Updated 9 November 2026.
To park correctly, you need three methods: parallel to the kerb, perpendicular and at an angle. Parallel and perpendicular spaces are easier to enter in reverse, because the rear wheels do not steer and the car slips into a tight space more easily. For angle parking next to a pavement, point 15.5 of Ukraine's Traffic Rules allows only front-in, and rear-in on an uphill slope. The rest, speed, reference points and checking your mirrors, comes with practice.
How to parallel park in reverse
Parallel parking between two cars scares new drivers most. Driving schools teach this sequence:
- Signal right and stop parallel to the car in front of the empty space, about half a metre to a metre away from it. Your rear bumper should be level with its rear bumper.
- Select reverse and move off slowly, watching the right mirror.
- When your rear wheels are level with the other car's rear bumper, turn the wheel fully right.
- When your car is at about 45° to the kerb, straighten the wheel and roll straight back.
- When your front bumper clears the other car's rear bumper, turn the wheel fully left.
- When the car is parallel to the kerb, straighten the wheels and, if needed, roll forward to leave equal gaps front and back.
These are reference points, not exact marks: on a longer car or one with a different turning circle, the moments to turn the wheel shift. Beginners should look for a space noticeably longer than their car; with experience, less room will do.
How to park perpendicular: front-in or reverse
In a shopping centre car park or a courtyard you have two options. Driving in forwards is quicker, but you will later have to reverse out into traffic you cannot see well. Reversing in takes longer, but driving out forwards is safer. To reverse in:
- Drive along the row leaving about one to one and a half metres between your car and the space.
- Stop when your rear wheel passes the far edge of the empty space.
- Turn the wheel towards the space and reverse slowly, watching the neighbouring cars in both mirrors.
- When the car is straight between the lines, straighten the wheel and reverse all the way in.
Leave enough room between cars for you and your neighbours to open the doors. Straightening the car is easiest on the first attempt, before it is fully in the space.
Angle (diagonal) parking
Diagonal spaces are easy to enter forwards. Ukraine's Traffic Rules allow angle parking only where it does not obstruct traffic. Next to a pavement the rule is strict: front-in, and rear-in on an uphill slope (point 15.5).
Table: how to park in different situations
| Situation | How to park | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Street, space between two cars | parallel, in reverse | rear wheels and the other car's bumper |
| Shopping centre car park, courtyard | perpendicular, preferably in reverse | both mirrors and the bay lines |
| Diagonal spaces by a pavement | front-in | point 15.5 of the Traffic Rules |
| Uphill, diagonal spaces | rear-in | point 15.5, handbrake |
| Underground car park | perpendicular, slowly | entry height, pillars |
How to learn to park
The fastest way to learn is in an empty car park: set out a few plastic bottles or cones in place of neighbouring cars and repeat one manoeuvre until the movements feel natural. There are only a few tips, but they work:
- Move as slowly as the car will go without throttle. Slow means you have time to correct a mistake.
- Dip the right mirror to see the kerb if the car does not do it automatically.
- Turn the wheel while the car is moving, not while stationary: it puts less strain on the tyres and power steering.
- Do not hesitate to pull out and start again. A second attempt is better than a scratched bumper.
Parking sensors and a reversing camera help, but they do not see everything: a low bollard or kerb can fall into a blind spot. So check your mirrors and look over your shoulder even with a camera.
Common parking mistakes
- Turning the wheel too early. The rear wheels then hit the kerb, and you have to pull out and start again.
- Stopping too far from the kerb. The car sticks out into the lane, and passenger doors open straight into traffic.
- Getting too close. It is easy to scrape the wheels on the kerb.
- Forgetting the front corner. When reversing, the front of the car swings wider than it seems and can clip the next car.
- Watching only the camera. It shows what is behind, not the sides.
Parking in underground and multi-storey car parks
Before entering, check the maximum height sign: a large crossover with a roof box or a minibus may not fit. Pillars make it tight inside, so drive slowly and make sure a pillar does not end up next to the driver's door. On ramps, hold the car with the brake rather than the clutch.
Where you must not park
A perfect manoeuvre will not save you from a fine if the place is prohibited. Under points 15.9 and 15.10 of Ukraine's Traffic Rules you may not stop within 10 m of a pedestrian crossing or junction, within 30 m of a public transport stop, or where less than 3 m would remain to a solid road line. Parking is banned within 50 m of a railway level crossing. A car may be left on the edge of a pavement only where at least 2 m remain for pedestrians. The full list with explanations is in our article on parking rules in Ukraine.
One more rule people often forget: before leaving the car, the driver must take steps so that it cannot roll away and nobody can get in (point 15.12). That means the handbrake, a gear or P, and locked doors.
Parking a rental car
Hyundai i10 from the BLS fleet
An unfamiliar car feels a different size from your own. Before your first parking attempt, ask at collection whether it has sensors and a camera, and look at where the bumpers end. Before driving off, photograph the car from all sides: that makes it easy to show a scratch was already there. If you are not confident, choose a compact car, for example from economy car rental: it is easier to park in town.
FAQ
How do you park between two cars?
Parallel and in reverse: stop next to the front car, reverse, turn the wheel towards the kerb when level with its rear bumper, straighten when the car is at about 45°, then turn the other way.
Is it better to park front-in or in reverse?
In reverse when you will have to pull out into traffic, since driving out forwards gives a better view. For angle parking by a pavement, the Traffic Rules allow only front-in.
How can a new driver learn to park?
In an empty car park with cones or bottles, at the lowest speed, repeating one manoeuvre many times.
How much space do you need to parallel park?
A new driver should look for a space noticeably longer than the car. With experience less room will do, and the exact length depends on the turning circle of the model.
How do you park on a hill?
Apply the handbrake and select a gear or P. In diagonal spaces on an uphill slope, the Traffic Rules require rear-in parking.
How do you straighten the car in a space?
Roll forward and back again with a small turn of the wheel. Do it before the car is fully in the space: it is easier to correct on the first attempt.
Can you park on the pavement?
A car may be left on the edge of a pavement only if at least 2 m remain for pedestrians and no other restriction applies.