How to Bay Park for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

We Brits don’t enjoy bay parking. Indeed, a 2023 study by Skoda found that reverse and front bay parking were two of the least popular manoeuvres among UK drivers; only parallel parking was considered worse!

The same report found that 73% of respondents had given up on a parking spot, underlining how difficult some of us find parking.

If experienced drivers find such manoeuvres daunting, it can go double for learners and those who have recently passed their test.

However, with enough practice and determination, improving one’s parking skills should be a straightforward affair.

Here’s our beginner-friendly guide to parking in a bay.

Bay parking (also known as reverse bay parking or perpendicular parking) involves reversing into a parking space between two lines. It’s a useful and safe method to park in car parks, and is preferable to forward bay parking (discussed later in this article).

How to Bay Park: What You'll Need

● A Provisional or full UK driving licence

● A car with functioning mirrors

● Access to a safe, quiet area for practice (such as an underused/empty car park)

● L Plates (or D plates in Wales) if you’re still learning and haven’t yet passed your driving test

Step-by-Step Bay Parking Guide (Reverse Method)

Step 1: Locate a Suitable Space

● Choose a bay with clear lines and ample space around.

● Ensure no cars or pedestrians are too close. If you see any kind of hazard, pause the manoeuvre with the brakes and, if on a slope, the handbrake too.

Step 2: Position Your Car (Reference Points for Bay Parking)

● Drive forward past the bay you want to reverse into.

● Stop when the rear of your car is about two bays past the one you’re parking in.

● Your car should be about a metre (3 feet) away from the bays.

Step 3: Check Mirrors and Blind Spots

● Use your side and rear view mirrors.

● Look over both shoulders for pedestrians, pets, vehicles, or obstacles.

● Keep checking for hazards throughout the manoeuvre. Note that for driving examiners, safety is critical. If you are undertaking the manoeuvre during a driving test and a particular area is too busy, the examiner may ask you to drive on to another spot, or ask you to do a different manoeuvre (e.g. a parallel park).

Step 4: Begin to Reverse Slowly

● Put the car into reverse.

● Turn the wheel toward the bay you’re aiming for (e.g., if it’s on the left, turn the wheel left).

● Move slowly and smoothly.

Step 5: Straighten Up

● Once your car begins to enter the bay, start straightening the wheel.

● Your goal is to have the car centred between the lines.

Step 6: Adjust as Needed

● If you’re off-centre or angled, pull forward to realign, then reverse again.

● It’s okay to readjust - accuracy is more important than speed. Sloppy, rushed parking might annoy other drivers and increase the chances of a scrape or a door prang.

Step 7: Finish and Secure the Car

● Stop when your car is fully within the bay and straight.

● Apply your handbrake (parking brake), put the car in park (or neutral for manual), and turn off the engine.

More Tips for Reverse Parking

● Practise with cones or empty bays to begin with.

● Always be aware of pedestrians and cars.

● If you have a reversing camera or parking sensors, use them wisely, but don’t rely on them too much.

● You can also drive forward into a bay, but reversing out is less safe, and it’s harder to see behind you.

How to Forward Bay Park – Quick Guide (UK Manual Car)

As mentioned, reverse bay parking is considered safer than forward bay parking, because the former means you don’t have to reverse out into the car park or road. However, here’s how to carry out a forward bay parking manoeuvre should you need to.

Before You Start

● Pick a bay with plenty of space around it.

● Signal if needed to show your intention.

● Slow right down to walking pace.

Step-by-Step

1. Position Your Car

○ Drive alongside the space so the end of the bay is about level with your shoulder.

○ Keep about 1 metre (door’s width) from the bay lines.

2. Check All Around

○ Use mirrors and look over your shoulder.

○ Watch for pedestrians or traffic.

3. Steer into the Bay

○ Turn the steering wheel full lock (quickly and smoothly) towards the bay.

○ Creep forward slowly into the space.

4. Straighten Up

○ As your car starts to enter the bay, begin straightening the wheel.

○ Aim to finish centred between the lines, and straight.

5. Final Check

○ Make sure you're fully inside the bay (front and sides).

○ Apply the handbrake and put the car in neutral (or park if automatic).

To Adjust:

● If you're not centred, reverse carefully and realign as needed.

A Note on Reference Points for Bay Parking

Over time you may find particular reference points that suit you and your vehicle better. For instance, you may find using the mirror as a reference point is more effective than the above-mentioned shoulder reference point.

Bay Parking: Driving Test Tips

You may well be asked to perform a bay park as part of your driving test. Remember that there’s nothing wrong with taking your time when carrying out this manoeuvre; it’s better to be steady and safe than to make an error and have it go against you in the exam.

Your examiner will be looking for:

● Control

● Observations

● Accuracy

● Safe exit

What About Bay Parking with an Electric Vehicle?

The same basic principles used in combustion-engine vehicle bay parking apply to electric vehicle bay parking. However, there are some differences in how the process feels.

● No clutch – smooth, creep-forward and reverse using the accelerator and brake only.

● Instant torque means precise low-speed control, but it can feel jerky if you're not used to it.

● No gear changes – forward and reverse are selected with a button or gear selector.

● Most EVs have regenerative braking, which may slow the car as soon as you lift off the accelerator.

● Automatic parking brakes often engage when you stop and shift to Park.

● Some EVs offer self-parking features, which can make bay parking semi-automated, thereby all-but-eliminating the stress from this common manoeuvre

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