Bay Park

- Reverse In

Start perpendicular to the bays with around a car's width of space between your car and the ends of the bays. Taking position roughly in the middle of the available space is usually a good way to begin.

Approaching a row of parking bays. A red arrow curves forward and to the right from the blue car towards the bays, and two shaded circles mark the areas either side of the car that need checking before it turns.

Reversing - POM

Remember that car parks can be busy places with lots of people and vehicles moving in different directions.

Make sure you Prepare, Observe and Move - in that order. Use the handbrake to prevent the car from rolling. Take effective all-round observations, including both blindspots. Before beginning to move, you should be looking over your left shoulder, out the rear window.

Steering

The front of your car will swing out when you turn, so be sure to make good observations (including the blindspot) before you steer.

Try to time your turn so you are headed towards the middle of the bay. Keep very slow and keep looking all around.

As you turn into the bay, you should begin to see the lines either side of your car. Aim for a roughly equal gap on both sides. Adjust the steering if necessary.

As your car aligns with the lines either side, straighten the wheels.

A car reversing into a parking bay between two white bay lines, with a red arrow showing the direction it is moving.

Finishing

Finish by reversing straight back into the bay. Remember to keep looking behind you as you reverse. Be careful not to go too far back.

If you're not fully confident that all four wheels of your car are inside the bay, move forward and adjust your position. Take your time. Remember to always use the POM routine when moving off.

Once you're sure the car is in the bay, engage the handbrake and select neutral.

Bay Park

- Reverse Out

Start perpendicular to the bays with at least a car's width of space between your car and the ends of the bays. The greater your distance from the bays, the easier the manoeuvre will be.

POM

Remember that car parks can be busy places with many people and vehicles moving in different directions.

Make sure you Prepare, Observe and Move - in that order. Use the handbrake to prevent the car from rolling. Take effective all-round observations, including both blindspots.

A car park from above with a row of bays down the right-hand side, four of them taken by a purple, a white, a red and a green car. A red arrow curves from the blue car up the aisle and round into an empty bay.

Steering

The timing of the turn is similar to turning right into a narrow side road. Try to time your turn so that you are headed towards the middle of the bay. Keep very slow and keep looking all around.

If you have enough space, you can steer away from the bay shortly before turning into it. This will provide a straighter final approach to the bay, which will make it easier to avoid neighbouring vehicles. It will also make it easier to finish the manoeuvre in a straight position.

Finishing

Straighten up the wheels and then stop once the entire car is inside the bay. If you're not fully confident that all four wheels are inside, you can reverse and drive forward again to adjust the position. Take your time. Remember to always use the POM routine and check blindspots before reversing. Remember also to turn and look out the rear window of the car as you reverse.

Once you're sure the car is in the bay, engage the handbrake and select neutral.

Reversing Out

Before reversing out of the bay, be sure to use the POM routine and proceed with extreme caution. Your view will be very limited if you have other vehicles parked either side of you, so move the car as slowly as you can until your view improves. Keep looking around and don’t forget to look back out the rear window.

Once your car is at least half way out of the bay, you should be able to begin steering. Steer as much as is necessary to allow your car to exit the bay and drive away.

When you have completely cleared the bay, straighten the wheels. Remember to keep checking behind until after you have stopped reversing.

Use the POM routine again before driving on.