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It’s useful for student drivers to understand the different types of parking you’ll practice during lessons and in everyday driving. Knowing when and how to use each type will help you approach parking situations with more confidence and less stress.
Parallel parking is one of the parking manoeuvres that come up in a learner’s driving test, and it is often the one that most learners find challenging. It involves parking your vehicle as close to and parallel to the kerb, typically in a line of other parked cars, without touching or blocking other cars.
Bay parking involves parking your car in a clearly marked space, such as those found in supermarkets or public car parks. There are two types of bay parking: forward bay parking and reverse bay parking, and both methods are useful depending on the layout of the car park and how easy it is to exit later.
Parking on a hill requires careful technique to prevent your vehicle from rolling. You must know how to park on a hill correctly to ensure safety and compliance with the Highway Code.
When parking uphill, turn your steering wheel away, and when parking downhill, turn the wheels towards the kerb. Apply your handbrake and leave your vehicle in first gear to stop the car from moving.
For many learner drivers, the parking section of the UK driving test can feel like the most nerve-wracking part. However, with the right preparation and understanding of what examiners are looking for, you can approach it with confidence.
During your test, the examiner will ask you to complete at least one parking manoeuvre. The goal is to demonstrate that you can park safely, accurately, and with good control, just as you would in real-life situations. The examiner will select one of the following types of parking manoeuvres:
Occasionally, you may be asked to perform more than one depending on the test centre location or traffic conditions.
The driving test examiner isn’t expecting perfection. They are assessing your overall control, safety, and awareness. Specifically, they’ll look for:
Remember, having to correct or readjust your position is not a failure. What matters most is how you handle it safely.
Even confident drivers can make simple errors when parking during a driving test. It is good to practice and understand what mistakes can be made and how to avoid them:
Practising each manoeuvre before test day will help you understand the process, but also build your confidence.
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You should prepare for the different types of parking, mostly in the car with your driving instructor; however, the RED Learn To Drive With RED app can break down each parking manoeuvre and show you step by step how these can be done. Download the app and watch our useful videos to help you improve your skills and practice for your driving test.
As a learner driver, you should be comfortable with several types of parking, including parallel parking, bay parking (both forward and reverse), and hill parking. Each type develops your ability to control the vehicle in different settings, from car parks to narrow streets.
Yes, the examiner will ask you to complete at least one parking manoeuvre, such as parallel parking, bay parking, or pulling up on the right and reversing. They’ll assess your control, accuracy, and observation throughout the manoeuvre.
Yes, you can adjust your parking during your driving test. The examiner expects learners to make small corrections. As long as you stay safe, observe properly, and control the vehicle smoothly.
The cornerstone of learning to drive efficiently is being able to monitor and track your progress to test success, and our new app, Learn To Drive With RED, puts learning to drive in the palm of your hand.
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Everything you need to know about the difference between forward and reverse bay parking, how to master each, the key reference points to help you, and what to expect on your driving test.
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Reverse parking, whilst it can feel tricky at first, with practice and a few simple techniques, reverse parking becomes second nature with support from RED.
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