Parallel parking

Parallel parking is one of the key 'slow speed manoeuvres'. Slow speed manoeuvres are all about precision, control, and awareness of your surroundings. Testing officers look for smooth, deliberate movements, correct signalling, consistent scanning, and maintaining safe distances from hazards, kerbs, and other vehicles. Slow speed manoeurves in NZ driver testing include:

Parallel parking
3-point turns
U-turns
Reversing in a straight line or around a corner
Pulling in and out from kerbs

Before performing any slow speed manoeuvre:

indicate left, slow down, and check your rear and left mirror and left blind spot.
Stop close to the curb (or parked car)

Parallel parking step-by-step

Set-up
- Signal for at least 3 seconds before stopping alongside the target vehicle.
- Check mirrors and blind spot before pulling alongside.
- Stop with your rear bumper in line with the target vehicle’s rear bumper.
- Keep about 20–30 cm gap between vehicles — close enough to reduce the angle but not so close you risk contact.
First reverse
- Keep wheels straight and reverse until the rear of the target vehicle is visible in your rear passenger window.
- Turn the wheel one full rotation left (360°) and reverse until your vehicle reaches roughly a 45° angle to the kerb.
Second reverse
- Turn the wheel two full rotations right (720°) while reversing slowly.
- Stop when you are almost parallel or the rear tyre is close to the kerb.
First forward adjustment
- Move into Drive, turn left, and move forward until you are parallel and less than 30 cm from the kerb.
Extra adjustment (if needed)
- If you’re still off-position, you can reverse again with light steering adjustments, then move forward one more time.
- This extra Reverse and Drive is often the difference between being “close” and being in the perfect spot, especially in the real driving test.
Final steps
- Straighten the wheels before selecting Park and applying the handbrake.
- Always use your left mirror to confirm tyre distance from the kerb.

Troubleshooting

Too far from kerb: Use small forward/reverse adjustments while keeping the steering light.
Too angled in: Reverse slightly and turn toward the kerb sooner.
Kerb contact: Stop immediately, straighten, and adjust — scraping the tyre or rim is instant points off in a test.

Extra tips and tricks

Test allowance: You’re allowed up to four moves (R–D–R–D). Use all of them if needed rather than rushing — accuracy is more important than speed.
Reference point method: Stop when your boot/number plate lines up with the rear of the target vehicle, then one full turn left before reversing to ~45 degrees. Turn two full rotations right, re-check mirrors and blind spots, and ease in until nearly parallel. Straighten in Drive with small steering adjustments.
Kerb distance: Aim for <30 cm from the kerb. Use your left mirror — lots of road showing means your front tyre is close to hitting the kerb.
Adaptation: Every car is different — shapes, wheelbase, and kerb distance can throw you off. Practise with different vehicles so you can adapt on test day.
Practice Regularly. Make parallel parking practice a weekly routine to build confidence and improve technique.
Take your time while learning but work towards completing the manoeuvre in less than two minutes (this is how long you have in a test).
Keep your speed under 1 km/h while maneuvering to enhance accuracy and control.
After turning right while reversing, remember to reactivate your indicator until you are clear of moving vehicles.
Don’t rush for perfection. During your first reverse move, focus on avoiding the curb rather than achieving perfect alignment; you have additional moves to adjust.
Approach closely to your target vehicle before reversing away (up to 5 meters) to create better angles for parking, but avoid exceeding this distance during the test.
Each parking scenario will differ based on factors like vehicle size and distance from the curb. Be prepared to adjust your approach accordingly.
Regularly check your surroundings throughout the process.
Remember that when you reverse, the back of the car moves in the same direction as the steering wheel, while the front wheels turn in the opposite direction.
Installing a blind spot mirror can help improve visibility around your rear wheels, making parking easier.