When parallel parking, how close should you leave the curbside wheels?
Leave the curbside wheels within about 6 to 18 inches of the curb (most handbooks say no more than 18 inches). On a hill you also turn the front wheels toward or away from the curb so the car cannot roll into traffic.
The answer
When you finish parallel parking, the curbside (right) wheels should end up within about 6 to 18 inches of the curb — most state driver handbooks state the maximum as no more than 18 inches. Getting this close matters for two reasons: it keeps your vehicle out of the travel lane so passing traffic and cyclists have room, and in many states parking farther than 18 inches from the curb is a ticketable offense.
There are actually two versions of this question, and they trip people up:
- Distance version: "leave the curbside wheels within 18 inches of the curb."
- Hill version: "leave the curbside wheels turned toward the curb" (or away from it, uphill with a curb).
Both are legitimate — they just answer different parts of the parking task. On flat ground the concern is the gap; on a slope the concern is which way the front wheels point.
Turning the wheels on a hill
On any incline you must aim the front wheels so that if the brakes failed, the car would roll into the curb rather than into traffic:
- Downhill (with or without a curb): turn the front wheels toward the curb (right). If it rolls, the right front tire catches the curb.
- Uphill with a curb: turn the front wheels away from the curb (left) and let the car roll back a few inches so the back of the right front tire rests against the curb.
- Uphill without a curb: turn the wheels toward the edge of the road (right) so a runaway car rolls away from traffic.
Always set the parking brake and leave the transmission in Park (or in gear for a manual) as well — turned wheels are a backup, not a substitute.
Why the other answers are wrong
- "Turned away from the curb" as a blanket rule is wrong; that only applies uphill with a curb. Downhill it would send a runaway car into the street.
- "More than 18 inches from the curb" fails the legal and safety test — it leaves the car protruding into the lane.
- "Wheels straight" is acceptable on flat ground but is the wrong answer whenever the question mentions a hill, because straight wheels let the car roll directly into traffic.
- "Touching the curb" risks scuffing tires and rims and is not required; a small gap of 6 to 18 inches is the target.
The safe summary: park within 18 inches of the curb, and on a slope point the front wheels so gravity pushes the car toward the curb, not into the road.
- 1
On flat ground?
Leave the curbside wheels within 6–18 inches of the curb, wheels straight. Set the parking brake.
- 2
Parked downhill (curb or no curb)?
- 3
Parked uphill WITH a curb?
- 4
Parked uphill WITHOUT a curb?
Frequently asked
How far from the curb should you park when parallel parking?
Leave the curbside wheels within about 6 to 18 inches of the curb — most handbooks list 18 inches as the maximum. This keeps the vehicle out of the travel lane, and parking farther out can earn a ticket in many states.
Which way do you turn wheels parking downhill?
Turn the front wheels toward the curb (to the right when the curb is on your right). If the brakes fail, the front right tire rolls into the curb and stops the car instead of letting it drift into traffic. This applies whether or not there is a curb.
How many inches from the curb is legal?
Most states require the curbside wheels to be no more than 18 inches from the curb. Beyond that the car protrudes into the lane, which is both a hazard and a common parking violation.
What are the steps to parallel park?
Pull up even with the car ahead of the space, signal, reverse while turning the wheel toward the curb, straighten as the front clears the lead car, then turn the wheel the other way to bring the front in. Finish by centering the car and adjusting until the wheels sit within 18 inches of the curb, then set the brake.
Which way to turn wheels parking uphill with a curb?
Turn the front wheels away from the curb (to the left when the curb is on your right), then let the car roll back a few inches so the back of the front tire rests against the curb. The curb then blocks the car from rolling downhill.