Driving expert's five 'easy' steps help you nail 'perfect' parallel park

Parallel parking is one of the more tricky manoeuvres you'll be taught when learning how to drive. But one driving expert has found the best way to nail it - in five easy steps

When you're learning to drive, parallel parking, which means parking your vehicle parallel to the road, usually in a line of other cars, is no doubt one of the trickiest thing you'll try to master.

But it turns out it's a manoeuvre even the most experienced driver can struggle with. Most people drive alongside the car in front, before reversing in, hoping for the best. It's generally considered one of the trickiest skills to learn - but is essential when hunting for a parking space in a busy area.

If you still struggle to parallel park, you're in luck, because social media account @drivingtheoryuk24, who help people pass their driving tests with informational videos, has shared a simple explanation - and by following the five easy steps you can nail your parallel park.

First, you need to find a large enough parking spot to fit your vehicle. Then you need to "match up with the car you intend to park behind", but "don't get too close". There should be about 2-3ft between the cars, according to the driving experts.

"If it's the same size car you can match it mirror to mirror," they continued. "If it's a larger vehicle, aim to align your brake lights with theirs." Once you're in place, you should "turn your wheel 360 [degrees] to the right and begin to reverse at a 45 degree angle".

You should then continued reversing until you see the headlights of the car you're parking in front of, in your left wing mirror. "Ensure that your right mirror covers the left brake lights of the car next to you", they added.

Now you need to "turn your wheel fully to the left and pivot back". Once you have entered the space, you need to straighten your wheels and "creep forward into position". And that's it.

Previously, a driving instructor shared her 'no panic' method to nailing the perfect parallel park. Aman, from Clearview Driving, suggested picturing a gap between two cars on the left. She advised signalling left, decelerating as you approach the gap. "As you're passing the space, nip in ever so slightly but move forward, past the space, and then push your weight into the road," she instructed.

"That way, you're parallel with the car you want to park with, but you purposefully do that little manoeuvre just to make it clear to the drivers behind and anyone around you that you're about to reverse," Aman continued. She explained because you've done this, other drivers won't come up behind you.

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