Parallel parking is something that many drivers, particularly new ones, try to avoid at all costs. In this form of parking, you’re positioning your car with a car in front of you, and one behind you, and your car will be parallel to the road. It’s an easy way to park once you know the way to do it. As your Cadillac dealer, we want to tell you the easy steps to park perfectly.
Advice From Your Cadillac Dealer: 5 Steps To Perfect Parallel Parking
Find the Space
Before you can park, you need to find a big enough spot. You’ll need some space to maneuver once you’re inside the spot, and you also need to be able to get out of the spot again. Choose a space that is at least 3 feet longer than your car, as this will allow you to park comfortably.
Line Up
Once you’ve found the spot you want, drive forward until your car is parallel to the car in front of the space. Keep at least 2 feet of space between you and the other car, and stop once your rear bumper is in line with the other car’s rear bumper. Now you’re all set.
Back-Up
In this step, you’re going to reverse into the spot slowly while turning the wheel to your right. Before you start, check your mirrors to make sure there are no moving vehicles behind you. Once all is clear, look behind you. Once the back of your car is in line with the bumper of the car in front of the spot, slowly reverse while turning the wheel. Your Cadillac will now be heading into the parking spot at a 45-degree angle.
Reverse slowly, and check that there’s enough space between your front bumper and the car in front of the spot as you move backward.
Straighten Up
Your car will be mostly inside the parking spot by this point. When you’re about 18″ from the curb, your front bumper will have passed the rear bumper of the car in front of you. It’s now time to turn your wheel to the left. Another good indication that it’s time to turn the wheel is when the license plate of the car in front is centered on your windshield.
Turning the wheel to the left will bring your car into the parking spot and straighten the wheels simultaneously.
Adjust Your Position
Once you’re in the parking spot, you’ll usually find there’s ample space in front of your car and very little space behind. Move your car forward slowly until it’s positioned in the middle of the parking spot. Congratulations, you’re now parked.
Perfecting this form of parking means you have access to spaces that other drivers will try to avoid. If you’d like to know more about parking, visit us today at Service Cadillac in Lafayette, LA.

