To get out of parallel parking, straighten your wheels, reverse until you can see the front tires of the car ahead, turn the wheel one full turn toward traffic, check for hazards, signal, do a 3-point mirror and blind spot check, then pull forward into the lane once it’s clear.
Every driver in a dense city like New York needs this skill sooner or later. Parallel parking gets most of the attention, but pulling back out of a tight spot between two cars can be just as tricky, and it’s just as easy to mess up on a road test.
On the NY DMV road test, an inability to park properly costs 15 points out of the 30-point cutoff for a failing score, and hitting the curb during a parking maneuver is an automatic fail regardless of your point total. In Brooklyn, more than half of road test takers didn’t pass in 2024, so getting parking maneuvers right matters.
You can’t always avoid parallel parking or having to pull out of a spot. Park on an empty block and come back to find your car boxed in between two others, and you’ll need these steps to get out cleanly.
Steps on How to Pull Out From Parallel Parking
Let’s start with the video:
1. Straighten the Wheel
The wheel should be straight before you move the car out of the spot. Most cars need about 1.5 turns of the wheel lock to lock in either direction, so check that the tires are pointing straight ahead before you shift into reverse.
2. Reverse or Back Up
How far you can back up depends on the space in front of and behind your car. Keep your focus on the back wheels as you maneuver. Reverse as far as you safely can without touching the car behind you. A good yardstick: stop once you can see the tires of the car parked in front of you. That means you’ve opened up enough room to angle out.
If the gap is too tight, pull forward and try again before moving to step 3. The DMV’s practice spaces run about 25 feet, roughly one and a half car lengths, so this is the same kind of space you’ll be working with on the road test.
3. Turn the Wheel One Full Turn Toward Traffic
Turn the steering wheel one full turn, or as far as it will go, toward the traffic lane you’re pulling into.
4. Look Around for Hazards
Scan for anything that could put you in danger before you move. That includes pedestrians, cyclists, pets, or anything else in your path.
5. Signal Your Intention
Signal before you move so other drivers know you’re about to enter traffic, especially anyone approaching from behind. Skipping this step is one of the more common reasons students lose points on the road test. On the NYS scoring sheet, failing to signal during parking or backing costs 5 points on its own.
6. Do a 3-Point Check
Check your mirrors for oncoming traffic, pedestrians, cyclists, or other obstructions. Then look over your shoulder to check your blind spot. Mirrors alone aren’t enough. Relying only on mirrors and skipping the blind spot check is a specific line item examiners look for.
7. Join the Traffic
Once the coast is clear, pull forward slowly into the lane. Watch your clearance from the car parked in front of you as you edge out.
8. Drive Straight Ahead
Straighten out and continue on your way, following the usual traffic rules.
Why This Matters on the NY Road Test
Parallel parking, including pulling back out of the space, falls under the DMV’s “parking, backing and U-turn” section. An examiner who judges you unable to park properly can deduct 15 points, half of the total 30-point cutoff for failing. Touching the curb during the maneuver counts as an automatic fail no matter what the rest of your score looks like. That’s a steep price for a maneuver that comes down to muscle memory. Students who practice pulling in and out of a space dozens of times tend to do it the same way under pressure as they do at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get out of parallel parking without hitting the car behind me?
Reverse only until you can see the front tires of the car ahead of you, checking your mirrors and rear window as you go. That gives you room to angle out without touching the car behind.
What’s the first step to pull out of a parallel parking spot?
Straighten your wheels first. Starting with the wheels turned makes it harder to judge your angle as you back up and pull out.
Do you need to signal when pulling out of parallel parking?
Yes. Signaling before you pull out of a parking spot is required on the NY road test and failing to do so costs points on the scoring sheet.
Is hitting the curb while pulling out of parallel parking an automatic fail on the NY road test?
Yes. Contact with the curb during a parking maneuver is an automatic fail on the NYS DMV road test, separate from the point system.
Wrap Up
There’s more to driving than meets the eye, which is why the best way to learn is through a driving school rather than picking up habits from a relative behind the wheel. A qualified instructor breaks parking down step by step so you can handle it on the road test and beyond.
Pierre Paul Driving School is a Brooklyn driving school that helps students master parallel parking and the rest of the skills needed to pass the road test in New York. Our instructors have real experience both driving and teaching, and they’ll walk you through pulling out of tight spots so you can navigate New York’s small parking spaces with confidence.
Want to master parallel parking and the rest of the skills you need to pass your road test? Enroll in our 5-hour class online today by booking here or calling 718-576-6277.