Parking — Idaho Permit Test

When parking on a public road you must park parallel to and within 18 inches of the curb or edge of the roadway, facing the same direction as traffic on your side.

A car parked further out is still in the lane, and one facing the wrong way has to cross traffic to get there.

you must park parallel to and within 18 inches of the curb or edge of the roadway

A parked car must face the same direction as the traffic on your side of the road.

Parking against the flow means driving against it to get into the space, and pulling out into it afterwards.

facing in the same direction as traffic on your side of the road

When you park, set the parking brake only if the car is left running. With an automatic transmission shift to park; with a manual transmission leave the car in gear.

Either the gear or the brake has to hold the car, and which one does depends on the transmission you are sitting behind.

if you have a manual transmission, leave the car in gear

Parked facing downhill on a hill, turn your front wheels sharply toward and against the curb or edge of the road.

If the brake lets go the car rolls into the curb instead of into the traffic below.

turn your front wheels (1) sharply toward and against the curb or edge of the road if you are facing downhill

Parked facing uphill with a curb, turn your wheels sharply away from and against the curb.

Rolling backward, the wheels catch the curb behind them, which is what stops the car.

if you are facing uphill, turn your wheels sharply away and against the curb

Where there is no curb, turn the wheels sharply toward the edge of the road.

With no curb to catch the tires, the only thing that will stop the car is the ground off the road.

(if there is no curb, turn the wheels sharply toward the edge of the road)

Parking is not allowed within 50 feet of railroad tracks.

A parked car near a crossing hides the track from everyone approaching it.

Within 50 feet of railroad tracks

Parking is not allowed within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

A hose has to reach the hydrant, and a car parked over it costs minutes nobody has.

Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant

Parking is not allowed within 20 feet of a crosswalk.

A car parked at the corner hides anyone stepping into the crosswalk until they are already in the road.

Within 20 feet of a crosswalk

Parking is not allowed within 30 feet of a stop sign, yield sign or traffic signal.

The sign has to be visible from far enough back to stop, and a parked truck takes that away.

Within 30 feet of a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal

Parking is not allowed within 20 feet of a fire station driveway.

An engine leaving the station needs to swing out, and a car at the entrance is what it swings into.

Within 20 feet of a fire station driveway

Parking is not allowed on any controlled-access highway, which is a freeway.

Everything there is moving at highway speed, and a stopped car is the one thing nobody is looking for.

On any controlled-access highway (freeway)

Parking is not allowed on the street side of any parked vehicle, which is known as double parking.

A double-parked car takes a whole lane and hides the parked car's door as it opens.

On the street side of any parked vehicle. (This is known as “double parking”)

Parking is not allowed in bike lanes, on sidewalks, in intersections, on bridges or overpasses, in front of a driveway, or where signs or a red-painted curb prohibit it.

Each of those places is somebody's route, and a parked car in it forces them into the traffic lane.

Where prohibited by signs or a red-painted curb

Only a vehicle displaying the handicapped symbol on its plate or a special card may park in a reserved handicapped space, and other drivers may be fined for doing so.

The space exists because the person using it cannot walk the length of a parking lot.

Vehicles displaying this symbol on their license plate or a special card may park in handicapped spaces

A handicapped person may park a vehicle displaying the symbol in reserved spaces without paying and for unlimited time.

Getting to and from the car takes longer, and the meter does not know that.

A handicapped person may park automobiles displaying the handicapped symbol in reserved parking spaces without paying and for unlimited time

How close to the curb must an Idaho driver park?

Within 18 inches. A car parked further out is still in the lane, and one facing the wrong way has to cross traffic to get there. July 2026 Idaho Driver's Handbook, p.80: “you must park parallel to and within 18 inches of the curb or edge of the roadway”