LicenseSim guide
Parking practice: parallel parking and reversing
Parking is the maneuver new drivers practice least and get tested on most. LicenseSim breaks it into the steps you would actually take, one at a time, with the steering direction shown on screen.
Parallel parking, step by step
The Parallel Parking lesson puts you between two parked cars. Hitting either one fails the lesson, so the approach matters:
- 1Pull up alongside the car in front of the empty space and come to a stop.
- 2Hold Reverse and steer to swing your rear into the space. A large on-screen arrow shows which way to turn.
- 3Bring the front end in as you straighten.
- 4Straighten the wheel and stop with the whole car inside the lines.
Reversing into a bay
The Controls Practice Area is a large empty lot for low-pressure repetition. You move off, stop inside a marked box, steer through three cone gates, and reverse into a bay that appears behind the car once you stop. Nothing there is scored, and nothing in it can fail — it is there to build the control before you need it.
Straight-line backing and three-point turns
Straight-line backing
Reverse straight back to a target line without drifting sideways.
Three-point turn
Turn the car around in a narrow space: forward, reverse, then forward again to face the other way.
Both are on the test
Both are part of the Simulated Driving Test, so they are worth practicing on their own first.
Habits that carry over to a real car
Reverse slowly
Every correction is easier when the car is barely moving.
Steer for the back of the car
Turn the wheel the way you want the back of the car to go.
Look where you want to end up
Aim for the space, not at the thing you are trying to avoid.
Use your mirrors
Reversing is the one maneuver where you cannot see enough from the driver’s seat alone.
Parking in the simulator uses the simulator’s own space dimensions. Real spaces, curbs, and other drivers vary — treat the steps as the order of operations, not as fixed measurements.
Related guides
- Using a driving simulator as a new driverWhat the simulator can and cannot teach you, how the lessons and the virtual license work, and which devices it supports.Read this guide
- Hazard awarenessPedestrians in crosswalks, animals near the road, emergency vehicles, school buses, and driving after dark.Read this guide
Common questions
Do I need to use my mirrors to park in the simulator?
The simulator does not require mirror checks. It checks that the car ends up inside the lines and that you did not hit either parked car. Using your mirrors and looking over your shoulder is still the habit worth building.
Why does the simulator show me which way to steer?
Parallel parking is where new drivers most often turn the wheel the wrong way. A large on-screen arrow shows the direction during the maneuver, and it is only there while you are still learning the step.
Is the Controls Practice Area scored?
No. It is a large empty lot for moving off, stopping inside a marked box, steering through three cone gates, and reversing into a bay. Nothing there is scored, and nothing in it can fail.
Ready to try it?
Open the simulator and drive this yourself. No account needed — sign in later if you want your progress saved.
