Smart Tips for Hassle-Free Parallel Parking in Houston, TX

If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in traffic, frustrated and angry because you can’t seem to parallel park your car, we have some tips for you. With a little practice, anyone can be a pro at parallel parking. Here are six smart tips from your favorite Lincoln dealer.

Find the Perfect Spot

First, find a place that will fit your car. To make sure you avoid any potential misjudgments, be sure to find an area that allows for at least one and a half times the length of your car. Be aware that larger vehicles will require more room.

Drive Slowly Past the Spot

When you approach a spot, drive slowly to check for any potential obstacles. Be sure to keep an eye out for other cars, as some drivers may not have been paying as much attention as they should, and it’s best to be prepared should you need to take evasive action.

Signal Your Intention To Park

Next, it’s important to first signal your intentions by turning on your turn signal. This tells other drivers in the area that you are about to maneuver and gives them time to prepare.

As you approach the spot where you plan to park, apply the brakes and carefully look both ways, checking for pedestrians or other cars. Once your vehicle has stopped a few feet past the space in question, turn on your blinker and slowly pull forward until the front of your car lines up with the middle of the parked car.

Turn Your Steering Wheel

When your car is in line with the parked car, slowly start to back up while turning your steering wheel all the way to one side to begin backing into the spot. This ensures that you are in the correct position to reverse properly and back into your allotted parking space without damaging your car or other vehicles nearby.

Turning the wheel fully helps you create the best angle possible. This will save you time when repositioning after reversing halfway into the spot.

Align With the Car in Front of You

After turning your steering wheel, you then slowly begin to back into the spot until your front bumper is in line with the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you. At this point, make sure to check your rearview mirror and side mirrors to adjust your back-in angle effectively.

Straighten Out

Finally, make sure that your steering wheel is completely straight; if not, adjust it accordingly so that it is lined up with your dashboard. Continue backing up as far as you want and positioning yourself between the two cars until you have safely parked in the spot.

Parking can be tricky, but if you follow these steps, you should be able to park like a pro in no time. Contact us at Bayway Lincoln for all your service needs, including oil changes, brakes, and tire rotations.

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