Let your car roll forward a few inches and the wheels will touch the curb, effectively stopping your car from going anywhere if the parking brake fails. When you park downhill and there is a curb, you point your wheels toward the curb.
#California driving test parking full#
So please don’t try this unless you have full control over your vehicle, and you are sure that the way is clear behind you. That it is usually another car and hitting another car will cost you! If you keep your wheels pointing straight ahead, your car will continue to roll down the hill until something stops it. Pointing your front wheels into the curb ( to the right) means that your back wheels will eventually touch the curb, but the front of your car will stick out in a travel lane. You will quickly see that, as soon as the back of the front wheels hit the curb, it won’t go any further. Have someone push the car from the front, if necessary. Turn front wheels the correct way ( to the left), put your gear in neutral, and release your parking brake. Make sure it is in a safe location where you don’t interfere with traffic. It is a good idea to try this yourself on a steep hill. The curb will then act as a second parking brake and stop your car from rolling any further.
When you park uphill and there is a curb, you turn the wheels to the left and away from the curb.īefore you set the parking brake, you may want to let the car roll back a few inches and hit the curb. The only time the front wheels should be turned to the left and toward the travel lane, is when you park uphill and there is a curb. Uphill and a curb – turn wheels to the left There is one exception to this general rule. If you turn the front wheels the other way (away from the side and toward the travel lane), your car, or at least a part of it, will roll into the travel lane. If your car starts rolling, it will usually roll away from the travel lane and off the road. The general rule when parking on hills is to turn the front wheels to the right, which means to the side of the road and away from the travel lane. You must also turn the front wheels so that your car will not roll into to traffic if brakes fail. Whenever you park your car on a hill you must turn off the engine, set the parking brake, and lock the ignition. In a state like California, you can get a ticket if you don’t angle your front wheels correctly when parking on a 3% (or more) grade.
#California driving test parking how to#
You must also know how to stop your car from rolling into a travel lane. Do not park in locations where others can’t see your car, such as just beyond a curve or close to a crest. It must also be clearly visible to vehicles approaching from either direction. You must, however, always make sure that your vehicle is not a hazard when it is parked.Ī parked vehicle must be far enough from any travel lane to avoid interfering with traffic. Parking on hills is a common pitfall on many practical driving tests, as well as the DMV written knowledge test.įirst, remember that parking on hills or grades is not illegal, unless posted signs or painted curbs say otherwise. For Your DMV Test: Know How to Park on Hills