A Quick Guide on How to Park a Car Perfectly

To many people, driving is just a transport medium to reach from one destination to another. While for some others, driving means joy, an activity which gives a feeling of happiness and relaxation. Whether you are going to your office, or you are going for a long drive on the weekend, one thing you must be perfect in is- car parking. So, here are the details and ways on how to park a car perfectly.

But first, let us understand the different types of parking and then move onto a step-by-step guide on common types of parking in India.

Throughout one's driving experience, he or she will have to park his or her car at different angles. Here are a few types of car parking.

1. Perpendicular Parking

This is the most common type of parking and is seen in parking lots mainly. The cars are usually parked at a 90-degree angle in this type of parking. Drivers need to ensure that the tyres of the car are pointing straight ahead and the car has a central position at the allocated parking spot.

2. Angle Parking

Angle parking is the type of car parking where cars are parked at an angle, mostly facing one direction. This type of parking is easy for drivers, and the car can easily move in and move out, provided everyone follows the rules. However, one needs to be extra cautious while accelerating and should give the right signals and always keep a check for signals from other drivers.

3. Illegal Parking

Parking one's car in no-parking areas and zones is a prime example of illegal parking. One should remember to park cars in designated parking areas only. If not, one needs to pay penalties for illegal parking.

4. Parallel Parking

This is the car parking technique which is most commonly seen on the roads. Here, the cars are parked parallelly with the road. Drivers need to be efficient and skilled in order to park this way since it requires the car to be parked between two vehicles, one behind and one in front. While exiting or entering, the car driver should focus extra on controlling his or her driving and the surroundings.

5. Bay Parking

Bay parking is the type of car parking which involves the driver reversing his or her car in an allocated area. In this scenario, cars will be around the parking space and empty spaces for other cars to park. Thus, one needs to think about the other cars as well and then park accordingly.

6. Between Two Vehicles

This is the car parking method where one needs to park between two vehicles, and drivers need to be extra cautious and attentive while doing this type of car parking. In this type of parking, two of the biggest issues which one might face in this type of parking is-

• Scratches while opening the door which might lead to loss of paint
• Dent on the car's door, which is parked next to his or her car

7. Lot Parking

Lot parking means parking one’s car in the parking lot of an area. One needs to follow the rules and regulations as told by the area. Usually, they have different types of car parking in different areas to efficiently use the space.

The main types of parking that can be seen in most countries, including India, are angle, perpendicular and parallel types of parking. Let's know the ways and tips for parking a car, in each type.

How to Park at Angle Parking

This type of parking is most commonly found on one-way roads and high-traffic areas. The purpose behind this type of parking is to allow drivers to easily drive in and out of it.

Step 1: Finding a Parking Spot

Drivers should find a perfect parking spot which should have at least 4 feet to each side. If one parks in an area that is too tight to open the doors, there remains a high chance that passengers in other cars can slam their car doors into the car while they attempt to enter their own car.

Step 2: Driving Slowly and Entering at an Angle

Next, drivers must enter the parking spot at an angle and slowly edge forward until the car is perfectly aligned within the parking area.

Step 3: Aligning the Car in the Parking Spot

As a driver, one must align his or her car so that it is straight in the parking spot. However, one must remember to align the car and wheels while parking and not before moving out. This will ensure the car has enough space to move out later.

Step 4: Opening Doors Carefully

One must be extra careful while opening the car doors and moving out. Closing the doors slowly and not slamming them instead is the best option for one.

Step by Step Guide for Parallel Parking

Parallel car parking is a skilful job, but it can be as simple as parking in an open area if one has the basics right. Here are the steps on how to park a car perfectly in parallel parking.

Step 1: Position

The first step that a driver should take is positioning his or her car parallelly along with the car that lies ahead in the vacant spot. One should make sure to maintain a three to four feet distance from that car.

Step 2: Mirror

The driver should check all the mirrors to reduce the chances of bumping his or her car. One should hit the reverse gear, check the surroundings to make sure no one is there near the vacant spot and then accelerate to park.

Step 3: Reverse

One should turn the steering wheel to the right and reverse his or her car to approach the vacant spot.

Step 4: Straighten

The next step is to straighten the steering as one enters the parking area. While moving the car backwards, one should keep checking the mirrors.

Step 5: Steer Lift

Once the driver enters the car in the vacant parking slot and is close to the rear bumper of the vehicle in front, one must turn his or her car's steering to the left and keep reversing.

Step 6: Adjust

One has to adjust his or her car to get the right placement by moving a bit backward and a bit forward.

Step 7: Check

The last and final step is to check that there is enough space between the car in front and behind. The driver should make sure to keep ample space for the cars to move out easily.

Step by Step Guide to Perpendicular Parking

If one is wondering how to park in a parking lot of shopping malls or any shop in general, here are the steps one should follow to park the car perfectly.

Step 1: Choosing a Good Spot

One must not drive into the very first vacant space they see. Instead, one should slow down a bit, look for all the empty spaces and then decide which one they should park in. Generally, parking spaces in the corner of a lot of spaces which are completely filled with cars on all sides are a bit difficult places to park in.

Step 2: Turning to the Space

Before making a turn, the driver should turn on the car indicators so that other cars behind it can be aware. Ideally, one should approach the spot at a 90-degree angle and avoid angling onto the spot.

Step 3: Adjusting the Position

As a driver, one should make sure that his or her car has entered the spot fully before one adjusts the steering wheel back to the centre position. After that, one should make sure that his or her car's position is at a 90-degree angle and parallel to the other cars in the row.

While parking in illegal spaces is not allowed, it is not possible that drivers will always find easy places to park in. So, here are a few problems which one might face while parking a car.

Parking Car Close to a Curb

The most significant issue that one might face if they park his or her car in front of a barrier is that there will be too little space to move his or her car. This can even lead to one causing significant damage to his or her car, like damaging car tyres or paint scraping if the car even accidentally moves a bit.

Getting the Car Out of Extremely Tight Parking Spaces

Getting the car out of extremely tight parking spaces is, too, an issue that drivers might face. There can be parking lots overflowing with excess cars, and in such situations, it is important for one to keep their patience and think logically. One needs to understand which angle would be the best and safest to drive out the car and do it accordingly.

Lack of Parking Spaces

As years pass by, the number of vehicles continues to outnumber existing parking spaces and this, in turn, causes saturation of parking spaces. So drivers might face problems as most of the parking lots remain occupied and one might have to park in a small space.

On Street vs Off Street Parking

Another problem which drivers face is the demand for on-street parking because it is cheaper than off-street parking. This, in turn, causes heavy traffic and a shortfall of parking spaces on heavily congested roads.

To be flawless at parking, one needs to consider the following things. With more and more practice one can get perfect in parking.

Slowing the Car Down

One must keep their car’s speedometer in control. This allows the driver to be alert, look around and then make the right decision. Hurrying while parking can not only be risky but can also make one miss out on potential good parking slots.

Being Alert While Parking Your Car

Whether one is parking in an open area or in a designated parking slot, one needs to be very cautious while doing so. While parking in a designated slot, one must concentrate and keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

Whereas, while parking in an open area, drivers need to keep an eye on children, older people, stray animals, rickshaws, and pedestrians.

Correcting Your Car’s Mirror Position

Drivers must make sure that they position their car's rear-view and side-view mirrors in the correct position so that they can get a clearer view while parking. Getting used to the car's side-view and rear-view mirrors can be tricky and can require time, but with continuous driving and practice, it will become easy.

Having Gadgets Such as Cameras

All the modern cars now come with cameras which help in easy car parking. These cameras assist drivers in parking more efficiently. So, if one does not have it installed, one can consider installing these cameras in his or her car for better driving and parking experience.

To sum it up, this is all one needs to know about how to park a car. Every driver must remember to drive safely and park safely as well. One should be aware of the surroundings and abide by traffic rules to have a great driving experience. Lastly, practice until you achieve perfection. With years of experience one would be able to ace car parking.