Compared to navigating a parallel parking space, parking your car between two other cars in a standard parking space is relatively simple. There are two types of standard parking spaces. You will likely encounter both straight parking spaces and diagonal parking spaces in your driving career. Here is how to park in a diagonal parking space:
There is a small difference in parking techniques when we deal with straight parking spaces. Before you park your car, you must locate an open parking space, which we will get to after the main content of this article. There are several aspects of an ideal parking spot. First, here is how to park a car between two other vehicles.
How To Park Straight Between Two Cars
- 1
Slowly position your vehicle so that it is in the center of the parking aisle. If the aisle is made for only one direction of traffic, position your vehicle as far as you can to the opposite side of the aisle to allow more room for turning.
- 2
Stop your vehicle when its front bumper is approximately half of the way past the parking space before the one you plan to park in.
- 3
Turn your wheel towards the parking space and slowly begin to drive your car into the space. Check the left and right sides of your vehicle to ensure that there is a reasonable amount of free space on either side.
- 4
Keep turning your steering wheel as you pull into the parking space until your car is parallel with the vehicles parked on either side of that space.
- 5
Continue to slowly pull forward until your car is completely inside the parking space. Be careful not to park too close to any vehicle that is parked directly in front of you.
- 6
Turn off your ignition and exit the vehicle.
- 7
To exit a parking space when other vehicles are parked on either side of you, you must first evaluate the proximity of the two vehicles. If you are able to turn to either side when reversing out of the space, turn towards the side on which the closest car is parked. This will give the front of your vehicle more room in which to turn as you exit the parking space.
Visualize the whole procedure using the following video:
How To Find A Parking Space
Here’s a more elaborate explanation on how to find your dream spot:
- 1
Make sure that the cars parked on either side of the open parking space are aligned within their own parks and not situated too close to the perimeter of the open space.
- 2
If parking in an open parking lot at night, try to find a parking space that is in close proximity to a light for added safety.
- 3
If parking in the parking lot of a retail store, try to locate an open parking space that is away from shopping cart collectors or groups of unattended shopping carts. This will help prevent your vehicle from being damaged while parked in a parking lot.
- 4
Although convenience is important, parking midway down an aisle of parking spaces is often better than parking in a space close to the beginning of an aisle. Your vehicle will be less likely to be totally surrounded by other vehicles and there will be less traffic when you enter and exit the space.
The following video will also help you choose the safest parking spot available when you need to park in a parking lot:
After you find the ideal parking space, use the following guidelines to quickly and safely park your vehicle.
Parking in a standard parking space is typically one of the most common maneuvers that experienced drivers make.
Remember that parking lots are often busy with pedestrian traffic. Always look out for people walking to and from their vehicles as you look for a space and park your car.
