How close to the curb should you be when parallel parking?

• A. 1-2 ft
• B. 4-6 ft
• C. 6-8 inches
• D. 3-4 ft

Answer: (A)

When parallel parking, you want a buffer from the curb before you start backing in. About 1 to 2 feet is the right distance. This gives you enough room to turn the wheel sharply toward the curb and swing the rear of your car into the space without the wheels or bumper scraping the curb.

If you’re much closer than that, you risk hitting or rubbing the curb and you’ll have less room to correct your angle. If you’re much farther away, the car won’t be able to swing into the space cleanly, making it easy to bump the car behind or in front or to end up with a jagged, poorly aligned park. After you’re parked, you’ll typically end up with a small clearance from the curb, but the key setup distance is the 1–2 feet.