Parallel parking — Montana Permit Test

To parallel park, pull up parallel with the vehicle in front of the empty space, keeping at least two feet from it.

Pulling up too close leaves no room to swing in, and you scrape the other car's side.

Position your vehicle parallel with the vehicle parked in front of the empty space and maintain at least two feet from this vehicle.

To start a parallel park, line up your rear bumper with the rear bumper of the vehicle parked in front of the empty space.

Starting too far forward or back throws off the angle and leaves you crooked or against the curb.

Align your rear bumper with the rear bumper of the vehicle parked in front of the empty space (Figure A).

When parallel parking, back slowly until your front is even with the other car's front door, then turn the wheel sharply right and back slowly to about a 45-degree angle.

Turning too soon swings your rear into the parked car behind the space.

Reverse slowly until the front of the vehicle is even with the front door of the parallel car.

When the front of your vehicle passes the rear of the car in front, turn the steering wheel sharply left, then gradually, while backing into the space.

Turning left too late leaves your back wheel on the curb and your front sticking into the lane.

When the front of your vehicle passes the rear of the parallel car, turn your steering wheel to the left sharply, then gradually, while backing into the space (Figure C).

When you pull up beside the car in front of a parallel space, how far from it should you be?

At least 2 feet. Pulling up too close leaves no room to swing in, and you scrape the other car's side. Montana Driver Manual, p.45: “Position your vehicle parallel with the vehicle parked in front of the empty space and maintain at least two feet from this vehicle.”