in the moment.

But you won’t always have the luxury of empty parking lots to lean back on. Learning how to parallel park sooner rather than later will help save you time and effort in the long run—not to mention parking garage fees.

Step 2: Follow MSMOG

Step two is a multi-faceted step. Be sure to stick to the details exactly as they are written out in MSMOG:

• M: Mirrors. Check your mirrors to ensure that you’re not likely to cause an accident.
• S: Signal. Turn on your turn signal to indicate that you are about to initiate a parallel parking maneuver.
• M: Mirrors (again). Check your mirrors once more to make sure that you’re aware of your surroundings and have spotted any oncoming traffic.
• O: Over. Look over your shoulder to keep an eye on where your vehicle will be moving in step three.
• G: Go. When it’s safe to do so, shift your vehicle into reverse, slowly lift your foot off the brake, let the vehicle begin to move into the space.

Step 3: Reverse

Make sure your vehicle stays in reverse for the duration of this step. Reverse slowly until the middle of your car lines up with the other car’s rear bumper. To do so, your steering wheel will need to be turned far to the right.

At this point in the process, your front end will be sticking out into traffic. That’s okay, as long as it’s no more than a 45-degree angle. If you’re sitting perpendicular to the road (like that plus symbol we mentioned earlier), you’re turning too much.

Back in until your vehicle is a few inches away from the bumper of the vehicle behind yours. Make sure not to hit their vehicle at any point during this process.

Step 4: Head In

Once you’ve backed in to just a few inches away from the vehicle behind yours, cut the wheel in the opposite direction. If you turned the wheel to the right when reversing into the spot, turn the wheel to the left now. This will ensure that you stay in the spot and do not move out into traffic when making the parallel parking maneuver.

Shift the car into drive and begin slowly moving forward, taking your vehicle fully into the parallel parking space at this time. Pull forward until your vehicle is just a few inches away from the vehicle in front of it. This will ensure that you have ample room to maneuver in the next and final step.

Step 5: Straighten and Align

Straighten your vehicle by turning the steering wheel back and forth from each side, making mild adjustments to your positioning. Move your vehicle from reverse to drive until you are centered and straight in your spot.

This step often requires a “wiggling” motion, of moving the steering wheel back and forth until you reach the centerpoint of the parking space. Once there, put the vehicle into park and rejoice in the fact that you’ve just completed your first-ever parallel parking attempt!