Theory Test Advice

Reverse Parking

The reverse park is an optional test manoeuvre and can take one of two forms namely the reverse/parallel park along the side of the road behind a parked vehicle or alternatively into a marked bay if the test centre has a car park.

Where possible the bay park is preferred and would normally always be chosen as one of the two reverse exercises on the test. The bay park will be undertaken either at the start of the test or at the end of it. The reverse park behind a vehicle would start with the examiner asking you to pull up on the left well behind the vehicle he or she wanted you to reverse park behind.

What the examiner is looking for

When reverse parking the examiner is assessing your ability to:

1. Maintain appropriate and effective observations
2. Complete the exercise with a certain degree of accuracy and
3. Maintain control of the vehicle at all times.

Reverse Park in the road behind a vehicle

What the examiner is looking for

On this specific exercise the examiner is checking that you:

1. Pull up in a suitable position to commence the manoeuvre
2. Immediately select reverse gear and make all round observations before starting the manoeuvre
3. Take good observations through the rear window as the car moves backwards
4. Use clutch control to maintain a slow speed and to pause when taking all round observations
5. Make all round observations as necessary during the reverse and in particular before steering to bring the car in at an angle towards the kerb and before you change the steering lock to straighten the car up behind the parked vehicle in front
6. Keep about a metre from the vehicle you are parking behind and position the car within half a metre and parallel to the side of the kerb
7. Complete the exercise within two car lengths from the rear of the vehicle you are parking behind
8. Deal correctly with other road users and pedestrians
9. Fasten your seat belt before moving off (if you unfastened it at the start of the exercise).

Driving faults recorded
5 Reverse Parking (Behind a parked vehicle)

Under control:

• Poor clutch control.
• Stalls the engine.
• Excessive acceleration.
• Insufficient or excessive steering.
• Harsh use of footbrake.
• Too close to parked car.
• Strikes the kerb with front or rear nearside wheel.
• Too far away from the left hand kerb at completion.
• Car finishes up at an angle to the kerb.
• Unable to complete within two car lengths.

Observations:

• Does not take all round observation before starting the exercise.
• Does not look out of rear window while reversing.
• Relies on door mirrors to observe while reversing.
• Ignores passing traffic and does not give way.
• Reverses back with pedestrians passing by on the pavement at rear.

Reverse Park into a car parking bay

What the examiner is looking for

On this specific exercise the examiner is checking that you

1. Move the car to a suitable position with the wheels straight ready to commence the manoeuvre
2. Select reverse gear and make all round observations before starting the manoeuvre
3. Take good observations through the rear window as the car moves backwards
4. Use clutch control to maintain a slow speed and to pause when taking all round observations
5. Make all round observations as necessary during the reverse and in particular before steering to move into a parking bay and before straightening the wheels to reverse fully into the chosen bay
6. Are within the bay lines and reasonably straight at the completion of the exercise
7. Deal correctly with other road users and pedestrians
8. Fasten your seat belt before moving off (if you unfastened it at the start of the exercise).

Driving faults recorded
5 Reverse park (car parking bay)

Under control:

• Poor clutch control.
• Stalls the engine.
• Excessive acceleration.
• Insufficient or excessive steering.
• Harsh use of footbrake.
• Not within parking bay lines at completion of exercise.
• At an angle within the lines at completion of exercise.
• Does not take all round observation before starting the exercise.
• Does not look out of rear window while reversing.
• Relies on door mirrors to observe while reversing.
• Ignores passing traffic and does not give way.
• Reverses back with pedestrians passing by on at the rear.

Reversing around a corner

Turn in the road