A car

A parking spot

Optional:

Clean windows

5 minutes

2torial #0688: Learn2 Parallel Park Your Car "I'm supposed to fit in THERE?!" The cars are honking, Aunt Stella's whining and the dinner reservations are slipping through your fingers. After scanning eight city blocks, the only parking spot appears way too small - but you refuse to hand your keys over to the valet guy. If parallel parking wasn't on your driving test (whew!), it's likely you're now backing up repeatedly against the curb. So pull over a moment, catch your breath, and learn these simple steps. Get a real sense of your car's proportions so you can better evaluate prospective spots. Next time you're out on the road, try the following formula. (It works!)   Pull your car up next to a spot you think will just fit it.   Take a long look at the spot - and know you'll need an additional two feet of space to accommodate both the bumper and your perspective.   If you can't get in after several minutes of trying, you'll probably be better off finding another spot. It's not worth ruining your day. Step 1