Vehicle theft has emerged as a rapidly increasing crime in India. In fact, according to Business Today, a vehicle is stolen every 14 minutes in the national capital region, with 105 cases of vehicle theft reported, on average, every day in 2023.

Therefore, to ensure your car remains safe from theft or damage, you must learn how to park it appropriately.

For many, parking a car perfectly seems daunting, especially for new drivers. However, practicing and following a  few essential tips allows anyone to become a car parking expert.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of parking a car perfectly in various scenarios. So, whether you’re a beginner wanting to learn how to park a car or an experienced driver looking to improve your parking skills, this blog will help you in many ways!

What are the Different Types of Car Parking?

If you’re a driver, you will have to park your car at different angles and before we delve into how you can park your car, it’s important to know about different types of car parking:

1. Perpendicular Parking

This is one of the most common car parking methods and is mainly seen in parking lots. In this parking, the vehicles are generally parked at a 90-degree angle.

When parking at a perpendicular angle, you must ensure that the car's tires point straight ahead and that the vehicle is in a central position at the allocated parking spot.

2. Angle Parking

As the name suggests, cars are parked at an angle in this parking, usually facing one direction. Angle parking is easy for drivers, who can quickly move in and out.

However, you need to be extra cautious while accelerating, give the right signals, and always check for signals from other drivers.

3. Parallel Parking

This is the most common car parking technique on the roads. Here, the cars are parked parallel to the road.

For this way of parking, you need to be efficient and skilled, which requires the car to be parked between two vehicles, one behind and one in front. While exiting or entering, you should focus extra on controlling your driving and the surroundings.

4. Bay Parking

Bay parking is another common car parking method that involves the driver reversing his or her car in an allocated area.

In this case, cars will be around the parking space, and there will be empty spaces for other vehicles to park. Therefore, one must think about the different cars and then park accordingly.

5. Illegal Parking

As you might have guessed, parking your car in no parking areas is a prime example of illegal parking.

Therefore, you should remember to park your vehicle in designated parking areas only. If not, you will need to pay penalties for illegal parking.

6. Between Two Vehicles

The way to parking is where one needs to park between two vehicles, and drivers need to be extra cautious and attentive while doing this type of vehicle parking.

In this parking scenario, two of the most significant challenges that one might face include:

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

7. Lot Parking

Another car parking type is lot parking, in which the car is parked in a specific parking lot of an area.

When parking in this style, you need to follow the rules and regulations of the area. Generally, there are different types of car parking in different areas to efficiently use the space.

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Step-by-Step Process How You Can Park a Car Safely

The main types of car parking we discussed are angle, perpendicular, and parallel. Let’s move forward and take a look at the step-by-step process of how you can park your car in each type:

How to Park a Car at Angle Parking

This type of parking is most commonly found on one-way roads and high-traffic areas. Its purpose is to allow drivers to park in and out of it quickly. To park the car at an angle vehicle parking, follow the given instructions:

Step 1: Finding a Parking Spot

The first thing you need to do when parking your car in this type is find a perfect spot that is at least 4 feet to each side. If you park in an area that is too tight to open the doors, passengers in other cars can slam their doors into the car while they attempt to enter their car.

Step 2: Driving Slowly and Entering at an Angle

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

Step 3: Aligning the Car in the Parking Spot

As a driver, when you want to park the car, you must align your car to be straight in the parking spot. However, you must remember to align the vehicle 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

You must be extra careful while opening the car doors and moving out. The best option is to close the doors slowly and not slamming them.

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Step-by-Step Process for How to Parallel Park

Parallel parking is a skillful job, but if one knows the basics, it can be as simple as parking in an open area. Here are a few steps that you can follow to park a car perfectly in parallel.

Step 1: Position

The first step is to position your car parallel to the car ahead in the vacant spot. You should maintain a three—to four-foot distance from that car.

Step 2: Mirror

The next step in car parking is to check all the mirrors to reduce the possibility of bumping your car. Then, hit the reserve gear, check the surroundings to ensure no one is near the vacant spot, and accelerate to park.

Step 3: Reverse

Now, turn the steering wheel to the right and reverse the car to approach the vacant spot.

Step 4: Straighten

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

Step 5: Steer Lift

After you enter the car in the vacant parking lot, which is close to the rear bumper of the vehicle in front, you must turn your car’s steering to the left and keep reserving.

Step 6: Adjust

Adjust your car to get the right placement by moving a bit backward and a bit forward.

Step 7: Check

The last and final step in how to parallel park is to check for enough space between the car in front and behind. Ensure that there is ample space for the vehicles to move out quickly.

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Step-by-Step Process to Perpendicular Car Parking

If you're wondering how to park in a shopping mall or any shop's parking lot, here are the steps to park your car perfectly.

Step 1: Choosing a Good Spot

Do not drive into the first vacant car parking space you see. Instead, slow down a bit, look for all the empty spaces, and then decide which one to park in. Generally, car parking spaces in the corner of a lot that is completely filled with cars on all sides are a bit difficult to park in.

Step 2: Turning to the Space

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

Step 3: Adjusting the Position

As a driver, you should ensure that your car has entered the spot wholly before adjusting the steering wheel back to the center position. After that, you should ensure that your car's position is at a 90-degree angle and parallel to the other vehicles in the row.

Common Issues Faced in Car Parking

While parking in illegal spaces is not allowed, drivers may not always find accessible places to park. Here are a few problems that you might face while parking a car:

Parking Car Close to a Curb

The biggest issue that you might face if you park your car in front of a barrier is that there will be too little space to move his or her vehicle. If the vehicle even accidentally moves, this can cause significant damage to your car, like damaged tires or paint scraping.

Getting the Car Out of Extremely Tight Parking Spaces

Drivers might need help with issues like getting the car out of highly tight parking spaces. Parking lots can be overflowing with excess vehicles and very little car parking space. In such situations, you need to be patient and think logically. Try to understand which angle would be the best and safest to drive out the car and do it accordingly.

Lack of Car Parking Spaces

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

Street vs. Street Parking

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

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What To Keep in Mind When Parking the Car

To be flawless at car parking, consider the following things: With practice, you can become perfect at parking.

Slowing the Car Down

You must keep your car's speedometer in control. This allows you to be alert, look around, and then make the right decision. Hurrying while parking can not only be risky but can also result in missing out on potential good parking slots.

Being Alert While Parking Your Car

Whether you're parking in an open area or in a designated parking slot, you need to be very cautious. When parking in a designated slot, you must concentrate and keep a safe distance from other vehicles. While parking in an open area, you need to be aware of children, older people, stray animals, rickshaws, and pedestrians.

Correcting Your Car's Mirror Position

As a driver, you must ensure that your car's rear-view and side-view mirrors are in the correct position so that you can get a clearer view while parking. Getting used to the car's side-view and rear-view mirrors can be tricky and require time, but continuous driving and practice will become easy.

Installing Gadgets Such as Cameras

All the modern cars now come with cameras which help in easy car parking. These cameras assist you in parking more efficiently. If you do not have it installed, consider installing these cameras in your car for a better driving and parking experience.

Summary

In short, it’s essential to know how to park a car. Every driver must remember how to drive safely and park safely. No matter what type of parking you do, you should always be aware of your surroundings and follow traffic rules to have a great driving experience.

If you’re new to driving, practice until you achieve perfection. By following the tips and steps given above in this blog, you will soon be able to park your car perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do you park a car successfully?

Ans. To park your car successfully, choose a suitable spot, observe your surroundings, signal your intent, and maneuver your car carefully. Use mirrors and backup cameras to guide your movements.

Q. What are the basics of parking?

Ans. Basic parking skills include understanding different parking types such as parallel, perpendicular, and angled, using mirrors and turn signals effectively, and being aware of surrounding vehicles and pedestrians.

Q. How to park a car step by step in India?

Ans. In India, parking often involves navigating tight spaces and crowded areas. Choose a spot with enough clearance, signal your intent, and maneuver your car slowly. Be mindful of local parking regulations and avoid blocking traffic or pedestrians.

Q. Which type of parking is best?

Ans. The best parking type depends on the specific situation. Parallel parking is often preferred in urban areas, while perpendicular parking is more common in larger parking lots. Angled parking is useful in specific scenarios, such as parking on hills.