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Parallel Parking — Left Side

The mirror park: back in against the LEFT curb and end facing left.

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How to use this sim

Watch the app drive the maneuver the correct way — with the right order and timing. Follow the narration and the checklist as each step is done for you. Hit Restart to watch it again anytime.

Step by step

  1. 1Positioning. Pull up even with the car ahead — door bar to door bar (bumper to bumper for longer cars) — about 1 meter (3 ft) out and straight. Shift to Reverse and dry-steer all the way to the LEFT.
  2. 2Entering. Check your blind spots a full 360° and look back through the rear window. Reverse at idle speed — no gas — and stop when the car reaches about a 40° angle to the curb.
  3. 3Roll back at 40°. Dry-steer 1½ turns back to the RIGHT to straighten the wheels, then reverse slowly at idle, straight back at 40°. Stop when your mirror shows the top of the rear tire just outside the gutter.
  4. 4Straightening out. Dry-steer all the way to the RIGHT and reverse at idle until the car is parallel to the curb. Then shift to Drive, dry-steer 1½ to the LEFT, pull forward to center, and set the parking brake.

💡 Pro tip

It's the same maneuver mirrored — every steering input flips: dry-steer LEFT to start, straighten RIGHT, then crank RIGHT to bring the front to the curb. Same reference points (door-to-door, 40°, rear tire near the gutter), same idle speed.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using right-side reflexes — on the left curb every steering input is mirrored (start by steering LEFT, not right).
  • Using the gas instead of idling — creep slowly so you can stop exactly on each reference point.
  • Straightening too early, leaving the nose sticking out into the lane.